Atlas II owners, check your yokes

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Recently in 2hi with the front hubs still engaged, after about 4 miles or so, city speeds, I start geting a rattling noise in the front drivetrain that went away when I unlocked the hubs.

Did a little investigating tonight, and not sure if this is the coplete cause, but the large nut of the front output shaft yoke of my Atlas II t-case loosened up. I mean loose to the point of the nut only being finger tight at best. I used a socket and extension to remove it, notice I did not include ratchet. Anyway, after a little digging at the AA sight, I found that the nut is supposed to be torqued to 150 ft/lbs. After cleaning the threads, red loctite was applied and the nut re-torqued.

I figured I would check the rear while I was at it, and it wasn't nearly as loose as the front was, I had to use the ratchet, but it was far from the required 150 ft/lbs it should be.

If the noise doesn't return, yeah! If it does, I'll pop the dif cover and start digging for another possible cause.

 

[410Fortune]

I wish I had your problems LOL

Seriously I wish I had the Atlas II.............someday

I know HVACMAN, FAWKAREWEE and RICK are running Atlas, not sure who else.... Jefe's old truck?

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

mrboyle
Paul
just to add a couple more.

 

[4x4junkie]

Mine had loosened also and were leaking fluid (they were barely over finger tight). I had to pull both yokes off, seal the splines with RTV, then clean the threads with solvent and then put them back on using Loctite.

There was some type of a hard rubber (plastic?) seal down in each yoke that looked like they had torn and gotten pushed down into the splines or something IIRC, I ended up chucking them when I used the RTV.

 

[Rick]

My rear yoke has loosened before. It's been awhile since I checked them. I guess it's time for another safety check. Thanks for the tip.