Fresh Eyes

There is something truly satisfying about taking something apart, identifying the broken bits, cleaning things up, and then installing new bits to make it work.

The drive shaft is ready for (very eventual) installation.

The forward section of the drive shaft has a “pillow bearing” that was dry rotting on the rubber bits.

I cut off the outside retainer ring by cutting through the rubber membrane, then went to work with the puller and penetrating oil. And a hammer. And a socket extension. And a wrench. And more oil. And a pry bar. And more oil.

Now I have all the new parts to reconnect the shaft – and have sprayed them with rust killer. Notice the gold spots – those are there to guide reassembly as the shaft parts are balanced to each other and need to be connected in that way.

Small victories.