Re: Dropped drive line

[John Hofstetter <hofs@domain.elided>]

>  Fracturing a U-joint during a truck pull can
>pull the U-bolts right through the holes in the yoke.  

Bill, that would be impressive!

I guess my use of my Internationals, although I thought I was using them 
pretty hard, was really not that hard over the years. Never done a truck 
pull, never done a rock climb severe enough to break a universal......  I 
wonder if my IHC's over the years ever appreciated just how well I did 
treat them?  (g)  I may have quicksand stories to match anybody's, but 
those are mostly winch stories, not involving power to the wheels to any 
extent at all. 

I bent a driveline a couple of years ago getting to the bottom of the 
first waterfall in Surprise Canyon in order to just look at the beginning 
of the bad stuff. I shudder to think of what I'd have done if I'd even 
thought about climbing it. (g)
>
>It's pretty important that the trunion bearing caps be uniformly supported
>all the way around.  A yoke with a broken corner may *look* servicable, but
>tightening of the U-bolts and the torque force of the driveshaft can easily
>oval a bearing cap -- bringing on a swift and certain bearing failure.

That makes sense. 
>
>Now you may say that you've heard of "several" such failures. <g>\

Yes, I can. Thank you for broadening my range of failure knowledge. (g 
back at ya)

>Bill Thebert

Good to hear from you.
How about telling me off-digest about your troubles with your Dakota 
tranny. You already know why I might be interested. My horror story on 
front and rear differentials continues. 

Regards,
John H.