Ruddy propshafts

[Jebus]

Well a lovely week of work, and swapping over to a b230ft and m90 box taking a while even with the ramp at work...3 days at it so far from dropping swapping a few bits over new cambelt but never do anything quite this much before certainly by myself, but anyway I digress.

The prop, was split and not marked so hopefully its in balance, but getting the two halves back together was a nightmare, once past the rubber bellows things it took a lot of bashing and force for them to slide back together after they first slipped together, need to take it part for the carrier bearing soon so any tips on how to make it an easier affair?

[greenestate]

Hopefully these photos will help you and many others..
This may be stating the obvious for some but it took me a while and the purchase of a second hand propshaft to work it out. I couldn't find a single thing in any manual or online that detailed what is actually very simple...
Inside the female socket of the front half shaft is a 'keyway', more a space (see 'A' on the photo below, and the black mark 'B' on the outer edge).
On the UJ at the front end of the rear half shaft there is a cast 'button' (see 'C' on the second photo). When you get these lined up not only does it fit together easily but the two shafts will be back in their proper, balanced alignment.
It is very easy to kid yourself that the shafts are properly marked for later assembly, but lining up the button with the keyway is pretty foolproof.

[Ian21401]

Many thanks greenestate. The images make it so obvious. Do you need special kit to create and load them or are you techy savvy as well?

[Laird Scooby]

Once you've found the aligned position as Jim points out and the prop is back in its correct relative position, mark the inner and outer part with Tipp-Ex so you can find the aligned position easily.

If starting with a prop that's already aligned, simply mark with Tipp-Ex before you start.

Prop centre bearings are reasonably easy to replace, once done and refitted, if there is vibration from the prop on a test drive, slacken the bolts that hold the centre bearing bracket to the floorpan (only by 1/4-1/2 a turn) and take it for another test drive - not far and not fast either.

Return and tighten the bolts.

Any vibration from being out of line should have joggled the bracket into the right place and it can now be tightened again.

Once done, take it for a longer, faster test and it should all be good, if not repeat the short, slow test after slackening the bolts again.

[Jebus]

Thank you guys, not pulled it apart again yet to redo, will do it when get a new centre bearing put on, think those pics should be made into a sticky thread, since it is really helpful.

[greenestate]

That was suggested the last time the subject came up, but it didn't happen. Not sure who to ask or how to make it happen...

[Jebus]

An admin should be able todo something for us, might need a new thread put into the articles section