928 at last

OK, Having explored this particular level of Dante's Inferno (Hell, if you will) as far as I'd care to, let me share a precautionary tale of woe.

If you're relying on Dwayne's write up, (which is excellent BTW) it's my stupidity I'm sharing here....

Apparently, and believe me it will become very painfully apparent if you screw it up, there is a rule in engineering and in machining (unfortunately neither of which I am intimately familiar with) when it comes to fitting things in tubular objects which goes something like this.....if the diameter of the thing you are fitting in the tube is equal to or greater than the diameter of the tube you are dealing with, it cannot go "Cockeyed" , (Physically impossible so I'm told) and things will progress as planned and not create any issues.....
However, if the diameter is less than....you get the idea.

So, when Dwayne uses a 3.5 Inch "shuttle", you should do likewise. Even 4" would be good. 3" really isn't a good idea. Trust me.

Having covered that off, I have just spent about 16 hours or so doing what should have taken 2. And I have sheared two 5/8 rods, (yes really) and have several F#%@$%d washers in various diameters, a completely rogered (No offence intended Roger), 3" x 4", 1/4" steel plate, a depleted propane torch tank and several actually broken (and scorched) 2"x4"s to show for my ignorance. (But the bastards came out finally). The next step was explosives.

BTW...The balancer unit at the trans end of the tube is a VERY LARGE, RELATIVELY HEAVY unit. Which, under coersion from linear force of unknown magnitude, can fly a remarkable distance, and potentially inflict some serious damage on anything in it's way..........particularly when it's at a temperature of about 300 degrees at launch..

There's a lot to be said for having access to a serious hydraulic press (I might suggest 12 ton or so) with a 5' shaft..... I don't.

Further to the foregoing, I have now also had to try to clean the melted rubber and related goo out of the tube. More time I'm not getting back........

So, tomorrow we get to the part where we actually give the tube a shot of paint to make it look pretty and get on with the installation of the Super Bearings. Special thanks to Constantine here...he came through for me on short notice with express shipping.....

And to Roger. He came through with the the converter carrier bearings in very short order as well...

Wish me luck.

928 at last

Correction...Previous should read;

If the length of the of the thing you are fitting in the tube is equal to or greater than the diameter of the tube you are dealing with, it cannot go "Cockeyed"

The previous post would avoid the issue entirely. Anything of greater diameter wouldn't create a problem......

SeanR

Where's Dwaynes write up on the torque tube? I was looking for it a while back and never saw it.

As for screwing it up, I think you should post pictures too

jeff spahn

Yes please post pictures so we can know where to not do what.

Speedtoys

Oh hell ya...pitchers!


Dwayne's writeup:

http://home.comcast.net/~gq-beej/928/ttrebuild.htm

928 at last

Pics...
Thought about it, but decided to clean up the crime scene and deny any involvement should the authorities show up.....

Dwayne's write up shows up in search here, and is available in pdf on the OC site....

Let me know if you can't locate it and I'll post the link.

928 at last

Just use a 3.5" or longer "shuttle" and you will avoid my fate....

Yes Virginia, sometimes longer is better......

Dwayne

Hi Rob,
Sorry to hear about your ordeal but glad to hear you are back on track!

....propane torch, flying balancer, scorched 2x4s, melted rubber.....928 wrenching doesn't get any better than this! Someday you'll look back on this experience with a beer or pineapple soda and have a good laugh - thanks for sharing!

Let us know how the reassembly goes....

Ad0911

I can't figure out what you have tried to do to remove the bearings but indeed, slowly pressing beats banging by a mile or so!

Black Sea RD

Hi Rob,

If it's any consolation, we have been there and done that! That's why we designed special tools to help us with the rebuilds with a new tool coming on line shortly. The longer 4 bearing unit 944 TTs are harder by a good margin.

Just imagine if you had to re-use the bearing units you just took out. We have gotten our fair share of calls from people in the predicament of a failed TT rebuild with ruined original bearing units after their removal.

Please be sure the inner TT surfaces are cleaned out before the Super Bearing install.

Hope to hear good news about their installation!

Best,

blown 87

That is funny, and I feel your pain.............

We had one that we almost could not get the old bearings out of, using a lift and a 5 thousand pound pick up truck on it.

Some times the old bearings and dampner will almost fall out, sometimes not so much as yours seems to have been.

If you have access to a lift, then it is all down hill from there, you can just use the weight of the car to push them out.

the flyin' scotsman

Rob.....given that you're the man in Canada with TT experience any chance you coming out Calgary to lend a hand ?......please?.......buddy

928 at last

Yes, it really doesn't get any better...and you just have to laugh......
Thanks for all your efforts in documenting the various procedures. They've been a huge help.

Pineapple Soda? (Yea, with a serious shot of rum or Vodka maybe.....)

928 at last

Used a 5/8 inch threaded rod to pull the carriers out along with the bearings....at least that was the theory.

The Banging didn't happen until frustration took over. (The front carrier had already been extracted and the second was hung up.......and the rod had just sheared from the pressure....again....so violence was selected as the most appropriate route to take. It was either that or "borrow" a large excavator I had seen earlier in the day a few blocks away..and engage in some creative application of serious pressure on the offending unit...although the neighbours might have noticed...or explosives. The damn thing looks a bit like a medieval cannon, with a 1" steel plate bolted down to the trans end where we have a convenient place for a wick, (Inspection port) a bit of wadding and (in the mood I was in at that point), about a pound of black powder, Who knows what might have been accomplished..?????

928 at last

Yes, unfortunately though, the car and lift are about 30 miles from here, and I really wasn't anticipating this much of a problem.....
Anyway, out now. Tube cleaned and painted and tomorrow we go to install mode.....

Just had to share...if I can save anyone else the aggravation, it's a good thing.

Just a note though, with the size of that damper unit, what the hell were they expecting to try and dampen? a freakin' earthquake?