1981 MC-1 driveshaft reinstall into upper housing- any tricks to this?

[1lastweekend]

I just replaced the 2 seals in my upper housing, and also the seal on my driveshaft yoke, and now I am ready to reinstall the driveshaft into the upper housing...And it doesn't want to fit back in. I used a ring compressor sleeve to line everything back up on the driveshaft, and torqued the new nut and washer down to 80 ft lbs per my manual. The 1st time I tried, the leading bearing race got stuck in the housing, I cleaned the housing up with some medium brown scotch brite and tried again, but the leading race still wants to get stuck about 3/4 of an inch into the housing. I measured the races and ID of the housing with calipers, looks like there is .0015"-.002" clearance and neither the races or the housing is warped. I put the whole driveshaft in my freezer overnight, that didn't help. Should I try with gear oil on the races? Heat up the housing with a heat gun? Not sure what else to do, any advice is much appreciated!

 

[alldodge]

I used a ring compressor sleeve to line everything back up on the driveshaft, and torqued the new nut and washer down to 80 ft lbs per my manual.

Manual says to use a hose clamp. If the sleeve is wider it may not have the bearings it correct position

 

[1lastweekend]

Manual says to use a hose clamp. If the sleeve is wider it may not have the bearings it correct position

View attachment 415484

Thanks, I have a couple of extra washers so maybe I will loosen up the nut and retorque with a hose clamp…the only thing is the leading edge of the front race is what’s getting caught in the housing…so I don’t think I’m even to the point of having a misalignment issue but I will retorque and try again.

 

[alldodge]

Take just the race and see if it fits, hope the housing isn't warped

 

[1lastweekend]

Yeah I hope not, but I set up this clamp and rubber pieces to check...My calipers dont go down far enough into the housing to measure more that a little past the threads...I am going to move this setup an inch at a time through all the positions clockwise, give it 2-3 turns on the clamp and see if anything changes with the fit...

 

[kenny nunez]

I have had to apply heat to the housings several times. With the housing positioned so that gravity will help give heat a shot. Just be sure that the shims are in place.

 

[1lastweekend]

I have had to apply heat to the housings several times. With the housing positioned so that gravity will help give heat a shot. Just be sure that the shims are in place.

Thanks, I will try that too if the clamp doesn't help...Did you use a heat gun or a torch? So you flipped the housing on its back and lowered the driveshaft in from above? Thanks!

 

[1lastweekend]

Thanks, I will try that too if the clamp doesn't help...Did you use a heat gun or a torch? So you flipped the housing on its back and lowered the driveshaft in from above? Thanks!

Yes!!! Got it in, just hit the inside of the housing with a torch for 60 seconds or so!

 

[kenny nunez]

Now you learned a new trick! Good job!

 

[Scott06]

Yes!!! Got it in, just hit the inside of the housing with a torch for 60 seconds or so!

amazing what a diff it makes with just a bit of heat. You can do the same getting bearings on shafts etc by heating them. We have a couple bearing heaters at work that Ive used for jobs like this.