CJ2A Bellcrank Question

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Stingray
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CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by Stingray » Thu Oct 29, 2020 5:55 pm

Just finished installing a 1 7/8 CJ2A bellcrank rebuild kit. New shaft,bearings, sleeve, and seals. Greased it, tightened it up and it turns smoothly. Only thing is it has about a 1/16 to 1/8 inch vertical play. Is this normal? Thanks
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by dpcd67 » Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:13 pm

No; did you put the washer and spacer in the right places? Should be no play. I just installed a kit in my M606 a couple of weeks ago.
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by Stingray » Fri Oct 30, 2020 5:20 pm

Yes everything is where its suppose to be. You can lift upward on the bell crank and it moves just so slightly 1/16" to maybe 1/8" at most. Im wondering if its the cross bolt? I only torqued it to 40ft lbs. Or maybe the quality of parts?
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:06 am

The cross bolt only goes one place so the torque doesn't matter; it shouldn't move. 1/8th inch is not slight. Loosen the cross bolt and tighten the lock nut more and then retighten the cross bolt.
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by 85jeepcj » Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:26 pm

I had same problem
Spacer is too long or bellcrank has undersize width, typical with Chinese parts.
I ended up getting an original bellcrank with correct dimensions
Another option would be to remove material from the spacer.
I don’t believe the cross bolt sets this tolerance, the cross bolt is used to clamp the pin into the housing and it serves as a safety if the nut loosens.

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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by Stingray » Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:46 am

Took everything apart and the only thing I noticed was that I squished and distorted the flat washers out of shape tightening things up. I might try trimming the spacer to see if that helps, though it looks the same size as the bellcrank, or source out original bearings and sleeve for the original bellcrank shaft. Got to get past this and the brake issues or this thing is going up for sale!
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by dpcd67 » Sun Nov 01, 2020 2:41 pm

No the cross bolt does not set the depth; it just keeps the shaft tight so it does not rotate; that is why it has bearings. But you don't tighten it first. Do that last.
I just installed one of the kits with an original crank and it worked fine. Measure your new bell crank height and I will compare it with an original.
If your bell crank is short, then add a washer.
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by Stingray » Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:29 pm

The bellcrank is original. The bolt, nut, washers, bearings, seals, and sleeve are reproduction. Ill double check everything tomorrow.
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by parker007 » Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:42 pm

I think you can just listen pinch bolt and smack shaft up with rubber mallet then titen. its been years but i remember a little moment in shaft before titen.

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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Nov 02, 2020 6:00 am

It should be loose before the cross bolt is in or tightened; did you try just tightening the nut more?
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by Stingray » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:10 am

Trimmed the sleeve and that took care of the up and down movement but there is still a slight vertical movement which seems to be between the sleeve and bearings. Tightened up the cross bolt and it stripped out before getting to 50ft lbs. The kit was an Omix and had I known I wouldnt have used it.I guess I could use my original cross bolt and live with the bearing slop or order a Crown kit.
Last edited by Stingray on Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:09 am

Bearing slop; make sure it is actually between the bearing and the pin, and not with your original bell crank. I used a repro one and have zero play in it, radially, or axially.
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by Stingray » Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:38 am

Tightened the shaft again then used my original cross bolt. This time and everything seems tighter. No slop and the bellcrank moves smoothly. Thanks for all the help and dpcd67 I used your advice and didnt torque the crap out of the cross bolt!
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Re: CJ2A Bellcrank Question

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:30 am

Good job! Glad it worked.
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