While cleaning everything up for reassembly I noticed the cage inside the Birfield is cracked in 2 places. :'(
I'm guesssing that these are not rebuildable??
It's the driver's side Birf...do I call Hawk or is this something I can get at a NAPA or Carquest??

call hawk ,  and then hang the broken one on the wall.  the collection begins

Hawk is a good place to go.  I use them for most of my spare parts.  Of course, the 3 day ship time probably helps. 

If you want a non-stock replacement you might want to check out Low Range Off-Road as they have the Newfield chromemoly birfs and front axle shafts.  You would have to upgrade your front diff's side gears, but they will replace the first set you break for free. 

Has anyone pulled apart a Birfield without damaging the cage?
How did you get it apart?

With a hammer! 

If you get a new birf, it comes with the cage.  The only thing you are saving is your axle shaft.

Cracked Birfield what now?

Newfields. 

With a hammer! 

If you get a new birf, it comes with the cage.  The only thing you are saving is your axle shaft.

I guess I didn't explain myself all that good,
 I talked with Hawk to order a new Birfield to replace the one I have that is cracked and they said that the Birfield comes with the axle installed in it already...
Well I don't need a new axle just the birfield because I just bought a custom length axle from Moser.
I am hoping that I can remove the axle from the new Birfield without damaging it so I can install my new Moser axle.
 I was told to use a piece of pipe a little larger than the axle and slam it down on a piece of wood to pop the axle out of the Birfield...I did that to send the axle to Moser but when I cleaned up the Birfield that is when I noticed the cracks in it...I think I probably damaged it when I popped the axle out....maybe not I don't know...I just don't want to ruin a new Birfield.
That is the reason for this thread, to find out if anyone has taken them apart (axle & Birfield) without damaging the Birfield.??
Thanks for the help and the patients for a newbee with alot of questions

I'm guessing the Birfield was damaged already.

However, if you want to get the birfield off easily but are not worried about saving the axle there is an easy way to do it.  Just take a chop saw and cut the axle off as close to the birf as possible.  You can then spin the inner ring and actually take apart the birfield.  Once the ring is out you can just take off the snap ring and slide the axle stub out.

I have had to do this when the axle simply won't break the snap ring with the pipe or hammer method.

I copied this over from a reply I posted on POR.

I've done it by slamming them in a pipe, which usually damaged the shaft where the c-clip is, or the birf cage &/or star, or both.

I've cut them as well, and this works, except you could be trashing a good shaft in the process (which I didn't mind since I'm 26 spline in the front).

But the way to do it, as I got it from the dealer, uses a 2-way press. On the end of the shaft is a threaded hole. A metic grade 12 bolt is used, along with a short peice of chain that is basically a loop welded to a thick washer. Bolt the washer onto the shaft.

Next, a U-shaped thick plate goes around the shaft and against the flat side of the birf, bascially holding the inner cage/star from moving.

The plate is bolted to the press stage, and the chain attached to the top. In reverse, the press is operated and it basically pulls the shaft out of the birf without breaking a damn thing. Pretty trick, and I eventually plan on building something like this for my shop.

However, this ain't no trail fix.

I'm thinking of doing something like Mar-tacks on my spare Calmini shafts, to avoid this problem on the trail, since I carry the shafts and cupped birfs apart. Would that make them Cal-tacks?

HTH,

p.s. don't slam it in a pipe.