1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Lower Pot Joint Question

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Billy Weidlein, May 6, 2022.

  1. May 6, 2022
    Billy Weidlein

    Billy Weidlein New Member

    Iowa
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2022
    Messages:
    35
    Hi Guys—72 CJ5 steering. Ordered a lower point joint from Barney. The boot that came with it looks like it’s made for a steering shaft with two flats, but my shaft is round. I tried it but then the boot is oblong where the boot clamp goes. Looked for different replacements, but everything I see is the same as I have. Anyone know where to find the proper boot or am I missing something?


     
  2. May 6, 2022
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2003
    Messages:
    2,132
    This is a very misleading title.. :confused:;)
     
  3. May 6, 2022
    Billy Weidlein

    Billy Weidlein New Member

    Iowa
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2022
    Messages:
    35
    Called Barney. Appears this is the closest available. Have to cut or grind out the rubber boot to fit the round shaft. A dremel and 1/4 sanding drum worked pretty well and quick for me.
     
    Desertdog48 likes this.
  4. May 6, 2022
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
    Messages:
    12,367
    What should the title say, or is it correct?
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  5. May 6, 2022
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,466
    Yeah I run into the same issue; no boots to fit the round intermediate steering shaft.
    The connection is called a bellcoupler not a pot joint.

    “Pot joints” are usually outfitted with glassy eyed guys smoking on hookahs.

    Other times “pot joint” refers to a crooked little hand made cigarette.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2022
    Ol Fogie, timgr and jpflat2a like this.
  6. May 6, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    AFAIK the bell coupler comes in two spline sizes, one for manual and one for power. The Crown part is what is available. You can eliminate the coupler using an aftermarket steering shaft, from Flaming River or Crown or Omix? I know the Wagoneer guys sometimes convert to parts of the XJ steering shaft. Something like that might work here too.
     
    Ol Fogie and Lockman like this.
  7. May 6, 2022
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2003
    Messages:
    2,132
    exactly haha..
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  8. May 6, 2022
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2003
    Messages:
    2,132

    I used this for my CJ.. with great results.
     
  9. May 6, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    From my experience & what I used on my CJ5 is a GM steering Column & Shaft . It utilizes " DD " shaft ends , a Rag coupler, & Jorgenson universals. I have PS.
    I've often wondered why , especially on a non Power Steering , 4WD vehicle such as our Jeeps ......that the engineers determined they could rely on a round Shaft end Bell Coupler?

    Any Hoo..... the Crown rubber boot appears quite small for your Bell ? Unfortunately , I do not know where you could obtain a proper boot . Have you looked @ Walcks or Willys Jeep Parts? Or....... You could cut out the ' Oblong ' part, with some sharp scissors & that would solve your original dilemma. May also want to shy away from anythi'n Crown, IMHO.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  10. May 7, 2022
    Billy Weidlein

    Billy Weidlein New Member

    Iowa
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2022
    Messages:
    35
    Thanks Guys—it was referred to as a pot joint in the TSM. Guess everyone figured out what I was referring to anyway.

    Have a new problem—— Got the steering column apart and removed the upper steering shaft. It was cut in half and welded back together, and not very well. Don’t know if someone was trying to make a different one work or what.It’s not straight, and is just rough, and I have doubts that the length is right. I’d like to replace it. Is this available anywhere?
     
  11. May 7, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    Junkyard. Jeep PN 999719. Try car-part.com

    These columns are in demand for power steering conversion in earlier Jeeps, so they won't be plentiful. You may have to buy the complete column to get the shaft. I expect removing the wheel from the column will be near impossible in a junkyard setting. The postal Jeeps used a similar column, and the parts might be compatible.

    Another option is to fit a complete hot rod column in place of the factory column. Look at the Ididit and/or Flaming River web sites. You should be able to source a complete column that's the right length and narrow like the original, including a turn signal stalk. Won't look original, but I'd think you could make it work as well.
     
  12. May 7, 2022
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,466
    I was only joking, but honestly I never before saw it being called a “pot joint” in the factory TSM.
    What particular TSM do you have ?
    The only TSM’s I have are the 1972 and 1973 editions.
    Everything prior to 1972 is USM and they don’t cover Saginaw steering systems.
    I may have to correct my terminology. I always prefer to use approved standard Jeep terms ….

    I checked my 72/73 tsm’s and also the parts catalog and I only see it being referred to as a “steering u joint coupling”. They don’t even use the common term
    “ bellcoupler “.
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2022
  13. May 7, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    I looked too.

    1972 TSM, section 11, figure 19.

    potjoint.png

    Parts book calls it a COUPLING, steering gear lower shaft to steering gear.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  14. May 7, 2022
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,466
    Aha ! Never noticed that.But now I see it.
    I don’t find any other references to that term.
     
  15. May 7, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    I Just think you guy's like to say the word......" Pot " ( snicker , snicker ....Tee- Hee )
     
    Desertdog48 and Ol Fogie like this.
  16. May 7, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
    Messages:
    1,765
    We had once named Reefer.
     
    Desertdog48 likes this.
  17. May 8, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    A " Reefer Joint "??? ......Hey , your onto someth'n there ,Fogie. I vaguely recall that they told us that it wouldn't affect our Steering through Life at all ?
    DangNabit ( :rofl:)
     
    Desertdog48 and Ol Fogie like this.
  18. May 8, 2022
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    Might try Richard Imholt at 503-557-8911, R&P Early Jeeps. He has a lot of that kind of stuff laying around and might have a used unit.
    Edit: his e-mail is RandPCustom4x4@outlook.com

    He does not have a website and you may not want to do a search for one as some rather adult oriented material shows up if you do.

    Others here may have one laying around also so an ad in the classifieds might net something.
     
  19. May 8, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
    Messages:
    1,765
    OH, I am sorry I left some words out of my post, got in too big of a hurry I guess. It should have said " we had a dog named Reefer once" He ran around kinda wild like a lot. Then he would lay around and do nothing.:susp:
     
  20. May 9, 2022
    Billy Weidlein

    Billy Weidlein New Member

    Iowa
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2022
    Messages:
    35
    Update—here’s some pics of bad shaft. I was able to track a new one down and have it coming. Barney had them manufactured but said the need for them is rare so I don’t think he has them on his eBay store. When I get that in I’ll be able to compare. I believe mine is short (aside from the bad weld repair) and it was causing the u-joint to hit the firewall bracket.

     
    Lockman likes this.
New Posts