Oil pickup screen-fixed or movable?

[MBF]

I just went to change the oil in my '52 1 ton and when checking the bottom of the pan for sludge I noticed that I can push the pick up screen assembly up-its pivoting on the pickup tube. Do I need to drop the pan and tack it to the tube or are then designed to move? Never had a problem w oil pressure fluctuation, but I want to make sure that she's good to go for the upcoming nice weather. Anyone familar with this? Thanks-Mike

[Young Ed]

Its designed to move. The idea is that it floats on top to help it not pick up as much crud

[grey beard]

Mike,

Young Ed is correct. The screen unit is held onto the tube in the block by a cotter pin that lets it swivel up and down. Don't know why they made them this way. When I removed mine to rebuild, the screen was plugged up 90percent with hard dry sludge. Wonder how it maintained the oil pressure it had.

When I worked on my screen, I was able to clean it completely, but to do so I had to remove the metal baffle covering part of the screen. Couldn't get it back in place as it was a factory crimp, so I just disgarded the critter.. Never figgered out what the baffle in front of the screen was for, if indeed it ever had any purpose in life. Anyone know what the idea of using them was originally?

Thanks

[MBF]

Thanks-since it hasn't been giving me any problems I'll just do an oil change-this is a sweet running flathead 6-probably the nicest and quietest in the fleet-why mess with perfection-someone obviously went through this just before I got it but I don't know any details. Mike