Running Gear Disassembly Order

Something that I was thinking about as I stood in the barn this afternoon wondering what I could do next to the mistress. In what order should I disassemble the F head, the T90 and the Dana 18? In other words, do I need to remove the engine first before the transfer and tranny? Will they then be supported by the skid plate? Or should I remove them from the engine/bellhousing first? If I do, I'm assuming that I'd leave the clutch bellhousing attached to the engine so that it will then be supported by the skid plate, otherwise it would just be the two motor mounts supporting the weight of the engine, right?
And how much do they (tranny and transfer) weigh? Any idea? I'd just like to manhandle them onto a work bench if its possible. If not, I could devise something with the chain and come- along that I used on the body and that is still hanging in the rafters. I don't have an engine cherry picker yet, so that's slowed me down, but like I said, wondering if I can work around it. TIA

 

BrenGun, Do I understand correctly that the tub is removed from the frame? If so your options are almost unlimited. I would pull all three as a unit and then dissassemble them on the bench. The most common way to remove all three, one at a time, is the transfercase first, then the transmission, and lastly the engine/bellhousing.

Depending on the capacity of your come-along, you should not have any problems with the first two. The engine is the heaviest. You can lighten it up by removing the starter, generator, flywheel, & bellhousing. I have two each one ton cherry-pickers, so I have no issues with the weight. Too bad that you are not in Western Colorado or Eastern Utah! I would loan you one of mine.

I have in my younger, more foolish days, manhandled each unit out of the Jeep and onto the bench by myself. I do NOT reccemend that you do this! I am a fairly big boy. If you choose to manhandle things, I reccemend getting every thing on the unit to be removed loose exept leave one or two bolts in to hold it there until you can bring a friend to help you. Two folks can controll things better and not hurt their backs in the process. Besides, you will want someone to help you drink your beers afterward anyway! If this will not work for you, rent, beg, borrow or "aquire" (steal) a cherry-picker. If done right you will only need it for four hours or so. Renting is much cheaper then a bad back!

Good luck, and let us know how it goes, Matt W.

 

Thanks, Matt. I'm going to try and remove one piece at a time as I don't have a cherry picker yet. I'd hate to rent one when I know that I'd get alot more use out of one when I can buy one. Oh yes, the tub is off, just wondering how to proceed next and make sure that the engine will be supported by the skid plate if I take off the T90 and D18. I'll tinker this afternoon and hopefully have some pictures up.

 

Oh dude you NEED a cherry picker, for me it's not just a nice thing anymore, I dunno what I'd do without it. Not only can it pull engines it can pull your tub, lift sculptures to place them on their mounts, you know... I man handled my engine into the truck bed less head and flywheel and it was a beast. I wouldn't try it again. Plus lowering trannys and transfer cases onto yourself sucks...
I have seen the engine mounts removed and cross member removed and the frame lifted over without axles but the frame even weighs a lot. Best of luck- to go with clints picture



I then just left it on that pallet, strapped it down and lowered the crane part. Pulled the tranny/transfercase that way

 

I'd pull the t/case off first, then seperate the trans from the bell housing, then the bell and clutch from the engine.

 

nows your excuse to buy one! Its worth it. Living life with a bad back is not fun

 

Can't beat this
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93840

 

Well, you convinced me, Sammy, I gotta get myself to a harbor Freight for a cherry picker one day soon. Thanks for the link. For now, I'll probably just pry off the D18 and start some work on it until I get one.

 

If you pull the T-90/D18 combo first, be sure and block up the oil pan of the f-head at the rear. Jackstand and a block of wood work fine on the oil pan skid. If you don't that 400 lb f-head will sink to the rear, twisting off the rubber motor mounts. Seen it happen, by a guy who didn't have a cherry picker "yet".

 

If the tub is off, I agree with pulling all three at once. If it were on, I would do trans / transfer case, then engine. But I don't think that there is a wrong choice. A cherry picker is a treat. I have used a chain hoist attached to a very large beam in my barn. But in the last years, I have had a small Kubota tractor with front bucket / fork attachment that is wonderful for these things. I have to make sure I have ballast on the rear for the engine lift though, unless I want to stand on my head!!

 

An old swing set works great. Only thing is it is stationary, so you have to push the rolling chassis under it and out again.