Technical Driveshaft

[bikes-for-me]

Been busy doing my motorbike project since i last put the diy clutch thread up. My partner was driving the multipla and the n/s driveshaft gave way, it came out where its bolted by six m8 bolts engine side.
When car was towed home had a look and 2 bolts had shared off and 2 had damaged the fixing bolt thread , i managed to clean the 2 damaged thread holes up and drill the 2 broken bolts out. On cleaning the thread on where the bolts had broken my tap broken while doing the last one , it snapped well in and i brought myself a set of cobalt drill bits to drill it out.
They wont even touch it , i thought it might be better to take the driveshaft complete off the car, already took it off wheel side to 6 xm8 fixing. There are 4 x 13mm bolts that hold a plate on engine/gearbox holding the driveshaft mount, 3 are easy to get at and one is well tucked away , you can not even get a spanner in there to undo it , seems you have to take gearbox off to get at it.:bang:
In the end i repacked the old driveshaft and put the end cover on which had knocked off , and i fitted it with only 5 bolts instead of 6 and plenty of thread locking stuff. Going to give it a week and recheck bolts , if they have worked lose might try slightly longer bolts and put a locking nut at the back , if there is room.
Anybody had the same problem , and the magic qestion is anybody took the whole left side driveshaft off , and if so how did you get the gearbox end off.

 

[BikeDoc]

Your best bet is a Tap Removal Tool. they are readily available, and cheap too!
http://www.cromwell.co.uk/category_page/03020107

Alternatively, a diamond burr in a Dremel, I managed to remove a sheared-off Easy-Out (stud remover) using that once.
Took a while, but it did the job.

 

[JTDman]

I cannot remember just how it comes out, my old metro was held in place with a split pin through the shafy but think the multi may just pull out though iam sure you tried that allready.
If it goes wrong again it may be an idea just to get a complete s/hand shaft ive seen new ones on ebay complete for as little as £45 buy it now.

I can feel another quality "how to do " coming on .

 

[JTDman]

Gotta wonder why it came loose in the first place, do you have an unbalanced wheel or did you not use lockthread last time it was off.

 

[bikes-for-me]

Gotta wonder why it came loose in the first place, do you have an unbalanced wheel or did you not use lockthread last time it was off.

Ran out of lockthread when i put it back , and other half wonted car quick, so put it back without.:bang:
I think the driveshaft just pulls out of gearbox , but there is a 4x 13mm bracket holding it on gearbox and one bolt you can not get on it even with a spanner. Seems like you need to drop gearbox to get to it which seems silly. Just hope 5 bolts will be ok , might get longer bolts and locking nuts just to be safe.
Got to do cam-belt , so that might be next how to. When do it i will be changing the lot plus water pump.

 

[bikes-for-me]

Your best bet is a Tap Removal Tool. they are readily available, and cheap too!
http://www.cromwell.co.uk/category_page/03020107

Alternatively, a diamond burr in a Dremel, I managed to remove a sheared-off Easy-Out (stud remover) using that once.
Took a while, but it did the job.

Cheers for that , going to see if i get away with 5 bolts holding it first.

 

[BikeDoc]

It should be fine, most 'critical' parts are usually 'over-engineered' with a decent safety margin, to allow for neglect, wear, damage, and general deterioration.

 

[flying clutchman]

I'm not 100% on this but I believe the flange is just held in by a circlip internaly. Once you've removed the shaft put a chisel behind it and whack hard with a hammer. Don't undo the 4 bolts!