FRONT AXLE REMOVAL

[Mbosler55]

i AM TRYING TO DROP THE FRONT AXLE TO MY 1948 FARMALL CUB.
i WANT TO REPLACE THE GASKETS/SEALS TO THE STEERING BOX.
hOW DO YOU REMOVE THE 3/4" SHAFT HOLDING THE FRONT AXLE. i AM TRYING TO TAP IT OUT BUT IT ONLY MOVES APX 1/16" EITHER WAY

THANKS
MIKE/PLANT CITY

[Ken (48 Cub)]

You must remove the two bolts first...the shaft is grooved/recessed and the bolts pass through them.

[inairam]

you have to take the bolts all of the way out not just loose.

[Slim140]

When you remove the pin there’s a washer on the front and back of the pivot. They’re easy to lose if not careful and tough to get back in by yourself on reassembly.

[bubbaearl]

Even after you remove the two bolts it will still be a little stubborn and you will need a rod to drive it out, brass is best but I did not have one and a wood dowel worked just fine and it will be a pain in the butt putting it back on by yourself, so I would get someone to just to help you hold it in place.

[Dale Finch]

Do be careful not to bang on the pin with your hammer. You'll have another problem if you mushroom the ends of the pivot pin.

[inairam]

Dale gives good advice for all of the pivot shafts on the Cub. They are not hardened.

I went to home depot and purchased a bunch of hardwood dowels of different diameters and cut them in 6"& 12" lengths just for this job of driving shafts

[Mbosler55]

Thank you all, came out easier then picking Plant City strawberries!!!
Now i could use some help on removing the key way on the worm gear?
been working on it for 4 hours , cant get it to budge more then a 1/64"
60 and sunny today if you want to help

Mike/Plant City

[Dale Finch]

I have had success by first spraying it with PB Blaster, then using a large pair of good dikes, grabbing it down at the bottom of the key, and prying up, using the shaft as the lever point.
I THINK that key is curved, and if so, I have also gotten them out by hitting a brass drift placed on the tip of the key, basically rocking it out of the slot.

Good luck!

[Intergalactic Harvester]

There should be a grease fitting on the right hand side for that shaft. Fill it with grease, drive it out with a wooden dowel. After you remove the bolts of course like others have said. Be careful, that axle is small but heavier than it looks.

Ditto on the brass drift. Tap easy and it should come free. Good luck and when your cussing at it, just remember you want have to do it again for a long while and you know it will be worth it in the long run. That what I have to tell myself anyways.

[Bob McCarty]

Check the wear on the two brass bushings and thrust washer (aftermarket sources are much cheaper than OEM). If there is wear on the gear teeth, you can rotate it 180* so the worm gear turns on the new section.

[Mbosler55]

Thank you all, up and running, no leaks!!