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Larry
03-17-2001 04:39:34
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Re: Fixing a u-joint in reply to Tom A, 03-16-2001 06:01:10
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here's my 2 cents worth.
I'm assuming you've broken the ujoint closest to the tractor....so you've got the slip joint end to work on.
pull the slip joint apart and look closely at how the cups are held in place--the may have clips on the outer end, or clips on the inner, in either case remove the clips. If you've got an old vise you're not afraid of breaking (or you can use two blocks of wood) you need to seperate the two halves of the ujoint, by hitting with a hammer and driving the cup out of the yoke (you'll be hitting the yoke itself, not the actual ujoint) drive one cup out or close to out (usually you can't get it to fall completely out) turn the yoke over and do the same thing to the other side. Take a pair of vise grips or clamp in a vise and gently tap the cups out on both side...this will give you to seperate halves....and the cross of the ujoint will still be in one....simply open the vise and put the cross of the ujoint from jaw to jaw and repeate the driving out process...now you'll have 2 seperate yokes with no ujoint....The trick is to get the new joint put back in without losing the needles...you'll have to be gentle with it at this point...grease the needles in all 4 cups with your finger....start on one yoke...slip the new cross in and extend it thru the yoke and slip the cup on...(I'd suggest doing the larger half first, since its harder to handle) put in in the vise and force the cup into the yoke you'll have to continue holding the new ujoint while doing this, force the cup in...if it goes in relatively easy, take a nut smaller than the hole in the yoke and push it in until the end of the ujoint is flush with the yoke....take out of the vise, by hand slide the ujoint out a little and start the 2nd cup on it....put back in the vise and squeeze the two together...you may have to take a punch and spread the yoke somewhat since you may have deformed it a little getting the old joint out...put the clips on....repeat the process with the 2nd half of your yoke...chances are the ujoint may seem somewhat "bound up" when you are finished...this is the step the other post was referring to....lay the yoke on something substantial...like an anvil...and simply hit each side of both yokes with a hammer...not too hard...and this will have a tendency to drive the sides of the yoke towards the center, and the joint will free right up...One note to consider, think about how it will be greased, and put the new joint in so that the zerk is sticking out where you can get to it to grease it (there is normally one way that lets you get to it easier, although the joint will go in and work either way) I hope this is helpful...I can't believe how many words it takes to describe the process!! LOL...One more thought...if you do happen to knock a needle out of your new joint, don't panic, make sure you're on a clean bench (so you can find it if you happen to knock one out) simply put it back in, slip it into place and continue.
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