Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

[Dave E.]

I am in the middle of a clutch change on a 66 427 coupe. The trans is out of the car and I tried to slide the rear yoke out of the transmission tail shaft and ...surprise..it won't come out. Moves freely about 1 1/2 inches...then stops dead. Seems that I remember in my younger days...40 years ago.... that the darn yoke would slide out so easily that you would get a face full of gear oil if you were not careful. I have tapped the yoke gentley and then non so gentley with a rubber mallet...then a brass mallet...now thinking that maybe my memory is wrong. Shouldn't the yoke just slide freely off the splines and past the trans rear seal???

[Dennis C.]

Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

Dave...

Yeah, it "should" slide right off... Uh, Uh, Unless during it's life in there it suffered some twisting of the main output shaft splines. This can happen during an attempt at a drag racing hole shot to beat all hole shots. You can ask me how I know but I'd appreciate it if you spared me. I'm sure my TDB drag race fans will have an opinion.

Anyway, just thought I'd mention that possibility. Best, Dennis

[Dennis C.]

Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

Dave... More ugly details available upon request. DC

[William C.]

Re: Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

Yep. should slide right off, I'd be thinking of worn yoke and bad rear bushing in the tailhousing on a muncie, rather than twisted splines.

[Dave E.]

Re: Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

Thanks guys....glad my memory is functioning even if my trans yoke is not. Transmission is orig to the car...car has early street race history (as proudly told me by orig owner). I only have an around the block pre purchase test drive so far.....no weird noises (as if you can hear anything over a 427 with blown mufflers). No oil leaking past rear seal onto the garage floor this winter. No sign of oil leaking past the rear seal in the trans tunnel or on the tunnel foil insulation...I don't have a means of checking for wobble/runout on the yoke seal surface....but it doesn't "feel" like there is play/movement. I appreciate your suggestions. Thank you, Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

Thanks guys....glad my memory is functioning even if my trans yoke is not. Transmission is orig to the car...car has early street race history (as proudly told me by orig owner). I only have an around the block pre purchase test drive so far.....no weird noises (as if you can hear anything over a 427 with blown mufflers). No oil leaking past rear seal onto the garage floor this winter. No sign of oil leaking past the rear seal in the trans tunnel or on the tunnel foil insulation...I don't have a means of checking for wobble/runout on the yoke seal surface....but it doesn't "feel" like there is play/movement. I appreciate your suggestions. Thank you, Dave

Dave----


Another possibility: someone previously damaged the splines on the transmission main shaft by dropping it on the end or some other way. Then, the yoke wouldn't slide on easily. So, they pounded it on with a hammer to "overcome" the problem (unless the damage is really bad, this will usually work). Of course, they weren't concerned with what would happen to the NEXT GUY trying to remove the yoke since they didn't plan on it being them.

[Michael H.]

Re: Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

Yep. should slide right off, I'd be thinking of worn yoke and bad rear bushing in the tailhousing on a muncie, rather than twisted splines.

I think Bill probably has it right. Often, the bushing and yoke become grooved and some gauling of the yoke occurs. The high areas eventually groove the bushing but when you try to remove the yoke, the hogh/grooved area won't fit through the undamaged area of the bushing.

If this is the problem, and I think it probably is, the bushing will be further damaged when you do finally get the yoke out but, it was already damaged so....

[Joe R.]

Re: Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

Find a larger hammer!!!!!! I'll go with the damaged yoke-bad bearing so you're going to have to replace it anyway.

Bigger Hammer and more blows from a strong arm.

The worst that could happen is you destroy the original tailhousing, yoke and shaft.

OOOPS!

JR

[Dave E.]

Re: Shouldn't a Muncie rear yoke just slide off...

Dave, I did not try any more to remove the yoke. There is no money in the budget for trans repair. Since the rear seal is not leaking and there is no noticeable runout/wobble with the yoke, the trans went back in....I just wanted the yoke out in the first place to give that extra inch of installation clearance. I made a copy of your suggestion for future reference...I like it better than getting a bigger hammer. I figure at 200 gentle miles a year max that the yoke might outlive me. Thanks for asking and thanks for your advice. Dave