Installation of driveshaft

Safety instructions

The knowledge of the various demands on our product for a particular application lies with the purchaser, and it is incumbent on him to verify the drawings and documents prepared by ourselves on the basis of the data made available by the purchaser and to examine the suitability of the product for the proposed use. The selection of shaft types and the specification of their sizes on our part shall in all cases be considered as a recommendation only.

When using and handling cardan shafts, the following safety instructions must be strictly observed to prevent damage to persons and property:

• Where danger to people or material can be caused by rotating cardan shafts, a safety device has to be installed by the user and/or operator. Observe the EC Regulations for Machinery!
• Installation, assembly and maintenance work may only be carried out by qualified personnel.
• The operating data of the cardan shafts, such as max. torque, speed, deflection angles, lengths etc. must never be exceeded.
• If cardan shafts are in any way altered without our written consent, they are no longer covered by our warranty.
• The balance state of a cardan shaft must on no account be altered.
• An inadmissable out-of-balance of a shaft may result in uneven running and premature wear of the joints and the bearings of the units to which the cardan shaft is connected. In extreme cases the cardan shaft could break and shaft components could be thrown at speed from the vehicle or machine.

Installation of driveshaft

In order to guarantee the properties of the cardan shaft as described in the information brochure they must not be altered.

• Whenever people or material might be endangered by rotating cardan shafts, the user must take for the corresponding safety measures.
• Safety relevant components of the vehicle and brake lines, electric lines, hydraulic and fuel lines must be arranged in such a way that they cannot be damaged by a defective cardan shaft. Danger of breakdown of important units! Danger of fire!
• Suitable safety devices (e.g. catch bows, solid safety guards) must be provided to prevent the parts of the shaft from being thrown around and to prevent damage to other parts of the unit if the cardan shaft should become defective. Danger to life!
• The fronts of the DIN and SAE shaft flanges and companion flanges must be free of dust, grease or paint in order to guarantee a safe connection.
• The anti-corrosive on cross-Serration flange teeth need not be removed. Other particles must be removed.
• Be careful when handling the cardan shaft. Freely moving yokes may cause injuries!
• Check position of the yokes of the shaft. Observe the arrow markings. (They must be in alignment.) The spline components are matched for a smooth fitting and must not be interchanged or remounted at a different angle.
• Before installation remove any transport retainer device. If in doubt please contact the supplier.
• Check the side and radial runout as well as the fit of the mounted flanges and the connected units (see companion flanges for cardan shafts).
• Do not turn the joints of the cardan shafts with assembly levers because this may damage the grease nipples or seal arrangement on the bearings.
• When painting ensure that the sliding range of the seal (length compensation La) is protected.

 

• Protect rilsan coated splines (sleeve muff or sleeve yoke) against heat, solvents, mechanical damage.
• When cleaning cardan shafts, do not use aggressive chemical agents or pressurized water or steam jets because the seals may be damaged and dirt or water may penetrate.
• If cardan shafts are subjected to higher temperatures, e.g. due to noise-reduction measures or retarders, suitable means should be provided to ensure that the limit values are not exceeded.

Installation of driveshaft with center bearing

Midship shafts are supplied complete with centre bearings ready for installation. The centre bearing and the companion flange are fixed on the midship shaft by means of bolts which are secured against working loose. For reasons of safety these bolts must never be loosened or retightened on new shafts. They may only be loosened for repair work, but they must be properly secured again after the repair.

Midship shaft without length compensation with center bearing

To avoid cases of non-uniformity, drive lines consisting of the midship shaft with the centre bearing and the normal cardan shaft must be installed in accordance with the yoke position of the joints prescribed by vehicle manufacturer.

When installed, the centre bearing must be vertical in all directions with regard to the horizontal axis of the midship shaft and be in a central position. Suitable mounting supports must be provided on the frame side. A continuous stable support must be provided between the centre bearing bracket and the mounting support (see illustration).

• To guarantee a safe bolting of the centre bearing bracket of the midship shaft to the frame of the vehicle, always use the bolting prescribed by the manufacturer of the vehicle. 
• These bolts must be strictly secured against working loose in accordance with the instructions of the vehicle manufacturer. 
• The centre bearing of the midship shaft must be installed without force. Therefore the centre bearing must not be bolted to the frame of the vehicle until the drive and the driven sides of the drive line have been bolted down. 
• To avoid damage to the joint bearings it is important to protect them against excessive sagging or deflection during the entire installation procedure.

 

Installation of centred double driveshafts

When installing the cardan shaft, care should be taken not to damage the location bearing by excessively deflecting the joint. This can be achieved by using a mounting rope.

Dismantling

• Before dismantling secure the cardan shaft against the sliding elements coming apart.
• Before removing the shaft from the companion flange, make sure it cannot fall down.
• The yoke may tilt over when removing the cardan shaft from the companion flange. Danger of injury!
• Observe the directions for transport, storage and installation of cardan shafts.