Narrow front end side to side bearing play?

Will Herring · Aug 27, 2017

So my Allis Chalmers WD, I just took the front wheel off to get it repaired (went flat, getting tired of pumping it up every time I go to use it). However, I noticed that I can push and pull the piece the wheel mounts to, and I get like... 1/4 inch of movement (or more?) in and out on the wheel hub shaft. Is this correct? Or is something worn out I can easily replace?

Here's a picture of the piece shoved in.

Here's a picture of the piece pulled out.

This wheel has given grief before 40+ years ago, as I am told that the previous owner had a failing wheel bearing cut through the wheel center cap -- notice the custom weld job on the center cap on the wheel piece in the second shot below my hand. I'd like to replace that with an original style if at all possible. Was this a common failure?[/img]

caterpillar guy · Aug 27, 2017

Looks like the bearing is either loose or shot. Yes those narrow fronts on all tractors had more problems due to no place for the dirt to go, during muddy conditions so more would get in the bearings by the seals. You could put a can with the bottom cut out to fit the hub to help shield it, or dad has taken old tire tread and wrapped around them with a hose clamp to some success.

cole in mo. · Aug 27, 2017

Knock the gas can pour spout off, remove the nut, then the hub, inspect the bearings and races, repack, replace hub, and tighten the nut just till no play is detected in the bearings. Then do the same thing to the other side.

Steve@Advance · Aug 27, 2017

There should be very little, if any play there.

Pull the cap and nut off, remove the bearings and seal.

There will be bearing races, the "cup" part of the bearing, pressed into the hub. They should be tight in the bore. If they have been turning in the hub, and excessively loose, the hub will need to be replaced.

Also the "cone" part of the bearing should be a slip fit on the spindle. If the spindle is worn deeply on the bottom from the cone turning, it may also need replacing.

Obviously, it will need new seals and the correct dust cap. Being run loose, the bearings are likely bad too.

X-Y switch · Aug 27, 2017

That seal has to bad, I would certainly replace it along with cleaning up and repacking or replacing the bearings.

JMS/.MN · Aug 28, 2017

Hubs, spindles, etc. are pretty cheap in a salvage yard....scads of those narrow fronts around. The hub should have a cap that screws on, keeping dirt from getting to the bearing. If the front wheels shimmy, especially on a hard-surfaced road, then replace the bearing at the bottom of the steering box casting. That bearing race gets "scalloped" from constant pounding over many years.

Will Herring · Aug 28, 2017

Oh man this is starting to add up... Can the spindles themselves be repaired or replaced, or does the entire front pedestal have to get swapped out? And yes, I have shimmy on a hard road surface, so I am sure that bearing is worn/scalloped, too.

Narrow front end side to side bearing play?

Will Herring

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caterpillar guy

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cole in mo.

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Steve@Advance

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X-Y switch

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JMS/.MN

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Will Herring

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