Inching the shaft slowly into place, being careful to neither ding the shaft journals, or foul the threads on the long crossbox studs. The bronze spacers on the shaft limit the end play of the gear shaft to 1/8 inch either way. Gravity alone will not draw the shaft into the crossbox sleeves: the axles must be rolled AWAY from each other to draw the pinion gears, and shaft, into the final position.

Photo by Bill Liebman