trouble pulling the pinion assembly from the front axle differential

[bud44750]

   I just tried to remove the front axle drive pinon assembly from my M16. I read the instructions, removed the bolts and the book says it should pull right out but it comes out only about 1/2 inch then clunks up against something and will not go farther. any ideas ??

[spec4don]

I wonder if something is buggered up inside? You might have to take her out and split the case. Bummer!

Don G.

[Tranham]

There is a bearing there. Not sure exact differences but there was a early and late style axle as I recall. Curious why are you removing it?

[yd328]

There is a bearing there.

The bearing is mounted on the front of the pinion gear, I call it a pilot bearing. If it comes off with the pinion gear it interferes with the ring gear. Which sounds like your problem, the bearing is not staying in the housing
Mine did the same but I was splitting the case anyhow to change the seals.

Gary

[Darth_Kitten]

Just put mine together today.
You have to split the axle halves and remove the ring to get the pinion out.
The "pilot" bearing is held in place with a "c" clip that has to be removed outside of the assembly.
Mark

[bud44750]

thanks guys,
          I had a bad feeling it was something like the the bearing coming out with the pinion shaft or some kind of keeper.( the manual I have doesn't mention any sort of keeper... it made it sound like it would pull right out  and they do show pictures of once it is removed of pressing off the inner bearing as though it was supposed to come out with  the pinion assembly.)
      When I got the vehicle, it was missing the right front drive axle and constant velocity joint (knuckle joint) and when I looked down the axle tube , the inner most recess at the differential was stuffed with paper and cardboard !!!, funny though as the case didn't show signs of being split , so I figured something catastrophic had occurred and they took off the drive line off and  removed the axle,... not sure why they would stuff paper down there. I was planning on removing the pinon as a way to inspect the innards of the case to get a better idea of it's status.looks like I'll have to pull it . A friend thinks he might have another whole front end and switching them out might be the best course for now.
    I'' keep you all informed as I find out what happened

[WayOffTrack]

I read the instructions, removed the bolts and the book says it should pull right out but it comes out only about 1/2 inch then clunks up against something and will not go farther.

Definitely a case of the book being wrong. Had a discussion about this a while back with some other halftrack guys. The diff must be split as someone else indicated in order to remove the pinion.

[bud44750]

I was trolling through the M2 in Belgium thread when i found this picture of a reassembled front axle..... note that the case is back together but the pinion assembly is yet to be put in.....sort of indicating that is was possible on at least some of them to remove it without splitting the case, and insert it after the case was joined. I'll still have to take the case apart but it does deepen the mystery

[yd328]

Darth kitten got it. There is a clip at the front of the pinion to hold the bearing on. I don't know if they were all built like that. I had a old Southern parts catalog out and the illustration of the front pinion had that clip in it.

Gary

[bud44750]

thanks Gary
the clip must be the type I have. It's a Jan 1944 M16 and the manual is a july 1942 drive train so the clip could have been a change made later to solve some problem

[steve1973]

Hi Bud,
From my visit to you two weeks ago you showed be that the axle was removed on the passenger side. What about the driver's side? Did you check that? I know it has nothing to do with removing the pinion but if both axles atr gone, which I think they are, then something bad happened inside. As I recomended, find a new axle. I know you are on a time crunch for the parade so what I recomend, if both axles are missing, is to put the pinion back in place pull the hubs and repack the bearings. Put the hubs back on and don't bother with the brakes at this stage. When you get the new axle then you can address those issues.

Steve A.

[bud44750]

given the time crunch to the August parade that sounds like the way to go.