Securing the diff while working on it

[dixieflatline]

So, I had this crazy idea tonight that I would drain the rest of the oil from the diff, replace the seals, fill it up with oil and then bolt it back on to to the chassis. Three hours later and I've fallen at the first hurdle because I can't find a way to stop the damn thing moving about! Any ideas what I could use to secure it?

[phillpot]

dixieflatline said:

Any ideas what I could use to secure it?

Bolt it back in the chassis temporarily?

Changed the pinion seal on my Taimar diff while it was out recently (it is big 'n heavy, ex Jag I think) strapped it to the "Workmate" with a couple of ratchet straps and various bits of wood for packing. Wasn't perfect but helped, had I not been so impatient probably could have made a proper, well fitting cradle

[dixieflatline]

phillpot said:

Bolt it back in the chassis temporarily?

That was my first thought, but there's so little weight on the chassis at the moment that I think it would have lifted off the axle stands!

phillpot said:

Changed the pinion seal on my Taimar diff while it was out recently (it is big 'n heavy, ex Jag I think) strapped it to the "Workmate" with a couple of ratchet straps and various bits of wood for packing. Wasn't perfect but helped, had I not been so impatient probably could have made a proper, well fitting cradle

I tried all kinds of things with wood/vices but I just couldn't get it stable enough to stay in position. Going to give it another go on Saturday, and probably manufacture something that can be bolted to the pinion. That's what the Sierra Haynes manual suggested, but I couldn't find what I needed on Saturday.

[ketvrin]

Could you make a "U" shaped bracket for the front mounting points and an L shaped bracket for the rear mount and fix these to a board so you could drop the Diff into the "cradle" created ? I made something similar to hold my old BSA bike engine some time ago, I used that galvanised strapping they use for roof struts as its strong enough and came with holes already drilled so was easier to bend etc...

alternatively you could use some sand-bags to rest it on to stop it moving around... make sure theres no sand leaking out that will get in your diff

K

Edited by ketvrin on Monday 21st November 15:32

[blues3]

phillpot said:

Changed the pinion seal on my Taimar diff while it was out recently (it is big 'n heavy, ex Jag I think)

Seem to remember my old Taimar had a TR6 diff (Possibly called a Salisbury)

[phillpot]

blues3 said:

Seem to remember my old Taimar had a TR6 diff (Possibly called a Salisbury)

That's what I thought they had but when i mentioned to Adrian@ how heavy it is he told me it's a Jag unit.

[dixieflatline]

Managed to find all these things lying around the workshop... worked really well, although what followed wasn't so successful.