Those Dang U-Joints!

[ShaneCarroll]

Ok, for a first timer, I would have to say that I did a decent job of replacing u-joints. Except for the fact of dropping the bearings out of the caps! I was performing this task on a rock driveway, and as I was hammering the caps on, they popped off, sending those little bearings everywhere! It happened about three or four times, and each time took about an hour to find the last one.

My question is, out of common courtesy, why couldn't they put a pack in with the u-joints with about 10 extra bearings? Those little rods are IMPOSSIBLE to find if you drop them.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Those Dang U-Joints!

YIKES sounds like you had a tough time with those.

It's a bit late for this now, but I find it easiest to shove a dab of grease in each cap to keep the needles in place, install 1 cap all the way with the trunnion (X part) in place, then slide the trunnion 1/2 way out of the installed cap and insert it into the next cap. This keeps the needle bearings from sliding and dropping out. Hardest part is keeping the trunnion centered in the caps while tapping the last cap in place.

I know what you are talking about though, those needles have a way of growing legs. After loosing a needle once (in my younger days and against my better judgment) I pulled the best looking needle bearing out of the old Ujoint and put it into the new one Eh it worked (though I would NOT suggest it)

Why don't they supply extra needle bearings with the Ujoint,,, so you have to buy another one...

 

[ziggy]

Re: Those Dang U-Joints!

I was performing this task on a rock driveway

and here i thought i was the only one working on a rock driveway. i don't generally hate anything. but a rock driveway sure comes close to hate. specially when you drop small parts on it... let alone my knees or having to lay on the ground to work on something in a rock driveway. it just plain ain't no fun... i can sympathize with you for sure...

as for your ujoints. get one of them ujoint presses. i don't generally like harbor freight chineeze tools. but that's where i got my press and it did work. looks like it might even work on another round of ujoints. unlike some of their tools that don't even work on the first round of work. also, mercruiser has a special adaptor to help you do ujoints.. http://www.iboats.com/U_Joint_Adapter/dm/*******.914705295--**********.375266333--view_id.271201 (think this is the one w/o looking up #'s) get one of these too. between that and a ujoint press, you'll make short work of ujoints. + no lost needle brgs...ya probably won't even utter one foul word it makes it so easy..

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Those Dang U-Joints!

Well I wish I would have gotten that thing before I did this job. I got it, though, and it is a world of difference. When I first took my outdrive off, I had to struggle with both arms to move the old u-joints. Now, they turn effortlessly. I guess the end result makes me feel better about losing those things. It didn't help having all the bearings from the old u-joints in the rocks right where I was working. I would have used one, but for some reason they were much bigger than the new ones.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Those Dang U-Joints!

Show me someone who has changed ujoints in a driveway (or anywhere), and I'll show you someone who has cursed while the crawled around trying to find that last little bearing...

I've had good luck with grease. and yes, I've used the "best looking" needle bearing out of the old cap, but I don't recmmend that either - it's a big no. I will especially say that after seeing first hand what happens when you get catastrophic failure of a ujoint under power... It's NOT pretty! I lost two caps on the outdrive side of the rearward joint, Thank God I got out of it before the remaining part of the ujoint cross, cleared the yoke (apparently it will shred the bellows and you'll start taking on a lot of water in a hurry...). As it was it destroyed the front yoke / shaft on the outdrive upper, as well as the retainer ring, seals, etc... on the upper half of the outdrive. Although I met some very nice people on the river getting towed back to the ramp....

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Those Dang U-Joints!

I vise works well for pressing the caps in.

That is if you can get the ujoint to the vise.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Those Dang U-Joints!

Having to hammer them on is tough. You can use a socket that fits just inside the circumference of the cap and use that to tap on. A larger c-clamp works well to try to pres them in instead of hammering, though sometimes the c-clamp won't put enough pressure on them to move. They shouldn't need a big ol' slam, just mild to medium tapping to get them into the yoke. Also do not try to have all the other caps on, just the one you are dealing with. Yeah, I know, 20-20 hindsight and all

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Those Dang U-Joints!

Don't use a hammer!

Reminds me of a saying..."When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"

I have done u-joints myself but now I just take everything to a machine shop where they have the proper tools and are experts at it.