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'65 Rubicon Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by timsresort, Dec 27, 2020.

  1. May 16, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    So, I looked into the rear axle seal issue. First thing I noticed (besides the oil pouring out) was about 1/4" end play on both sides. Turns out, if you don't tell Currie what brakes you are going to use, (in my case super common explorer discs), they don't put the correct bearing retainer spacer on the shaft before they press on the bearing. My thought was, they should at least ask before they build it. So the axle was not in tight enough to pooch out the seal, or hold the shaft in tight, and everything was banging around in there at the end of the tube, it's amazing it did not create more havoc. Currie took no responsibility, so I get to buy the correct retainers from them, new set 20 bearings and seals from Summit, and will have to take the shafts to a shop for the press off, press on. Fun times! 5 weeks to the first run.
     
  2. May 17, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Annoying. You think that would be on their build questionnaire.
     
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  3. May 17, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I looked, I thought we talked about it, but I couldn't find anything in writing. I also thought they could throw me a bone, like free parts, but no. I usually see John Currie (inventor of the rock jock 60, as he told me) at the Jamboree, but now-a-days, he's out of the company his dad founded, so it won't do much good. Thank you sir, may I have another...
     
  4. May 18, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Next, looked into the 3 wheel drive issue, (although it did pretty darn well). Jacked it up, hub not engaging. Thinking about it, this is a pair of hubs that came on a junk axle. Why do I put old worn out parts on a new jeep? I don't know. I think I got it from my dad. Took the hub apart, can't find anything other than excessive wear. So, new ones here, old one (maybe) to the trail spare box.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. May 19, 2022
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
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    814
    ^^^ I had a similar issue with a brand new set of Warn Premium hubs. The dial was turning too far and disengaging the hub. Now I only turn it until the everything is lined up on the outside of the dial.
     
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  6. May 20, 2022
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
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    Dec 17, 2002
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    2,361
    I have similar hubs on my Warn FF set up. Mine has the set screw where the arrow points to free. These are premium hubs. If you have the original receipt. Warn will replace the broken ones for free.
    [​IMG]
     
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  7. May 23, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Received the new axle shaft retainer plates, and you can see the issue. The shoulder on the new one takes up the gap left by the backing plate, and sets the bearing and seal depth. Once again, easily foreseeable, by an experienced axle builder.
    [​IMG]
    And I realize i am getting a long way from vintage jeep building here, bear with me, we will be in the Rubicon soon. The good news is the new retainers are slotted, so they will slide over the shaft behind the bearing, the bad news is, I think the bearing and seal were compromised on my short drive. I don't want to go through this mess again, so I am changing everything. The new set 20 bearings from big bearing 9" rear ends (Bronco, F150, Torino) came from Summit.
    [​IMG]
    I went to a shop that maintains our 10 company trucks and asked if they could do the quick press on, press off. I got the-we're busy, short handed, the dog ate our press...blah, blah. Thanks. So it's up to me, or go off the hill, and I don't have time for that. Think a 12 ton HF press will do this? I started with getting the old off. A cut to the pressed on collar 3/4 the way through, then a chisel popped it.
    [​IMG]
    Next, a cut to the bearing, and I drove it off through the axle flange hole.
    [​IMG]
     
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  8. May 23, 2022
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Sep 17, 2009
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    Yes.
     
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  9. May 23, 2022
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    I'm super irritated you ponied up the money for this axle and had to do this.
     
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  10. May 23, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Jan 22, 2014
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    I'm really trying not to be. I have practically been a Currie salesman since I got the HP 60 in my 3B, 8 years ago. Telling everyone how great it was. In reality, it was a lazy salesman that took my order, and didn't step up when he got a detail wrong. I just want to get past it and go camping.
     
  11. May 24, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Opened up the set 20, bearing, retainer and seal.
    [​IMG]
    I'm going to use the old split retainer to push on the bearing. Greased up the seal and installed it first.
    [​IMG]
    Rigged it up in my cheap press, this might work.
    [​IMG]
    Next is the retainer, this is probably a .005" interference, and was a pretty hard press, the jack had plenty left, it was the beam of the press starting to bend. A few smacks from the under side of the beam with a bfh did it.
    [​IMG]
    One side done, now I know my little press will do it, and learned something new. Glad I didn't spend $130 shop rate for this, as I usually am.
    [​IMG]
     
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  12. May 24, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Heating the retainer up tp 500 degrees in the oven can remove some of the pucker from the experience.
     
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  13. May 25, 2022
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    That's what I was thinking.
    Axle shaft in the freezer over night and bearing retainer in the oven.
     
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  14. May 25, 2022
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    Do you think the seal he has in there would be damaged by that? Its on the other side of the bearing - but 500* that close?
     
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  15. May 25, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I know people have been doing it for years. I think the shaft sucks the heat out of the retainer pretty quick.
     
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  16. May 25, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I might try that. The long side that I still need to do is 33" long, so would have to come into the kitchen freezer.,(vs. the beer fridge). First thought I had was, we had single digits here around April 10th, that would have been handy had I known. And I wouldn't have to heat the seal and bearing, just the retainer collar, so damage shouldn't be an issue. Thanks for the input guys.
     
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  17. May 27, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    I had to modify the press so the long side would fit. This required removing a brace, and re-welding one offset so the shaft can pass by, then spacing it up off the floor with 6-by's. Once that was done, I got the long side ready, and was going to do the deep freeze on the shaft, and be ready for tomorrow. Then I read the Timken instructions. (I know, shocking!). They say don't heat the retainer, at all. So I decided to go for it cold. This time I added a thin film of bearing grease, and it went right on. So I am a happy camper, and after a little final assembly in the morning, I'm heading back to the rock pile.
    [​IMG]
     
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  18. May 28, 2022
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Got both sides back in this morning. Then added a tailpipe hanger where it was rattling against the frame, then found another brake leak, fixed that. Time for another test drive. Ran it out to Twin Peaks off road area. When I stopped to lock the hubs, there were no leaks. Went up the 2 rock piles with no problem, (now that I have 4 wheel drive). Stopped to take some photos at the top. I have to say, I am happy with the performance, and the looks.
    [​IMG]
    Looked under it after several flexes on various rock, checking for any interferences.
    [​IMG]
    There are a few things that are close, but so far, no contact.
    [​IMG]
    It is a crawler, I must say. This is at 6 psi in the tires and it grabs pretty good.
    [​IMG]
    On the way home I stopped to see an old friend in South Shore. As a Rubicon Springs property owner, he always has the latest poop. And I thought you guys would get a kick out of one of the many jeeps on his property, a 1962 with the Perkins diesel.
    [​IMG]
     
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  19. May 28, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    Looking awesome Tim!
     
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  20. May 28, 2022
    Rozcoking23

    Rozcoking23 RUN & GET BIT! 2024 Sponsor

    Stockton, CA
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    Looks great Tim!
     
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