Front Driveshaft Wobble

[B2400]

Anyone replaced front u-joints on the front driveshaft of their B-Series? I've got the Bi-Speed option on mine and it appears that there is an excessive amount of radial play on the shaft up near the trans. As all this sits up inside the frame tunnel, I can't get a good look at it to see whether it's the joint or the yoke. The WSM is unclear on how to replace this but it appears that they want you to split the tractor to do this /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. I plan on using a 2" hole saw and cutting a hole above the yoke to gain access to the roll pins. it doesn't appear that this will weaken the structural integrity at all but if it should I can weld the plug back in place when I'm done. Any tips or suggestions? I'm really scratching my head on this one and plan on attempting it in a couple of weeks when I replace the darn axle pivot o-ring again. Thanks All!!

 

[B2400]

Update:Winds of fortune have blown my way! The noise I suspected as being a u-joint turned out to be the lower joint cover( at lower u-jont elbow) rubbing on the joint itself!. Slid the cover back about an 1/8 of an inch and no more noise. Radial play in drive shaft is at the spline connecting the driveshaft to the upper,inner yoke. I'd had a similiar problem with a jeep and chevy 4wd and though it's annoying from a mechanical standpoint, it never failed. Sooo.... I live with the wobble until it fails or I hit the lottery to buy a new tractor!