DISCONNECTING DRIVE SHAFTS-CAUTION

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:25 am

When disconnecting drive shafts for whatever reason, use caution and jack up one wheel of the axle involved. It is possible for the propeller shaft to have a little torsion on it from "axle windup" and the sudden release of it when attempting to loosen a U-Joint can cause serious injury. One can lose an eye, get broken fingers or even be killed by the wrench as it becomes a projectile. I have seen a wrench be thrown hundreds of feet in extreme cases.Many of you are "do it yourselfers" and not aware of the dangers of mechanic work.

Fernando Mendes · Post by **Fernando Mendes** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 4:26 pm

I have to disconnect the two drive shaft of my Dodge 4x2 1952 pickup 1/2 ton to remove the axle differential and put a new screw that is broken.A ideal security place is a garage hole.

lacoda56 · Post by **lacoda56** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:50 am

Even though a lot of this is common sense - common knowledge, it can still bite unexpectedly. I know an ASAE certified mechanic that lost some hide off his fingers while unhooking a driveshaft on an M818. He knew better, but was in a hurry and didn't think.

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:17 pm

Kind of a rule of thumb: All power trains on these old HMV have a little play in them. If you have the tranny and xfer in neutral and cannot move the shaft a little back and forth, it is probably bound and what Joel mentioned may occur.