Disassembly and assembly

Single cardan universal joint

NOTE: The following procedure is described for a propeller shaft equipped with only a cardan joint in the tube yoke. If the propeller shaft is equipped with a companion yoke, simply repeat the following steps to remove the cardan joint from the companion yoke after removing the cardan joint from the tube yoke.

DISASSEMBLY

Individual components of cardan universal joints are not serviceable. If worn or leaking, they must be replaced as an assembly.

(1) Remove the propeller shaft.

(2) Using a soft drift, tap the outside of the bearing cap assembly to loosen snap ring.

(3) Remove snap rings from both sides of yoke (Fig. 18).

(4) Set the yoke in an arbor press or vise with a socket whose inside diameter is large enough to receive the bearing cap positioned beneath the yoke.

Fig. 18 Remove Snap Ring

1 - SNAP RING

(5) Position the yoke with the grease fitting, if equipped, pointing up.

(6) Place a socket with an outside diameter smaller than the upper bearing cap on the upper bearing cap and press the cap through the yoke to release the lower bearing cap (Fig. 19).

Fig. 19 Press Out Bearing

1 - PRESS

2 - SOCKET

(7) If the bearing cap will not pull out of the yoke by hand after pressing, tap the yoke ear near the bearing cap to dislodge the cap.

(8) To remove the opposite bearing cap, turn the yoke over and straighten the cross in the open hole.

Then, carefully press the end of the cross until the remaining bearing cap can be removed (Fig. 20).

CAUTION: If the cross or bearing cap are not straight during installation, the bearing cap will score the walls of the yoke bore and damage can occur.

Fig. 20 Press Out Remaining Bearing

1 - CROSS

2 - BEARING CAP

ASSEMBLY

(1) Apply extreme pressure (EP) N.L.G.I. Grade 1 or 2 grease to inside of yoke bores to aid in installation.

(2) Position the cross in the yoke with its lube fitting, if equipped, pointing up (Fig. 21).

(3) Place a bearing cap over the trunnion and align the cap with the yoke bore (Fig. 22). Keep the needle bearings upright in the bearing assembly. A needle bearing lying at the bottom of the cap will prevent proper assembly.

(4) Press the bearing cap into the yoke bore enough to install a snap ring.

(5) Install a snap ring.

Fig. 21 Install Cross In Yoke

1 - CROSS

2 - YOKE

Fig. 22 Install Bearing On Trunnion

1 - BEARING CAP

2 - TRUNNION

(6) Repeat Step 3 and Step 4 to install the opposite bearing cap. If the joint is stiff or binding, strike the yoke with a soft hammer to seat the needle bearings.

(7) Add grease to lube fitting, if equipped.

(8) Install the propeller shaft.

Double cardan joint

DISASSEMBLY

Individual components of cardan universal joints are not serviceable. If worn or leaking, they must be replaced as an assembly.

(1) Remove the propeller shaft.

(2) Using a soft drift, tap the outside of the bearing cap assembly to loosen snap ring.

(3) Remove all the bearing cap snap rings (Fig.

23).

Fig. 23 Remove Snap Rings

(4) Set the joint in an arbor press or vise with a socket whose inside diameter is large enough to receive the bearing cap positioned beneath the link yoke.

(5) Place a socket with an outside diameter smaller than the upper bearing cap on the upper bearing cap and partially press one bearing cap from the outboard side of the link yoke enough to grasp the bearing cap with vise jaws (Fig. 24). Be sure to remove grease fittings that interfere with removal.

(6) Grasp the protruding bearing by vise jaws. Tap the link yoke with a mallet and drift to dislodge the bearing cap from the yoke (Fig. 25).

Fig. 24 Press Out Bearing

Fig. 25 Remove Bearing From Yoke

(7) Flip assembly and repeat Step 4, Step 5, and Step 6 to remove the opposite bearing cap. This will then allow removal of the cross centering kit assembly and spring (Fig. 26).

Fig. 26 Remove Centering Kit

(8) Press the remaining bearing caps out the other end of the link yoke as described above to complete the disassembly.

ASSEMBLY

During assembly, ensure that the alignment marks on the link yoke and propeller shaft yoke are aligned.

(1) Apply extreme pressure (EP) N.L.G.I. Grade 1 or 2 grease to inside of yoke bores to aid in installation.

(2) Fit a cross into the propeller shaft yoke (Fig.

27).

Fig. 27 Install Cross In Yoke

(3) Place a bearing cap over the trunnion and align the cap with the yoke bore (Fig. 28). Keep the needle bearings upright in the bearing assembly. A needle bearing lying at the bottom of the cap will prevent proper assembly.

Fig. 28 Install Bearing Cap

(4) Press the bearing cap into the yoke bore enough to install a snap ring (Fig. 29).

(5) Install a snap ring.

Fig. 29 Press In Bearing Cap

(6) Flip the propeller shaft yoke and install the bearing cap onto the opposite trunnion. Install a snap ring (Fig. 30).

Fig. 30 Press In Bearing Cap

(7) Fit the link yoke on the remaining two trunnions and press both bearing caps into place (Fig.

31).

(8) Install snap rings.

Fig. 31 Install Link Yoke

(9) Install the centering kit assembly inside the link yoke making sure the spring is properly positioned (Fig. 32).

Fig. 32 Install Centering Kit

(10) Place two bearing caps on opposite trunnions of the remaining cross. Fit the open trunnions into the link yoke bores and the bearing caps into the centering kit (Fig. 33).

Fig. 33 Install Remaining Cross

(11) Press the remaining two bearing caps into place and install snap rings (Fig. 34).

Fig. 34 Press In Bearing Cap

(12) Tap the snap rings to allow them to seat into the grooves (Fig. 35).

Fig. 35 Seat Snap Rings In Groove

(13) Check for proper assembly. Flex the joint beyond center, it should snap over-center in both directions when correctly assembled (Fig. 36).

(14) Install the propeller shaft.

Fig. 36 Check Assembly

Cleaning and inspection

Propeller shaft

(1) Clean all universal joint bores with cleaning solvent and a wire brush.

(2) Inspect the yokes for distortion, cracks, and worn bearing cap bores.