I am trying to find some help for a co-worker of mine who has a 1999 Yamaha Big Bear 350 with bad u-joint on the front drive shaft. He was asking me yesterday about how to remove the driveshaft to replace the u-joints. Is there any special tools needed? Do you need to removed the front differential to pull the drive shaft out?

Thanks for any help.

 

No special tools but it's a pain in the but. First you have to remove the c-clips in the UV joints. They are located under the button on the yoke. Then take a BFH and beat the button "UV JOINT" until the opposite side button falls out you can then take the shaft off when you do this to both yokes. Repeat process to other buttons and when you have it all disassembled and you are putting the new UVs in make sure the needles in the buttons are not jamming in and repeat the process in reverse.

 

And yes you have to remove the 2 bolts that hold the front diff to move it out of the way to remove the drive shaft

 

need help with u joint I got the old one out after about 2 hours of beating it with a hammer. got the new one in but I can only 3 caps on the new one I got the forth one almost on but won't go ends up popping out . is there any tricks to get it on

 

Need to put a socket on each end use a c clamp to put pressure on the caps. get good pressure on them good and tap out on the yolk itll usually spring out.