450 Farmall Hand Crank Start Shaft Replacement

Is it a difficult task to replace the hand-crank shaft on a 450 gas, narrow front?

Yes, because the barrel that couples to the crank is usually seized. Then there is the stamped spring retainer which is likely to be seized on the barrel as well as the 1/2" dia pin.

If everything has been gobbed up with grease for the past sixty years, it's not a big deal. Otherwise, you will probably have to remove the bolster. Bear in mind that the job requires one to work on his back with his hands inside the bolster casting. Do you have any 5-6 year olds in the neighborhood who like tractors.

Think about compressing the spring with several tie-wraps.
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I did this partial disassembly to slide the barrel back far enough to install a 2 groove pulley on the crankshaft. This was an old bolster I had to see if it could be done before attempting the same job on my 400.

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As I look at these pictures, I am not even sure that the barrel will come out if the bolster is still attached to the frame rails. I have only removed barrels on separated bolsters. Perhaps you don't need to replace the barrel. You haven't indicated what the problem is.

Wardner, I'm sure the 400 is the same as an H, and I found that the barrell will only come out in the direction of the engine. No way to do it without removing the bolster from the frame rails.