Any advice on widening the front axle?

ScottyG · Postby **ScottyG** » Thu May 05, 2005 7:41 am

Does anyone have any experience in getting the front axle to budge so that I can widen it? I doubt that its ever been moved from when it first rolled off the truck.

Virginia Mike · Postby **Virginia Mike** » Thu May 05, 2005 7:55 am

I need to move mine out for a disk plow. So far, I have removed the clamp, soaked it with PB Blaster and Kroil, tapped it with a hammer, beat it with a deadblow hammer with no luck.
I put a smaller bolt through the axle so it has some wiggle room and I am keeping it sprayed with penetrating oil in hopes that the action of the tractor will loosen it.
I haven't resorted to the "Smoke Wrench" yet because I don't want to remove the Paint.
I got some more width by reversing the front wheel for now.

Best,
Mike

Brent · Postby **Brent** » Thu May 05, 2005 8:51 am

Alot of the time it's the tie rods that are stuck. I know on mine one was bent and the other had a dent in the outside housing. Take them off soak them good with penetrating oil. If you have an anvil or something else soid use a light hammer and start tapping on one end of the outside housing. Turn as you tap and work your way down to the other end. Since the inside rod is solid tapping on the outside tube will round it back out enough for the inside rod to slide. Just don't over do it. Stop every once in a while and see if things have loosened up. It worked for me and until I did that I had no luck. Good luck!

Postby **George Willer** » Thu May 05, 2005 8:53 am

ScottyG wrote:Does anyone have any experience in getting the front axle to budge so that I can widen it? I doubt that its ever been moved from when it first rolled off the truck.

force, lots of force! The force MUST be applied evenly so it doesn't bind. In the setup in the picture, each jack could only move the axle a few thousandths before it would bind. The total force used was easily 20 tons in addition to the penetrants, pounding, time, and cuss words. :shock:

Be prepared to do some painting after you win this war! :lol:

Postby **johnbron** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:50 am

I put my axle in the electrolysis tank for 2-days and was surprised at how easy it came apart. I was able to hold one end with my feet while tube was vertical and twist the inner tube and pull it apart by hand. Before soaking it I worked on it with every thought that came to mind short of a cutting torch and had no success.

ScottyG · Postby **ScottyG** » Thu May 05, 2005 10:26 am

All great tips!! Looks like I'll need some contraptions before I start and a little bulk in the biceps!
:wink:

Postby **Lurker Carl** » Thu May 05, 2005 12:10 pm

I made up a Rube Goldberg version of GW's setup that worked good enough. I used diesel for a cheap lube. It was a messy, dirty job and was harder on my back than anything else. I strapped and blocked the 4x4s to the axle to keep everything stable when the jacks applied pressure. One axle tube came loose first, so I cleaned that one up until it slid on and off easily. I reinstalled the clamp to lock down the newly freed tube so the jacks could pry the other tube off.

If you have more than one axle to free up, make a jig!

Postby **John *.?-!.* cub owner** » Thu May 05, 2005 6:45 pm

ScottyG wrote:Does anyone have any experience in getting the front axle to budge so that I can widen it? I doubt that its ever been moved from when it first rolled off the truck.

Yeah, do it before you paint. LOL.

Postby **artc** » Thu May 05, 2005 8:02 pm

primer pete's front axle was in the tank a week....applied the jack method....smoke wrench...nada...kroil...pbblaster...piss....nada

put it on the tractorand painted it...git her done...

but GW's latest setup with 2 jacks and rods in the tubes...now that has definate probability of working...next one, thats my technique...thanks, George, another logical approach to a prob that beat me once...but next time.....i'll get even

michigancub3 · Postby **michigancub3** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:05 pm

I just got mine apart tonight. Same set up only I brought home both mine and a buddies ten ton porta powers... and it still took some heat. Not a lot but just enough to get it to expand just enough to start letting go. I'm glad thats done!

ScottyG · Postby **ScottyG** » Fri May 06, 2005 1:05 pm

Holy smokes. I didn't think that this would be easy but sheesh. :shock:

Looks like a good winter project... Thanks for the advice.

Postby **Buzzard Wing** » Sat May 07, 2005 10:15 pm

Guess I should have done it when the axles were on the bench?? Or should I say, glad I didn't bother when the axles were on the bench.

I do feel a little guilty for not trying.

Farmall Cub

Any advice on widening the front axle?

Any advice on widening the front axle?

Re: Any advice on widening the front axle?

Re: Any advice on widening the front axle?

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