U joint repair question

[fatchance]

So the unthinkable happened...

I was replacing the u-joint on one half of my pto drive shaft and as I was installing the 4th cap, one of the bearings fell out! I can't find it anywhere. The different dealers in the area only have the whole spider to sell not just a cap or even better the single bearing.

I'm going to contact a local company (Canadian bearings) tomorrow but the question I have for you folks is: Can I use the cap with one less bearing and just install it anyhow?

Thanks.

 

[stuckmotor]

These things are great. I broke mine but what was left saved me grief yesterday.
Long Reach Magnetic Pickup Tool with Quick Release

 

[davesl708]

I don't think operating with a roller missing will work. The unit will fail early and maybe not in a good way. If you have a magnet sweep the area to find it.

 

[George2615]

Installing the cap with one or more roller bearings missing will cause premature failure. If one or more rollers are missing the remaining rollers can tilt on an angle and not roll properly.
When you removed the old U joint caps were any of them still in working condition? If so, use one of those rollers to replace the missing one. That would be better than a missing roller. If not usable I'd bite the bullet and buy another new U joint.

 

[Clint S]

Can you use roller from the old one????? No way I would run it one short.

 

[fatchance]

Unfortunately the bearings in the old one aren't the same dimensions. I've already tried a magnetic sweep. I'll see if I can find a replacement bearing and if not a new spider is only 40-50 and then i'll have 3 spare cups.

Thanks for responses.

 

[Clint S]

I have 2 in my ''junk'' drawer for that same reason.

 

[fatchance]

Dealer gave me a 25% discount on the new spider. Just put that cap on and now we're off to the races.

 

[Jim Timber]

Weren't they greased?

I've never seen a dry cross bearing delivered before. They always have a shot of grease in the cups to keep the bearings from falling when put together at the factory.

 

[George2615]

Weren't they greased?

I've never seen a dry cross bearing delivered before. They always have a shot of grease in the cups to keep the bearings from falling when put together at the factory.

The OP didn't say whether he dropped the cup or not but I have. Was replacing a rear U joint on a vehicle and the driveshaft turned and one cup slid right off and dropped on the floor. Grease didn't hold the needle bearings in and they scattered all over. I was lucky and found them all. Had to clean, regrease and reinstall.

 

[Billrog]

There's been a bearing missing in the drive shaft of my post hole auger for nearly 20 yrs. and it's still going strong.

 

[ovrszd]

There's been a bearing missing in the drive shaft of my post hole auger for nearly 20 yrs. and it's still going strong.

He didn't say what the PTO shaft was for. But if it's a 540 rpm implement it's gonna be subject to a lot more revolutions than a post hole auger that's ran at an idle.

 

[Billrog]

You are correct normally I would just put in a new U join or look in the bottom of the cup for the missing one.

 

[crazyal]

I had one of the u-joints go on my truck and only had a tiny window to actually replace it. I got the replacement and one of the needles was broken in three places and would bind up. Being that it was about 9:30 at night so there was no way I could get a replacement and I needed the truck the next day I installed it with the broken needle. That day I bought a replacement back up. But the backup didn't have the zerk fitting so I didn't want to use it. It took about a week before the one with the fitting came in so I returned the one without the fitting. That was at least 5 years ago and the spare universal is still sitting in my tool box. The fact is that they don't spin like a regular bearing. Also the closer the shaft is inline the less the universal does.