Method for installing a bearing in a universal coupling

A method of assembling a coupling fork of a universal coupling of the type comprised of two coupling forks, wherein the coupling fork is a single piece unit having two fork eyes, and the coupling includes a crosspiece having four pins, and each pair of crosspiece pins being on a respective axis, and the crosspiece having a bore therein which extends along the axis of a pair of the pins;

• the method being for mounting a bearing having a bearing sleeve for pivotally supporting a pin of the crosspiece of the coupling, and the pin being mounted in the bearing sleeve in the fork eye;
• the method comprising:
• inserting a tie rod in the bore in the crosspiece and extending along the axis of the pair of the pins;
• supporting the tie rod in a fixed position one fork eye, while passing the tie rod through a bore which passes through the bearing sleeve for the bearing at the other fork eye to align the pin therein;
• then pressing the bearing sleeve, through which the tie rod passes, into an opening provided therefor in the other fork eye and about the pin therein.