Removing a universal joint from a PTO shaft

[cchoate]

I removed the clips but I don't know how to get the UV joint apart from the PTO shaft. Is it tough?

 

[beenthere]

I am assuming you are trying to get the joint apart, and put new bearings in. (maybe the wrong assumption)
I use to press them out the spider with a press. Finding the right socket in the tool box to fit and the right blocking to support the opposite side while pressing on the bearing cups was what kept the casting from breaking, if I remember right. I don't know how I'd go about it without a press, but maybe a large vise would work about as well.
Then pressing the cups back in needed care and good alignment to avoid messing up the needle bearings.
Knowing how it is designed aids in the effort, and I learned from watchin and helping others who knew. I'd suggest it for you too. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[GEB]

Beat it out... find a socket or something similar in size
thats near the same size as the cap.
then on the other side it will need to be braced up so
the cap can slide through.
Then the cap thats beat down will need to be poped back up and out.
Harbor Freight sells a big C-clamp lookin tool just for this.
They work great! about $20
They work for lots of other things also /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Look here
http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=www.harborfreight.com&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D1a255681cf847d8d%26clickedItemRank%3D1%26userQuery%3Dwww.harborfreight.com%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.harborfreight.com%252F%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPTop%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harborfreight.com%2F
Gene

 

[boustany]

If you are going to replace it, cut it out with a hand grinder.

Then push the caps out with a socket and a vise.

 

[beenthere]

What do you 'cut' with the grinder? the spider?


I'm trying to visualize how to get a grinder wheel in there. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[boustany]

Whew! There is a link up there which is Thhhhaaaaatttt long and I couldn't find the reply link.

I don't know what a spider is in a U joint, but I had a heck of a time getting one apart and I basically folded the drive shaft and I cut the cross part - i.e. the piece that isn't a cap or a bearing.

Zip, Zip and I had the shaft in 2 pieces. Zip Zip and the cross piece was out. A couple of passes with the press and I was ready to install the new joint.

Much easier than pressing out the old caps with the cross in place because you are only pushing one cup, not two, but it is destructive. However, I have never disaassembled a driveshaft without replacing the u joints, so I don't care about destroying to old one.

 

[cchoate]

I got it apart finally and of course got the wrong replacement. There is a 1/8" gap between the c ring and the yoke. I should have had someone who knew what they were doing.
Live and learn.

 

[beenthere]

boustany
You are right, what I was calling the 'spider' is actually the 'cross'. Sounds like the 'apart' problem is solved. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif