|
Working on universal joints
There are three grease nipples which can be lubricated on the cardan shaft, one directly in each of the two cross-joints and one on the key groove spline of the slider. There are of course, instructions for the
lubrication. Low maintenace joints, through the use of special greases and keys coatings, are an advantage.
The grease nipples will not always be in the right position, remember to check that no-one is under the truck if it has to be moved to find the correct position. Jacking the truck up and then turning the wheels helps. By
the way, neither is the workshop-pit a suitable place, if the truck has to be moved.
| Please locate all the grease nipples. |
Of course, in the event of repair work, this is an ideal time to carry out a complete lubrication. This however, does not necessarily apply to newly installed shafts, their joints are mostly filled with sufficient grease from
the manufacturer.
Sometimes, instead of grease nipples, just fine-threaded holes exist. One then needs a grease gun with a suitable attachment. Should the grease gun be fitted a flexible hose, having an additional helping hand is not
a bad idea. It is important to make sure that the grease can flow unhindered to the grease points.
With which we come to the repairing of a universal joint. If the joint has been stored for a longer period or for any reason, grease has escaped, then filling up with fresh grease does make sense. At this point, one can
take the opportunity to remove any possible rust from the shaft.
| Clean the back of the flanges particularly well. |
One should take note, that cardan shafts are to be balanced at 1500 RPM. So, on no account is the spline groove to be used to twist the two shaft sections against each other. Also any other combination of two partial
shafts is tabu and, one should also avoid the balancing plates.
| If possible, always use new screws from the manufacturer. |
With the two shaft sections, the 90°-twisting cannot be directly seen. This can only be recognised, if one compares the entrance joint of the one, with the exit joint on the other side. With two or more shafts one after the
other, the same principle is to be applied. 02/14
The screws should always be tightened using
a torque-wrench. |
|
|
