How To: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car US Ordnance number 7373

[Big D]

Hi Terry and Lynn,

Thanks for the replies.

Terry - there is not a lot of room to get to the key, so that may not be an option. I have various pullers here but not the model you mentioned. As you say, there is no comparison between oxy and propane.

Lynn - yes, I have all the manuals and information to set it all up again. The heating required may be a problem with what I have here.

I spoke to my local mechanic this morning and he will take a look at the problem. I figure he will have the tools to both heat things up and remove them, much better than I can within a reasonable time frame. It may be a few dollars well spent I feel.

Will keep you posted.

[John Mackie]

Darryl over the years i have had to remove many pinion yokes. as yet i have not had to go past the tool attatched to the yoke with 2 bolts.
if you have to resort to heat you have to use a lot of heat and get the yoke hot quickly before the heat conducts to the pinion. a hit with a heavy hammer on the puller bolt IF IT IS YOURS may help.
best of luck with the great project.
I WOULD REMOVE THE BALL BEARING AS IT MAY SHATTER AND FLY.
John.

[Big D]

Hi John,

How's it going? Thanks for the reply. Yes, the manual says the puller is the way to remove it so it has got me a bit beat.

I took the axle housing to my mechanic today. He took one look at it and said that he didn't think that a puller would do it with it having a tapered shaft and a rusted keyway. He also said that he didn't think a press would have done it either (as I had set it up).

He thought lots of heat fast onto the yoke and then smacking the yoke with a big hammer would be the way to do it. He isn't sure about the pinion shaft until he has a look but he thought that it is likely to be very tight around the spigot where it fits into the axle housing. We'll see how good he is.....

Interestingly, I started work on the rear axle late today. This axle looks a lot better and the differential turns freely and the threaded torque rods undid fairly easily. This axle had a leaking seal on the pinion shaft and with all the oil and grease all over the yoke and into the keyway, I thought it looked promising for removal. One short blow with a cold chisel on the nut securing the yoke undid the nut, so it was looking good at that stage.

I then put my 6" puller on the yoke and worked it up. As I'd done with the other yoke, I gave the puller a smack with a hammer but all I was able to achieve this time was a broken puller! Ha!

I'll have a look at other options and in the meantime, see what the mechanic comes back with.

[Big D]

Hi all,

I have now stripped the second axle. The differential looks in much better shape in this one. I believe that after a good clean up, the bearings on this one will be fine. I'll get it blasted as well and fit new axle seals and a pinion shaft seal.

Work has just resumed again on the hull. The ring gear is complete and bolted inside the hull, and some of the plating is being fitted now. The ability to do full repairs to both sides of the hull lower channels is now apparent.

[Big D]

More hull photos...

[Big D]

The last couple...

[Petr Brezina]

Nice job!