You know, if you dont need this tomorrow, exploratory surgery is a good idea anyway.
If it is old and well used or if someone else have had their hands in it.
I always like to look at things before I use them.
I had a 489 pinion nut come loose on me a long way from home.
Im sure someone had messed with it.
I hang the 8 ¾ chunks in a tree by the yolk and hose it out from underneath with mineral sprits then put fresh oil in the rear when I take the rear apart for cleaning.