Gun Drilling Birfields

[cruiserpilot]

Hey, there is a thread on Coastal Cruisers section, but for guys who don't look there. I found this
quite interesting. Basically it's a drilled center of outer birfield shaft to allow grease application to
the inner birfield as regular maintenance.
Have and you heard of this before?

http://gearingdynamics.com.au/Greaseable-CV-Joint-for-Toyota-Landcruiser

 

[hellbent40]

Interesting... never seen that... comes with a pressure relief too...
I don't know about running larger tires with that set up.... I would be worried about the strength of the BIRF with a shafts down the center of the BIRF ...
Just my thoughts on it

 

[cruiserpilot]

I am not sure running stock tires and regular use that it would be an issue. It looks like a regular thing
with the mine trucks, but they are unbudgeted throw away vehicles.
I do know that I have pulled a lot of birfields out and very rarely are they properly grease lubricated since
most have never been serviced since new. Personally, as it is a single cost I'd do it. Would feel way better
knowing that fresh grease was in there just before leaving on a week long trip.

 

[Toshi38]

I wouldn't do it... would weaken an already weak part in my opinion ... although most birf breaks I've seen haven't been in that shaft.

Like you said... most folks don't grease them often enough. A much better approach seems like it would be to simply do a teardown and grease once a year. Regular maintenance goes a long way!

 

[too tall]

http://www.trail-gear.ca/specials/copy-of-longfield-30-spline-birfield-axle-super-set-fj-60/
trail gear started doing it too . I bet they have a chart somewhere that shows how much weaker than regular longfields they are . I like the idea . Would like to see how they wear after a long usage period with a regular maintenance installment of fresh grease . Longfields have a tendency to get stiff when you use them hard , I bet this would sort that issue out .