changing out discs on an IH 37

MattCatlin · Aug 16, 2011

I"m looking at an IH 37 with sealed bearings. How much of a chore is it to change discs?

MattCatlin · Aug 16, 2011

Maybe thats not clear, my question is to replace the discs. Is it just the one big nut on teh end of the axle?

Anonymous-0 · Aug 16, 2011

Yes yes ans yes

Its one big nut on the and and it's a chore

You will need 2 huge pipe wrenches a ox/acc tourch big hammer and some bars to get it all appart

You'll first need to take down all the hangers and get the shaft and blades in an open area

Take the nut off and then pry/beat it all apart. Heat will help

On a positive note it all goes back together easily

Mike (WA) · Aug 16, 2011

What Ed said.

Save yourself some frustration by unbolting the disc gang from the frame right off the bat, and rolling it out from under the frame, because that's what you'll end up doing anyhow.

That big ole nut is gonna be a rassle. If I did it again, I'd try to find another nut first, then just cut the old one off with a hot wrench and be done with it. Its pretty straightforward, once you get the nut off.

VADAVE · Aug 16, 2011

Ed's mostly right. It CAN be a chore getting it apart or it may come easily.
It is one Bbbig nut and requires a Bbbig wrench. 4 foot adjustable or a 4 foot pipe wrench with cheater bar. Another one for the other end to hold it steady.
The rest of the nuts are 9/16 to 5/8 nuts which may be worn off so don't be surprised if you need to cut them loose. If you clean all the dirt off first it's easier. On mine I was able to get ahold of enough of the small nuts to turn them off.
When I put mine back together I pick up one of those spring type washers to put under the Bbbig nut which made it easier to get it tight enough to not loosen up.
Getting all those blades by yourself is "fun".

Leroy · Aug 16, 2011

Losen the nut on the end of the axle first, take the gang you want to work on and set it on top of a plank and set the disk down as hard as you can on that one gang, lift the wheels to give more weight on those blades to the plank and perhaps load some weight on top of the disk for more blade grip turn against in loosening that nut after you have straightened the corners of the locking plate and with a big wrench and a hammer on the wrench that nut should turn loose and after it is loose raise disk enough to be able to get to bolts holding bearings to suports and when they are where you can get them out set the disk back down and take the bearing bolts out, raise disk and roll gang out to work.

mazemeister · Aug 16, 2011

if it's the same as the 370- which i think it is--

for the big nut on the axle- 1" drive, 1-5/8 socket, 6 point, with say a 6 foot cheater pipe.

for the bolts that hold the bearings to the supports- those are 1/2" bolts so a couple 3/4 wrenches should do ya. unless they're rusted, then a flame wrench.

what i like to do is unbolt the bearings, raise the disk, and get the whole gang out from under. use a front end loader, skid steer with forks, whatever ya got that can put some serious down pressure on that gang to hold it while ya loosen the nut. then everything just slides off the axle. keep track of the order and orientation. reverse to put it back together.

the important thing is to get that big nut TIGHT. like 5-600 ft-lbs is good, 7-800 is better. if you don't get it tight enough the disks will rub just a little and it'll only take a few acres and the whole gang is loose. ask me how i know.

TractormanNC · Aug 16, 2011

3/4 or 1 inch air wrench on 175 psi air!

ZIP,ZIP,ZIP,ZIP DONE!

If you don't have a big impact wrench, load the gangs up and take em to a friendly mechanic or truck garage. Have done both. Put em back on the same way.

Paul from MI · Aug 16, 2011

Don't know about an IH, but on my John Deere KB the hot wrench was a huge help. I did an OLiver once with aneighbor without one, but it was a newer disc with a broken axle. It's a simple job mechanically, just big rusty heavy parts. Having a loader or forklift handy is almost a must, or a big stout shade tree.

DeltaRed · Aug 16, 2011

You guys better be well practiced and have a steady hand with a torch or you will ruin the threads on the gang axle-then you will be screwed.I prefer to use a BFhammer and big chisel to swell/split the nut.btw-use antisieze when you reassemble.

the tractor vet · Aug 16, 2011

IF i had a dollar for every blade i have changed on 37's and 370's over the years . Heat wrench 1 inch drive impact and a BIG chain wrench and gas ax . My one friend and i would reblade up to four disc's a day back then . We would buy then with wore and broken blades in need of a paint job new bearings and we would rebuild them repaint then and off to a sale somewhere . We had a connection with a guy that we bought good 7 ga. 20 inch blades off of for 4 bucks a blade in 100 blade stacks. When going back together we would take a twenty pound sledge and hit the far end while we were tighting the gang when they ring like a bell ya got them tight,

MattCatlin · Aug 17, 2011

Thanks guys, I just got back here. I am looking at one in reall nice shape, but teh fronts are wore down to 14 inches backs are about 14.5. I'd like 20 inchers and notched up front

changing out discs on an IH 37

MattCatlin

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MattCatlin

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Anonymous-0

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Mike (WA)

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VADAVE

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Leroy

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mazemeister

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TractormanNC

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Paul from MI

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DeltaRed

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the tractor vet

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MattCatlin

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