Real time help separating birfields?

[IdahoDoug]

I've got little time before the stores close so I'm asking and then searching at the same time. I can't clean the 97's birfs like I did the 93 for some reason, so I'm making a late decision to separate the birfs. Anyone recall the diameter of the pipe used in the neat trick to separate the birfs? It's where you put the long axle in the pipe, and drop the pipe, which breaks the snap ring.

Thanks!!


DougM

 

[Clutchee]

Take the birf with you & GO!

 

[medtro]

I used 1.5" pipe.

 

[scottm]

I think I just tapped around with a hammer it 'till it gave. Maybe with a brass hammer or drift, I know I didn't use a pipe.

 

[T Y L E R]

Doug, I dug up a few posts and placed them in chat ... one is Semlins, and another is Raventai using 'Robbie's trick' ..


Hope you made it to the stores on time,



TY

 

[cruiserman]

Just follow the manual. Stick it in a vice (or vise) and whack it. The pipe trick didn't work for me.

 

[landtank]

Doug is this your first Birf job? And how did you clean the ones on the 93?

 

[TLCgrappler]

Exact diameter doesnt matter. Just has to be big enough to fit the axle shaft into it so the birf joint can rest on top of the pipe. Must be long enough to hold the bottom of the axle off the ground. Schedule 40 PVC worked for me. Easy to cut to a correct length.


Have a piece of plywood to drop it on so the axle doesn't hurt the floor or vice versa.

I think one reason it doesn't work for some guys is they drop the birf down onto the pipe. Don't do ti that way. Insert the axle into the pipe til the birf stops it. Then pick up the whole thing holding the pipe just under the birf, and steadying the birf with your hand, and smack it all down on the plywood. The snapring will break loose from the weight of the axle. and the axle will fall to the floor through the pipe. I think you get more force that way.

 

[neowulf]

i had to cut my birfs to get them off, mayby you have to do that as well

good luck

 

[elmariachi]

i had to cut my birfs to get them off, mayby you have to do that as well good luck

You gotta be shi!!ing me, cut them?? I have done a dozen of these and every one of them popped apart when I slid the axle into a 4' long piece of 2" ID pipe, then slammed the whole thing vertically down on concrete.

 

[alia176]

Where I get lost is....you drop the axle out of the birf, thereby breaking the snap ring (which is inside the birf)....then how the heck do you reinstall the snap ring back inside the birf?

 

[landtank]

the snap ring doesn't break, it stays complete and can be used again if needed.

to reinstall the ring you place it on the axle and then start the axle into the burf until it meets the snap ring, then compress the snap ring and push the axle further in where there is a recess for the ring to expand slightly, holding the axle in place.

 

[Rich]

New snap ring. It is installed on the axle.

 

[TX_TLC]

Do not reuse the snap rings....

Putting it all back together is much easier with 2 people...one to keep and eye on the snap ring and the other to tap it in.

 

[IdahoDoug]

You guys are great - thanks a ton for finding that thread. Snagged a pipe and 4 cans of brake cleaner. When I got home, the birf must have soaked long enough (I was getting impatient) and the brake cleaner immediately started coming out clear when I fired more into it upside down per CDan's technique. Trick is to use the plastic straw so you can get the cleaner deep in where grease is still trapped.

So, I duct taped a blow drier to the workbench to dry the still assembled birf while I put the new knuckle bearings in.

Thanks so much!

DougM

 

[elmariachi]

So, I duct taped a blow drier to the workbench to dry the still assembled birf while I put the new knuckle bearings in.

As I stated on the rebuild DVD, its not always necessary to break the joint apart....BUT. I have always been paranoid about cleaner getting trapped behind the cage so I always use compressed air to blow that joint out before packing in new moly. It wouldn't take much brake cleaner to dissolve a packed knuckle and its awafully easy for cleaner to stay trapped behind the balls and cage.

Glad you got it resolved.

 

[landtank]

first, if I'm tearing into the front axle there is no way I'm not breaking down the birf. Not doing so is just crazy.

second, I'd never use anything like brake clean on a birf. It's too damn aggressive and leaves a residue that takes a while for the grease to break through and start lubricating the joint again.

Doug, with all your carrying on of how much of a maticulous maintenance man you are, I can't beleive your short cutting such an important step as this.