[Spridgets] I hate U joints

Chris King cbking at alum.rpi.edu
Mon Mar 30 05:41:47 MST 2009


The grease is what I did when replacing the u-joints on a spare
driveshaft over this winter. I just put the nozzle of the gun in the cap
and gave it a squeeze. I still managed to trash one of the 8 bearing
cups (did both ends) when a needle bearing fell over. Oh, well, now I
have 3 spare cups for the next time that happens!
 
-=Chris

Chris King
http://home.comcast.net/~kvcbk/ 

 <-----Original Message----->

 	  	 From: GUY DAY [grday at btinternet.com]
Sent: 3/30/2009 3:52:20 AM
To: spritenut at comcast.net;spridgets at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] I hate U joints 

Frank, 
Try wiping the inside of the joint, over the needles, with a goodly
layer of 
thick(ish) grease before assembly. You're going to pump them full
through 
the zerk (grease nipple) anyway. Don't hammer them together, the needles
fall out (LOL!). 'G' clamp if still under the motor and in the vice if 
off. 

Guy 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank" <spritenut at comcast.net> 
To: "Spridgets" <spridgets at autox.team.net> 
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 3:16 AM 
Subject: [Spridgets] I hate U joints 


> Ever since I was 18 and owned a shitfire that needed U joints once a
week, 
> I hated them 
> I hate replacing U joints so much that I am forever using good used 
> driveshafts in any Sprite I restore. 
> Well I am out of good used shafts BUT I had a pair of U joints and a
few 
> driveshafts to beat apart. 
> So why is it EVERY FREAKING time a needle bearing drops and screws up
my 
> new U joint? 
> I have tried several different methods of pressing them in, beating
them 
> in, dropping the knuckle into the cap and every single time I mess up
at 
> least one cap by dropping a needle bearing. 
> Tonight was no exception, 2 new joints, 2 now with one cut needle
each. 
> (quality Japanese steel) 
> Yes made in Japan on the box. Imagine chinese U joints? I can't. 
> From now on I will just take the drive shafts to the machine shop, it
just 
> not worth the aggravation. 
> You would think someone would come up with a better U joint. No needle
> bearings or at least have them retained somehow. 
> 
> -- 
> Frank Clarici 
> Toms River, NJ 
> My own Fleet of Sprites 


More information about the Spridgets mailing list