Universal Joint problems

[TulsaFred]

I replaced the U-joint on my BE today, but ran into a problem. The grease fitting on the new U-joint runs into the yoke.

At first I thought I must have installed backwards, so I drifted it back out and turned it around. Still no go.
The zerk runs into the yoke and prevents the joint from rotating more that a about 5 degrees!

The U joint is from NAPA part number PUJ 341. It's the uprated part, USA made by Federal Mogul.

It looks like the angle that the zerk goes into the spider is incorrect causing it to interfere with the yoke. The original u joint on the other end of the driveshaft looks like the zerk is at a steeper angle.

Could I be missing something?

Fred

 

[Gerard]

Did you rotate it 90 degrees or flip it the opposite direction? Seems I've seen this before, but don't recall the solution. Post some pix.

 

[Rut]

Fred,
Ive run into the same problem and replaced the long zerk with a short 45* one to eliminate the interference.
Rut

 

[BlueMax]

Be sure to keep drive shaft phasing correct or you will experience drive shaft problems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4P75ZQvpws

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Alan, how would someone mess up the phasing on a spridget drive shaft by replacing the ujoints?

 

[nomad]

Trevor, I think he means don't put the yoke's on 180 from what they were. I always mark them on the shaft and on the car to make sure they stay the same. I have 3 out of balance shafts right now because of one thing or another. They will have to go to a shaft balancing shop.

Kurt.

 

[BlueMax]

On a Spridget it’s straight forward, but what I was really referencing is paying close attention to your differential angle.

 

[TulsaFred]

I found "most" of the problem. Turns out there is a subtle relief cut for the zerk on the yoke. It's not obvious, unless you know to look for it. It is cut onto one yoke arm on each side.
Once I got it the right way around, it "mostly" fixed the problem, and the U-joint has adequate travel. The zerk is still at the wrong angle, though, and so it still causes interference for the last 3/16" or so of travel in one direction. I'm hoping this won't matter.

 

[TulsaFred]

I found "most" of the problem. Turns out there is a subtle relief cut for the zerk on the yoke. It's not obvious, unless you know to look for it. It is cut onto one yoke arm on each side.
Once I got it the right way around, it "mostly" fixed the problem, and the U-joint has adequate travel. The zerk is still at the wrong angle, though, and so it still causes interference for the last 3/16" or so of travel in one direction. I'm hoping this won't matter.

 

[TulsaFred]