What’s the secret to popping a front CV axle back into the front diff? After getting new seals and snap rings, I tore into the axle assembly Saturday to replace the damaged ring and oil seal we had to reuse in the field. Everything went well until I was unable to “pop” the axle back into the diff. I tried for a while before giving up and calling Jeff up and twisting his arm to come over and help. He too was unable to pop it in on his own. We as a pair were able to do it by having Jeff position it from underneath allowing me to take the play out of the assembly and I was then able to pop it in. What a pain, and back to the original question, how do I press it in if I’m by myself?
Next pain was in taking the engine skid plate off to change the diff lube the three frame nuts popped free. The replacement 8mm riv-nuts should be waiting at home today – I love McMaster-Carr! I hope to have them in place and skid back on for a run this weekend (Assuming there’s no ice to fish on).
Sunday Jeff opened up his garage for the skid plate effort. I thought I’d share a few pictures – 3 bays wide, 2 cars deep with his prize possession safely tucked away behind the heavy plastic curtain.
And of course friends like me, bring all sorts of dirt and mud into the pristine garage. Check what was on the transmission skid plate. Every nook and cranny was full of dried mud.
I felt so bad dragging Jeff into the middle of what turned into a two day job, that when I got home I asked Barb (my wife and truly great baker) if she could double up on Sunday night's desert. And when done, I delivered the hot apple pie, fresh out of the oven.