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JEK1 02-17-2013 09:42:54 70.59.169.249 Report to Moderator	I have an 8N where the hydraulic lift control bushings are worn badly. (Like about 1/8 wobble) I have always avoided replacing them because they were never this bad and it looks like a real dog fight get the bushing out and replace. I have slugged the lift arms a couple of times with a hammer and they didn’t show any sign of movement. Any suggestion or procedures on how to replace the rock shaft bearings? Should I just live with it? Does the lift work better when the bushings are changed? I have oxy-acetylene for heat, a very good 20 ton hydraulic press, and a sledge hammer. [Reply]   [No Email]
Teakettle 02-18-2013 13:30:28 74.104.135.107 Report to Moderator	Re: Suggestions on replacing Hydraulic lift shaft bushings. in reply to JEK1, 02-17-2013 09:42:54   It can be done. I got the rockshaft and bushings out of a lift cover as part of moving all the guts over to another lift cover that didn't have a crack almost all the way across it (the PO clearly had done something he shouldn't). The process was, basically: remove the cylinder, linkage, etc. from the cover, then every day for a week spray a little Kroil between the bushings and the cover, then wail away at the shaft end for ten minutes with a dead-blow hammer. Amazingly, the last day the shaft practically fell out. That was in the days when I had a lot more patience than I have now... [Reply]  [No Email]
Hobo,NC 02-18-2013 11:07:34 98.16.13.63 Report to Moderator	Re: Suggestions on replacing Hydraulic lift shaft bushings. in reply to JEK1, 02-17-2013 09:42:54   http://ytforums.ytmag.com/viewtopic.php?t=929902&highlight=press [Reply]  [No Email]
ZANE 02-18-2013 07:34:14 98.83.19.218 Report to Moderator	Re: Suggestions on replacing Hydraulic lift shaft bushings. in reply to JEK1, 02-17-2013 09:42:54   Save yourself a lot of anguish and leave it alone. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Zane [Reply]  [No Email]
Dean 02-17-2013 20:05:11 24.1.134.162 Report to Moderator	Re: Suggestions on replacing Hydraulic lift shaft bushings. in reply to JEK1, 02-17-2013 09:42:54   I've replaced the rock shaft bushings on all of my vintage Fords. Bushing replacement is a routine matter once the upper lift arms are removed and the lift cover is disassembled. You will likely find that the rock shaft is worn on the load side, probably more so than are the bushings. Turn the roch shaft end for end upon reassembly such that it wears on the unworn side. Dean [Reply]  [No Email]
JEK1 02-17-2013 17:55:50 70.59.169.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Suggestions on replacing Hydraulic lift shaft bushings. in reply to JEK1, 02-17-2013 09:42:54   Royce, Thank You for your reply. As you said, it is just like tangling with a bear. [Reply]  [No Email]
Royse 02-17-2013 17:22:05 69.36.49.151 Report to Moderator	Re: Suggestions on replacing Hydraulic lift shaft bushings. in reply to JEK1, 02-17-2013 09:42:54   Is there something wrong with the way your lift works now? I have one with worn out bushings, not quite as bad as that, but it still works fine. If there's a problem with the lift, it may be something else. Hobo NC has a method he has posted using an air chisel you can find in the archives. My 8N had a broken top cover, so I cut it off and then used an oxy/acetylene torch with a rosebud and a 20 ton press to get the arms off the shaft. (also in the archives) They sure didn't come off easy, and I don't think I could have gotten any thing behind them to press against with the top cover still attached. I probably would have broken the top cover trying to press against it. If they really need to be replace before damaging the cover, you might want to consider buying replacement arms and just cutting the old ones off with a cutoff wheel. Split them side to side, the way the rock shaft runs, then put a chisel in the split to spread it and then tap them off. [Reply]  [No Email]