SIII Front axle Stuck!! help!!

I have noticed the the front wheels are not being driven when 4wd is
selected on my 1973 Series three SWB Ugh!?

I have now stripped the front axle in order to see why, the short axle
side is fine no problem found but the long side is not so well. The
long axle is stuck inside the spider gears of the front diff. If moved
around the axle can still engage and move the diff/driveshaft showing
that the axle is not broken but to pull on the axle stops any rotation
and won't withdraw any more than 1cm. Levering the axle with crowbars
and yanking with chains has not moved it making me believe that the end
of the axle is mushroomed or the splines are very gnarled.

I'm wondering if anybody has had this happen to them or come across this
problem before. Is there a way to remove the diff with an axle still in
place (logic tells me no but I'm truelly stuck). How would you apply
the considerable pressure required to dislodge the axle.

Can any one shine a light?

TIA
Phil the Kiwi

In message <[email protected]>
Bilbo Baggins <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have noticed the the front wheels are not being driven when 4wd is
> selected on my 1973 Series three SWB Ugh!?
>
> I have now stripped the front axle in order to see why, the short axle
> side is fine no problem found but the long side is not so well. The
> long axle is stuck inside the spider gears of the front diff. If moved
> around the axle can still engage and move the diff/driveshaft showing
> that the axle is not broken but to pull on the axle stops any rotation
> and won't withdraw any more than 1cm. Levering the axle with crowbars
> and yanking with chains has not moved it making me believe that the end
> of the axle is mushroomed or the splines are very gnarled.
>
> I'm wondering if anybody has had this happen to them or come across this
> problem before. Is there a way to remove the diff with an axle still in
> place (logic tells me no but I'm truelly stuck). How would you apply
> the considerable pressure required to dislodge the axle.
>
> Can any one shine a light?
>
> TIA
> Phil the Kiwi
>

From what you say above, it dosn't sound like the lack of drive was
an axle problem. It could be that the shafts that lock the 4wd in the
transfer box have become gummed up. To check this, remove the little
tin cap (2 screws if I remember right) on the front of the transfer
box and move the red knob backward and forwards. The two shafts under
the cover should reciprocate (one in, one out). If they don't, give
them a good clean until they do - you may need some mole gips
(with a suitable bit of rubber to prevent scoring) to give them a
helping hand until they do.

Back to your axle problem..... I would guess that the splined bit
on the end of the half-shaft is twisted and/or the splines have a
big step in them due to wear. If you can't pull it out then you
can't get the diff out - Catch 22! If it really wont come out then
the only thing I can think of would be a bit drastic - re-assemble
it, get the 4wd working, put it in 4wd and drive around on tarmac
until it snaps - obviously hoping that the half-shaft breaks before
anything else............

Richard

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Bilbo Baggins wrote:

> I have noticed the the front wheels are not being driven when 4wd is
> selected on my 1973 Series three SWB Ugh!?
>
> I have now stripped the front axle in order to see why, the short axle
> side is fine no problem found but the long side is not so well. The
> long axle is stuck inside the spider gears of the front diff. If moved
> around the axle can still engage and move the diff/driveshaft showing
> that the axle is not broken but to pull on the axle stops any rotation
> and won't withdraw any more than 1cm. Levering the axle with crowbars
> and yanking with chains has not moved it making me believe that the end
> of the axle is mushroomed or the splines are very gnarled.
>
> I'm wondering if anybody has had this happen to them or come across this
> problem before. Is there a way to remove the diff with an axle still in
> place (logic tells me no but I'm truelly stuck). How would you apply
> the considerable pressure required to dislodge the axle.
>
> Can any one shine a light?
>
> TIA
> Phil the Kiwi

If you strip the short side to the extent of removing the shaft. you should
be able to get a suitable small diameter bar on to the end of the shaft to
drive it out. As an additional suggestion - and maybe use both ideas, if
you unbolt the chromed sphere from the axle housing, leverage between these
flanges will pull on the shaft - and if you can get a centimetre you should
be able to get a nut in the space, giving you the ability to apply pressure
with six bolts. Add this to your other techniques you have tried, and being
able to use impact on the end, you may be able to move it.
There is a possibility that both the lack of drive and the unmoveable axle
may be due to a broken diff centre, probably either the cross shaft broken
or a split planet gear or both, which has burred the end of the shaft. The
driving by hand may be locking by broken pieces.
You may ultimately have to cut the front diff pan off and see what the
problem is, possibly taking to the axle and or diff centre with an oxy
torch.
JD

Thanks Richard I'll have a look at the transfer box today and hopefully
find the problem.
Cheers
Phil the Kiwi

Thanks JD that idea of using the swivel ball as a puller is a ripper I'm
going to give it a go now.
Cheers
Phil the Kiwi