5 month old cracked Rotoflex
#51
03-02-2011 | 10:22 PM
Thread Starter
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Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
From: Golden, CO
Ok. It is all fixed.
Here is the final cause. The alignment bushing that goes into the drive shaft was installed backwards. This was my fault so everyone pay attention. The spring seal side goes into the axle so the bonded rubber side is visible. Fill the inside with grease for proper movement as the rotoflex and axle move up and down. Also lube the boot with the zerk fitting on the other end of the shaft. Vibration is gone. Drives like a charm.
Here is the final cause. The alignment bushing that goes into the drive shaft was installed backwards. This was my fault so everyone pay attention. The spring seal side goes into the axle so the bonded rubber side is visible. Fill the inside with grease for proper movement as the rotoflex and axle move up and down. Also lube the boot with the zerk fitting on the other end of the shaft. Vibration is gone. Drives like a charm.
#52
03-02-2011 | 11:51 PM
TReK
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, Alaska, USA
Nope. I was talking about (my theory, not a solid conclusion) only the rear shaft from the brake drum / txfer case rear output shaft to the roto / diff pinion flange. My wild theory is that in a way the two (fore and aft) flanges may, during rotation, when properly aligned / oriented in relation to each other, either cancel each other out (smooth rotation) or could be unbalanced (noticable vibrations) due to centrifugal forces. If two oposing flange lobes are in alignment with each other then their combined weight at high rotational speed would cause an unbalanced rotation...
If you look at the front prop shaft ( WM section 45, "Propshafts", Pg.1 ), it is made with an intentional mis-alignmet between the fore and aft u-joints causing a (as they call it) "Phased" rotation. SO my theory has a basis, I'm just not sure if that is what is truly causing Brad's Bad vibe. <--- that should have been the title of this thread
If you look at the front prop shaft ( WM section 45, "Propshafts", Pg.1 ), it is made with an intentional mis-alignmet between the fore and aft u-joints causing a (as they call it) "Phased" rotation. SO my theory has a basis, I'm just not sure if that is what is truly causing Brad's Bad vibe. <--- that should have been the title of this thread
#53
03-03-2011 | 09:09 AM
Winching
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 598
Likes: 12
From: Swampy Sandbar, USA
Great to hear you got it all back together and have the bush correctly inserted now.!! little victories are great sometimes!
Hopefully it stays that way... and I only say that because as Chris Bob brought up, and since you seperated the two halves of the shaft at the splines, I just hope you were able to reassemble the halves at the correct position per the balancing weight (The small plate he refered to).
Even a 180* misalignment would cause the balancing weight to be off by the way.... like removing the balancing weights from your road wheel and placing them 180* opposite... you sure as hell would feel that.
Hopefully it stays that way... and I only say that because as Chris Bob brought up, and since you seperated the two halves of the shaft at the splines, I just hope you were able to reassemble the halves at the correct position per the balancing weight (The small plate he refered to).
Even a 180* misalignment would cause the balancing weight to be off by the way.... like removing the balancing weights from your road wheel and placing them 180* opposite... you sure as hell would feel that.
#54
03-03-2011 | 10:57 AM
Baja
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh PA suburbs.
I agree with Cosmo, and the RAVE does say to mark the alignment prior to dis-assembly so you can reinstall in the same orientation. My drive shaft has the little tab on the side. I had marked it a while back but ended up not taking it apart. I only unbolted the rotoflex end only and was able to force trhe shaft forward far enough to put in a "new" Rotoflex. I actually called Will Tillery and got a good used one from him a while back when I saw the cracks developing in mine.
#55
03-03-2011 | 11:20 AM
Thread Starter
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Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
From: Golden, CO
For the life of me I could not find any info on the rotoflex or the bolt torque. Where did you guys find that info? Also I am pretty sure it is good now. I had to beat the axle off with a hammer so I could remove the bushing again. When I reinstalled it I rotated it until it went on easy. I think I was a bit off last time. I was also in a hurry the first time I did this as it was on my rack at work and they dont like you working on your vehicle during the day. PFFT! I mean who is more important here? 
#56
03-03-2011 | 11:55 AM
Winching
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 598
Likes: 12
From: Swampy Sandbar, USA
