How to take apart older u-joints?

[Junpei]

I thought I should be prepared in case that I need one of weavil's custom u-joints, so I was trying to think of a way to take apart the u-joints without damaging them in any way. For the newer 3l joints, I put 5l axles in both ends, and a technic rotor blade on one side and a 20t DB gear on the other. I held the rotor blade firmly so it would not move and then twisted the 20t gear on the other axle, and it came apart before any of the parts got warped or destroyed. However, when I tried it on the 4l u-joint, it put up enough resistance that I permanently twisted the axle and even worse, I got this:

And it was light bluish grey too... That's the "fixed up version", I had to search around for half of the axle connector that flew off and just put and axle in and rubber banded it together. So I was just wondering if anyone knows a safe way to take apart 4l u-joints without developing cracks in them.

Edited July 8, 2013 by TwentyLeggedHen

[Doc_Brown]

hey, I'm sorry but I don't understand what you are doing with this?

I just tried taking apart an 3l one, simply pushed my fingernail between the center part and pulled it apart, then did the same to put it back together again. quite easy! I did not need anything else at all.

There maybe a tiny bit of more stress on the part, but I cannot see how you could possible do it otherwise. :)

[Junpei]

Since the 4l u-joint is thicker and stronger, I can't get it to come apart that way. I think if a 4l u-joint was disassembled, it would be even harder to assemble again,but since the 3l u-joint's arms are more flexible, they could be easily put together. It was just an experiment before, but now I just want my broken u-joint not to be wasted.

[The Ghost Racer]

y using a pair of pliers, the pieces gets damaged slightly but at least you will share them.

[Saberwing40k]

I've done this quite by accident, and said accident completely destroyed part of the joint. I'd go for a little flathead screwdriver, personally.

[kieran]

I've done this quite by accident, and said accident completely destroyed part of the joint. I'd go for a little flathead screwdriver, personally.

agree, a small screwdriver inserted and used to pop the cup over the pin on part will do the job, i have made one good joint from 2 broken ones in the past with this technique. Patience is your friend on this one

[weavil]

Look Here Hold it like this. Where the arrow points, use something small to pop it off! I used my thumb nail to pop it off. But they are siff and stubborn, however the older one is a little softer plastic.