September 4, 2000
There is a certain zen to doing good automotive work. I've learned this from hours and hours of doing bad automotive work. The key, I've discovered, is to have a calm mind. A calm mind promotes the patience needed to do the job correctly. It allows you to quietly accept the fact that you have to remove a rat's nest of emissions gear in order to change that last spark plug by the firewall. It gives you the serenity to remove the entire transmission just so you can change a two dollar seal in the clutch slave cylinder. The second key I've discovered is that the right tools are the path to a calm mind. My success rate has increased dramatically since I switched from three adjustable wrenches to a complete set of open-ended and box-ended wrenches.
My ongoing quest for further mechanic's enlightenment has resulted in my recent acquisition of Tiger Tool's u-joint installation and removal tool kit. This kit, consisting of a u-joint puller and bearing cup installer, is designed solely for the installation and removal of u-joints. This it does quickly and well. You probably think that such tools are a luxury and that your vise, hammer, and mangled socket do just as good a job. I would agree that you could change u-joints without these tools but these tools do a better job and make it much easier. It would be similar to the difference between installing a lift kit with hand tools or with an impact wrench. Besides, Rock Monkeys like cool tools and that's what Tiger Tools makes.
Left: Bearing Cup Installer
Right: U-Joint Puller
|
Of the two tools, the u-joint puller is the most specialized. It works by exerting pressure between the yoke's ear and two of the u-joint's cross shafts. Because the tool grasps the yoke so well, there is no need to support the axle shaft or drive shaft in a vise or similar device. What is normally a somewhat cumbersome job is made surprisingly quick and easy. This difference becomes even more important on the trail where I have seen many u-joint repairs involve the use of a small sledge hammer and the nearest rock. Obviously, the Tiger Tool is going to make the biggest difference on the trail, where you won't have the benefit of a nice large vise.
The bearing cup installer looks like a large c-clamp with some important differences. For starters, it is much stronger and capable of exerting much more pressure than a regular clamp. Secondly, the foot on the end of the screw can fit inside the hole in the yoke's ear, making it perfect for pushing out a stuck u-joint cap. And thirdly, the end of the clamp is magnetic, making it very easy to position both u-joint caps prior to pressing them into the yoke.
If you'd like an indicator of how easy it is to change a u-joint with this tool, consider this: I found myself removing and installing u-joints for fun. That's right, I'll admit it, it was FUN. Here's how the tools work:
To use the u-joint extraction tool, simply slip the "glove" around the
yoke and adjust the forcing screw so that the fork's feet are up
against the u-joint's trunions. In this example, I left the bearing
cups on the trunions simply because I was in a bit of a rush and
wasn't planning on re-using this u-joint. If I was planning on
re-using the u-joint, the correct procedure would be to remove
the bearing cups and place the feet directly against the trunions.
|
Tightening the forcing screw places even pressure on the yoke
and bearing cups, pulling the the yoke away from the u-joint.
|
The bearing cup installation tool came in handy for removing
this bearing cap that wouldn't pop out of the yoke.
|
Installing a u-joint and its bearing caps was a simple procedure. I
started by sliding one of the bearing cups into the yoke.
|
Next, I slipped the u-joint into the yoke and the bearing cap.
The magnetic end of the bearing installer held onto the other bearing
cup as I positioned the tool.
|
Tightening the forcing screw pushed the bearing caps into the yoke.
|
Instructions
|
Tiger Tool International Inc.
Email: info@tigertool.com
Web: www.tigertool.com
Click here to see
videos of
their products in action!
Phone: (604) 855-1133
Fax: (604) 855-4424
Toll-free: 1-800-661-4661
USA
Box 1420, 446 Harrison St
Sumas, WA 98295
Canada
548 Sumas Way
Abbotsford, BC, V2S 8C4
|
Besides making the job easier, these tools also eliminate the risks of damaging the yokes, cups and bearings. Believe it or not, it is not considered good form to pound on the yokes and bearing cups with your trusty 2-lb mini sledge hammer. Nor is it very zen-like. Yes, I know it feels good and it seems to work BUT you might also be damaging or fatiguing the parts. Tiger Tool's u-joint kit makes the job easy to do the RIGHT way.
In short, I like these tools a lot. Any moderate to hardcore 'wheeler should make room in his work shop for this kit.
...lars
