Ford U/J Split ?

Biggles

Biggles

Member
There must be a way to dismantle the Ford universal joint in the driveline - some clever way to get those wire clips out - but it beats me.

I give in - how do you do that?
 
Those wire spring clips are very difficult to get out. If you are planning to rebuild the UJ, and purchase a rebuild kit, it will have new sleeve bearings and spring clips. So, what I do to get the old spring clips out, is cut them completely through in the center with a small Wizzer abrasive wheel cutting tool and remove the two halves since you get new spring clips in the rebuild kit anyway.
 
Ah - I see you are here, Biggles, I'd be interested if they can be removed and reused.

Mart.
 
Any body? Would be good to get an answer on this. Some folk like to strip a part, in this case the universal joint, check him out,, if serviceable, clean him up, lube him and put it back together and run the original Ford built components.

So is there a way to pull the clips without damaging them or the uj.
Some one has to have done this?
Martin.
 
Thanks for your interest and suggestions, chaps.

The clips cannot be rotated in the grooves which are machined off-centre.
The only way to remove the clips is to cut them in two and try to lever out the halves, or to grind a slot adjacent to the clip to enable it to be levered out, which is what you see here. The bushes are a press fit in the yokes.

It looks like a repair kit is the best way to go.











 
Page 564 of the Model A Service Bulletins tells how to replace the bushings and
snap rings. It tells how to make the tools but they use new bushings and
snap rings as the old ring are damaged coming out.

Bob
 
scooder said:
Any body? Would be good to get an answer on this. Some folk like to strip a part, in this case the universal joint, check him out,, if serviceable, clean him up, lube him and put it back together and run the original Ford built components.

So is there a way to pull the clips without damaging them or the uj.
Some one has to have done this?
Martin.
Click to expand...

Maybe you could spend some time on this and possibly come up with a method to remove them undamaged and reusable. Let us know if you do come up with something.
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
Those wire spring clips are very difficult to get out. If you are planning to rebuild the UJ, and purchase a rebuild kit, it will have new sleeve bearings and spring clips. So, what I do to get the old spring clips out, is cut them completely through in the center with a small Wizzer abrasive wheel cutting tool and remove the two halves since you get new spring clips in the rebuild kit anyway.
Click to expand...

JM: Where do you buy the repair kits from?
I have a 5 gallon pail full of U-Joints and am thinking of rebuilding them. THANKS.
 
I tried to see if I could extract a clip without grinding anything away and I couldn't do it. I sharpened an old screwdriver into a sharp chisel point and that wouldn't get under it.

Mart.
 
19Fordy said:
JM: Where do you buy the repair kits from?
I have a 5 gallon pail full of U-Joints and am thinking of rebuilding them. THANKS.
Click to expand...

Personally, I'd only rebuild one that is well worn. When they go bad they really go bad. If they are in good condition, I would suggest it's better to just reuse them. I don't know what the quality is like on the rebuild kits, but you can be sure that the originals are top quality. Keeping them well lubed will ensure a long service life.

Mart.
 
19Fordy said:
JM: Where do you buy the repair kits from?
I have a 5 gallon pail full of U-Joints and am thinking of rebuilding them. THANKS.
Click to expand...
Mac's offers rebuild kits of a spider, four bushes and four clips for $45. I don't know where they are made or what the quality is.
Bob C said:
Page 564 of the Model A Service Bulletins tells how to replace the bushings and
snap rings. It tells how to make the tools but they use new bushings and
snap rings as the old ring are damaged coming out.
Bob
Click to expand...
Could you post an image of that page for those who don't have access to the bulletin? That would be a great help.
 
Last edited:
I have gotten them out using a small punch (small enough to go in the slot) ground like a cape chisel. Start by one end and force prying toward the other and it will bulge up enough to get a screw driver under it. Makes a small nick in the ring but haven't had any trouble with them later.
 
19Fordy said:
JM: Where do you buy the repair kits from?
I have a 5 gallon pail full of U-Joints and am thinking of rebuilding them. THANKS.
Click to expand...

It's been quite a few years since I purchased any of these kits, but as Biggles said, MAC's sells the rebuild kit, and that's probably where I bought mine. MAC's kit has the spider/cross shaft, bearings/bushings and spring clips at $42.00. The Early Ford V-8 Sales, Inc. also sells that same kit at about the same price. C&G sells a kit with just bearings/bushings and spring clips for $25.00 (2011 catalog) . I am sure other suppliers are selling these same UJ rebuild kits.

As a word of caution to those trying to find a way to remove those spring clips w/o first cutting them in half, make sure you are wearing a good pair safety glasses or goggles. I had some of those spring clips come out with enouge force to put an eye out of commission. That's when I started cutting them in half.
 
Deuce roadster,
Thanks for your answer, it is achievable, fiddly, but achievable.
John,
Were you shouting at me in post #8? Or just talking loudly?
Thanks,
Martin.
 
scooder said:
John,
Were you shouting at me in post #8? Or just talking loudly?
Thanks,
Martin.
Click to expand...

Neither, I just wanted to use large, bolder fonts than the quote when sending that from my iPhone with small screen. Now that I am viewing that post on my computer it does look a bit big.

IT IS NORMALLY CONSIDERED SHOUTING WHEN USING ALL CAPS AND SOMETIMES BOLD LIKE THIS.

Have you had some spare "putzing time" yet to determine a way to remove those spring clips undamaged and reusable? Would still be interested in your findings.
 
Hi Everyone, Off topic, but I agree with JM, when using my phone, it's MUCH EASIER to see the larger bolder fonts.
 
John,
I see now you wernt shouting, it's the big font that threw me.
Not had any spare yet, just got back in from fighting the rear springs on a 1937 Austin Seven Ruby. What a ball ache, quarter ecliptic springs wedged up in side the chassis. After 80 years they really really don't want to come out of the square hole there wedged into!
When I get to putz, I'll definitely post my findings.
Martin.
 
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