Re: [Amc-list] Good Rambler day!

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Sounds like you had a productive day indeed! You need to look at your TSM. The center of the rear universal caps need to be 4-3/16" from the front of the axle housing (not the extended seal, the cast iron housing). You will likely have to drive it on to get the distance correct. Make sure the splines are clean and dry if it's been taken off. If not, just check the distance, adjust if necessary, and tighten the nut. If the yoke is stuck in place it's better to leave it unless you need to take it off to replace the u-joints. 

There should be a shield crimped to the big nut that protects the seal. Make sure it's still on there! They usually get knocked off the crimp then removed. Bad mistake! That seal is near impossible to find! If your shield is missing make one. A tin can cut down so that it just fits over the raised portion of the seal works great! IIRC it needs to be about 3/4" tall. Just cut a hole centered in the bottom to fit the nut, then epoxy to the nut. Sounds a bit hockey, but it works. Of course if you can find something better by all means use it! 

The splines on the pinion shaft are straight. The threaded part of the yoke has a split (slot) and the threads are tapered to the front (towards the u-joint -- front as when installed). As the nut is tightened the yoke grips the pinion shaft. The nut should be tightened to 300 lb/ft. I use a couple 18" pipe wrenches, one with a 24" cheater pipe over it (about 30" of handle) and tighten as tight as I can. I put one over the weld on the end of the driveshaft and let the handle prop against the floor, then put as much weight as I can on the cheater. AMC had a wrench the fit the yoke right behind the u-joint "ears", but my pipe wrenches are too thick to work there. If you have a huge adjustable wrench it might work, but I think that would be too thick also. Just don't grip the shaft itself -- the tubing would bend! It won't over the welded end though. Done this more times than I cared to! 

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:56:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

Axle and trans out in 90 minutes. Easy! Umm, is this bad? The
driveshaft simply slid off the splines on the pinion. I thought
it was nutted on there?! This is a big nut rear... is that a
jam nut on a tapered thread meant to jam the splines? What's
the point of that?! Otherwise it's all fine and I'll put it
back that way unless someone yells.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

_______________________________________________
Amc-list mailing list
Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list