Topic: Longfield 30 spline installation?

[toynorcal]

I plan on putting my 30 splines in this weekend, so I've looked around a little just to see if there is anything aside from normal that I should watch for. I read this...
http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=19871.0
but I don't know what a "Martack", plus you got another guy on there saying it's not necessary. Can someone clarify this for me and any additional info would be appreciated. These things ain't cheap and with my luck...well y'all get the point.

Thanks in advance

[derek]

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/AxleRebuild.shtml#Martack

[derek]

you do not need to martack the 30 spline longs.
it was just a way for faster birf changes.

derek

[toynorcal [OP]]

Thanks for clearing that up Derek, I appreciate it.

Here's to you

[toynorcal [OP]]

Anyone esle have trouble getting the lonfields to slide in all the way? Once I get them lined up and they start sliding into the locker it litterally takes a hammer to get them to keep going in... I knocked them in a little ways and pulled them back out to see if I was missing the splines. But I wasn't, there was no evidence of miss alignment at all? Anyone have any experiance or thoughts on this?

[Willy Mammoth]

Does it feel like it is binding on the splines or thr birf is tight going into the nuckle?

I have had trouble getting them past the nuckle and wound up loosening the steering arms to get the pins out of the way of the flats.

Also loosening the lower barring may help too.

[reklund5]

Mine needed a little bump with a mallot to get them to slide in fully.  The alternative is to clean all the grease out of the ball, and gently clearance the ball with a grinder.  I had no problem just givin' 'em a little help 

They've been trouble free, so I assumed it was normal.  Knock 'em in place and head for the trails!

Ryan

[toynorcal [OP]]

Their not hitting the knuckle,steering arms are off right now. I am positive their lined up right(greased the ends and looked at the lines) I guess I was just nervouse about taking a mallet to them. Thank you two for the quick replies, it helped alot.

[Willy Mammoth]

If the splines are tight you may just need to use a block of wood and a big hammer to drive them in, but make sure they are lined up good first.

If I remmember correctly mine were tight too.

[toynorcal [OP]]

Great, thanks again Mr. Mammoth

[IronClad]

if you have to smack ANY birf in your housing is bent.   how easy did your old ones come out ?

[ksmith]

Mine didn't want to go in either. I called Longfield and he didn't know why they wouldn't go in because my other ones came out fine. Just hope that you don't ever have to pull them out because we had to weld a stud to the end of mine and use a slide hammer to get it out. Now I need to pull my front end apart and it's going to be a pain to do it. I think they're machined a little big and don't want to slide in.
Kane Smith
jkanesmith@hotmail.com

[ibcrwln]

When I installed my 30's a few weeks ago, they didn't want to slide all the way in. I had my buddy turn the drive line slowly and it slid right in.

[Willy Mammoth]

When I installed my 30's a few weeks ago, they didn't want to slide all the way in. I had my buddy turn the drive line slowly and it slid right in.

Now that sounds like a bent housing.

I agree with the machining of the splines are too big causing them to be tight. 

If you have a side gear out you could see if it is tight.

[Shamb]

toynorcal got them in today, the driverside slide right in but the passanger (stuby side) needed a tap or two. I can't wait to get my set!

[toynorcal [OP]]

Yeah, they are in. The long side droped in with no effort. The short side would line up and slide in great until the last 2 inches. I used some grease to make sure I was getting the splines lined up right. Once I was certain I wasn't miss aligning the splines, I put a block of wood on it and   They work great and I can't wait to never change a birf again. Thanks for everyones help.