SERVICE MANUAL
LUBRICATION
DON’T NEGLECT DRIVE SHAFT LUBRICATION!
Lack of adequate or proper lubrication is among the
most common causes of U-Joint and drive shaft failure!
Proper servicing of the drive shaft is an essential part
of vehicle maintenance and should not be overlooked in
routine shop procedure.
UNIVERSAL JOINTS
IN THE VEHICLE OR APPLICATION
To insure proper lubrication of all four bearing
assemblies on universal joints, it is essential that
mechanics add lubricant until it appears at all journal
cross bearing seals (Fig. 10). This assures removal of
dirt particles and other contaminants that may find their
way into the bearings and indicates to the mechanic that
the bearings are fully lubricated.
Do not assume that bearing cavities have been filled
with new lubricant unless flow is noticed around all four
bearing seals!
Journal
cross
seals
are
designed
to
relieve.
However, if all the seals do not "pop" when being lubed,
move the driveshaft laterally in all four directions and pull
or push on the drive shaft in the direction opposite to the
journal cross seal not relieving while lube gun pressure is
being applied to the alemite fitting. An increase in line
pressure may also be necessary.
Fig. 10
1
Lube
DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
Factory assembled drive shafts are lubricated at the
plant prior to shipment. However, ship-ping, handling
and installation of the drive shaft assembly into the
vehicle usually results in some loss of lube. Therefore, it
is recommended that all universal joints be relubricated
after installation of the drive shaft prior to putting vehicle
in service.
JOURNAL AND BEARING KITS
Replacement universal joint kits contain only enough
grease to provide needle bearing protection during
storage. It is therefore necessary to completely lubricate
each replacement kit prior to assembly into the drive
shaft yokes. Each journal cross lube reservoir should be
fully packed with a recommended grease and each
bearing assembly should also be wiped with the same
grease; filling all the cavities between the rollers and
applying a liberal grease coating on the bottom of each
race. After the kits are installed into the driveshaft yokes
and prior to placing into service, they should be relubed,
through the zerks, using the same grease.
RECOMMENDED LUBRICANTS
For center bearings, slip joints and universal joints
use IH 251 HEP grease or equivalent NLGI #2 multi-
purpose grease.
RELUBE CYCLES
Relubrication cycles for driveshaft universal joints
and slip splines will vary with service requirements and
operating conditions. Refer to Operator’s Manual.
SLIP JOINT LUBRICATION
Relube spline at intervals prescribed in Operator’s
Manual. Apply grease gun pressure to lubrication zerk
until lubricant appears at pressure relief hole in welch
plug at sleeve yoke end of spline (Fig. 11). At this point,
cover pressure relief hole with finger and continue to
apply pressure until grease appears at sleeve yoke seal
(Fig. 12). This will insure complete lubrication of spline.
CTS-4017 - Page 10
PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
