continued..
It almost done .
As in the last picture of the previous post, I get the bumper /axle in position and have the phasing marked . ( When I first removed the shafts in the beginning, I noticed a mark on their ends. I guess this was for the factory phasing). The Kubota brand boot crimp bands are preformed in a large circle like a ring and ready to be squeezed... so I went ahead and placed them on the inner assembly. otherwise I would be up the creek after the assemblies were together . The bands kept falling off before I had the assemblies together, so I fixed that with a dab of grease to hold 'em up there, on each side. ( I also has some grease in the splined areas soon to be put together and hidden by the boot)
Now it is just a matter of swinging out the one side of the axles, positioning the outer axle to aim toward the inner and positioning the inner joint to "aim to the outer axle, it was soon to meet.". I used the belt rachet to adjust the bumper height to what I needed and brought the 2 together. After just a bit of slight adjusting the axle and inner piece just come together. really nice.. I put my hand up in the hidden part of the axle and felt that the phasing was still right . the boot had also slipped perfectly in position.
. I decide to go on and secure that boot clamp so the 2 pieces won't "come apart" when I am working with the other side. I use a large pair of "pincher"pliers to squeeze the boot strap crimp piece. I'm not too harsh with it because I know these pliers will also cut if used too forcefully.
I do the same with the other side and they come together just fine. I touch, I feel, All seems right . I wiggle the boot, it is right so then I crimp it and can see grease come out as the squeeze is made just like on the first side. I know now, very little water can get in there, if any. All done.. So I double check everything: boots, nuts , crimps grease, fluid and let down the bed.. Time for a road test.. All is well .
etc..
I posted a couple of extra pictures left over here at the end..
It is important to let folks know that I did this out of necessity to save some money and that I really don't know much so may have done some things considered wrong by the pros. However, it worked for me, so use your judgement when doing things that I did.
I watched my Dad (and Mama) work.. many, many years ago when I was growing up and learned much about how to do things and how to make things a person needs,..how to think out of the box so to speak... I enjoyed and now even today, miss very much, my times with both my Mama and Daddy. They grew up in hard times that would bring tears to many today..but they were always honest and treated people right. That's what I want to do and, the Good Lord willing , try to do whenever I can. bordercollie
