closed drive universal install
 

When you bolt the universal joint to the output shaft on a closed drive transmission is there play on the shaft. I have about a 1/4" play with the bolt tightened.
Thamks

Re: closed drive universal install
 

If your referring to the single center bolt to the trans output shaft NO should be no play front to rear. Are you sure its tight or maybe you have the wrong U-joint in there. ??? ken ct.

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Thanks Ken, it is a 32' transmission. The universal joint is a Bob Drake reproduction. Are there different universal joints for different applications?

Re: closed drive universal install
 

I think u-joints are the same 28-48. Ther is a special thick indexing washer under the bolt. You have to get the tang in a slot.
You might check that it is installed right.

John

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Chinaville u joint? maybe they lost something in the conversion from English to metric

Re: closed drive universal install
 

If you don't have that super thick washer under the bolt you would have about 1/4 " of in + out play.There is no index that I know of??? ken ct.

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Do you have the right length bolt, so it gets tight before bottoming out? The original bolt is pretty short.

Maybe feel in there and see if it just the joint moving the 1/4" or if the output shaft is moving also.

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Hey Richard,
There should be a 'special' THICK washer that is ALSO has a slight curved shape to it that fills that space that you are talking about...did you install that , eh :confused: NO play / looseness should exist and make bolt tight !!

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Yes, there is the thick washer that is dished and the attaching bolt is short. I'm pretty sure the thick washer is tightly bolted to the end of the transmission output shaft and there is still play on the universal joint.

Re: closed drive universal install
 

I would suggest taking the U-joint off and tightening the bolt with washer to ensure that the bolt is tight to the end of the output shaft. The U-joint is used to pull the rear bearing tight against the output shaft to hold the back end in place. It must not be loose or the output shaft can move back and forth and you won't be able to stay in gear.

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Sounds lke you got a big problem there,hope not. ken ct.

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Just had a after thought.
May be the snap ring is not in place on the front bearing, therefor the bearing is pushed back in the transmission. I think ????

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Re: closed drive universal install
 

I'm bring up this post again as I just got off the phone with a customer that had a similar issue with the Drake universal joint.

After questioning him like Perry Mason I still could not determine what the issue was so I got a new U joint and a transmission out of stock and proceeded to install the joint.

Well the customer was correct and the U joint did not operate correctly or bolt down correctly. To determine the issue I disassembled the U-joint and determined that the heavy main drive washer supplied in the U -joint was installed incorrectly. My customer felt that that was the issue so I went with his suggested problem.

By flipping the washer over so the cup or concave side faced the main shaft and reassembled, the U joint functioned and installed correctly. Thus I think that this is the issue with your U joint. Look in the spline drive shaft end if the washer is concave to your sight its inverted as to its correct position. To fix the issue you must disassemble the u-joint and flip the washer so the concave faces the transmission mainshaft and everything will work as intended.

Don't go posting about "whaaa waaa Chinese parts or import stuff" its a QC issue and hard to spot. BD has been notified of the issue so I'm just passing on the info.

Re: closed drive universal install
 

Thank you for your input. I will do what you explained. I can see the thick washer and the concave is reversed.