Axle removal

I got a cherry picker borrowed for the weekend and I am ready to replace the final drive and transmission seals on my very leaky B. I have never done anything like this before and I will be flying solo besides my I&T manual and you guy's help.

When I unbolt the axle, will it come straight out? Will I need to unhook anything? Where should I lift from? Can I get the seals at Napa? Are they easy to remove and install? Any advice would be great. Pics would be awesome. Thanks.

see if this helps...
BN restoration

The axle is in the bull gear inside the final drive. Removing the axle from the final drive always required either pressing or driving it out whenever I've worked on them.

I just took the bearing cap off from the inboard side and then took the seal from the outboard, or wheel side, and then pressed the axle out of the bull gear. I forget which side I press from, but it will be apparent when you get there.

I use a strap around the final then remove the bolts holding it to the tranny the whol assy will come out easy. Then after removing the brake drum the shaft will come out thru the final after removing the small plate that has the four bolts holding the cove. This is for the left side. Right side is a little different with seat and floor pan all fastend to the housing. You will need to get the floor pan loose and out of the way to remove the housing. After getting the right side removed the brake drum will need to be removed so the diff shaft can come out thru the same plat the left side has. Quite a job but ive done it several times so its easy for me but the cherry picker is a must.

I just did this whole job this summer, learning as I went. Most of it is pretty straight forward, but like others have said, some creative hammer work or a press will be most likely needed, especially for the long axle shaft under the seat. Removing the final drive is pretty easy with the picker. Make sure you take some pictures for how all the washers go together inside the drive shaft unit. The very hardest part for me was to get the outer seal assembly (the one next to the wheel) to come off so I could replace it. I came up with the idea of using four pieces of ready rod and used nuts to slowly walk it off away from the wheel mount. If you send me your e-mail, I could send lots of pictures. The IH dealer had the things I needed, and I suggest you go there to get what you need, especially the gaskets.

Mark

I have done a bunch and just where is the press needed only problem i have ever had was to remove the brake drum is that where the press is needed.

I too have redone all the seals on the final drives of an A. Same as the B or BN. And Gene has nailed it. Only difference is instead of a cherry picker, I used a chain hoist and trolley on an overhead I-beam with 4x4 cribbing under the rear end.

Used the hoist to pick up the rear of the tractor. built the cribbing and set tractor down on it. both wheels off the ground. used hoist to remove the final drive, and disassembled it while on the hoist. the hoist worked well as I had the rear axle aligned with the overhead I-beam. just rolled the trolley with the whole final drive away from the tractor. rolled it back when seals were done.

Here is my adventure from this summer...after removing the lower shaft, not too hard, a little 3 lb hammer to get it out of the bull gear.

<a href="http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/bigswen85/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1909.jpg" target="_blank"> </a>

The next photo is showing how I used the cherry picker and chain with a couple of bolts to lift it off the tractor.

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Picture three is the lower shaft with the bearing persuader I used. There was no way to get my bearings off that I could find. It worked very well...small turns evenly, and walked it right off.

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The next picture is after using the sledge to drive the main shaft out of the brake drum...I didn't have a press as Gene did.

<a href="http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/bigswen85/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1922.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

Parts ready to go back together

<a href="http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/bigswen85/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1923.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

Reassembly

<a href="http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/bigswen85/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1926.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

<a href="http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/bigswen85/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1930.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

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The other side was much easier, the brake drum came right off. I still had to use the ready rod to move the bearing and seal assembly off, but by then I had it down to a science!

I hope this helps!

Mark

Wow! Thanks for all the info. You guys are great!