front axle shaft

[Billnrolla]

i have a '49 cub and noticed excessive wear around the front axle pivot shaft and the steering knuckle post. does anyone know if there are bearing inside this housing and if so how difficult are they to replace? i have lubed this area regularly and just noticed the wear after brushhogging recently. thnx

[Bigdog]

There are bushings and thrust washers where the axle pivot pin passes through. There are also bushings at the top and bottom of the steering knuckle.

By the way - welcome aboard. I hope you enjoy the site. If you have not read Rudi's welcome wagon post, you should. It is full of good info and links.

[allenlook]

BD's right on the bushing vs. bearings, and to answer your question regarding difficulty, it is not difficult at all.

Please remember to support your tractor safely with jack stands or a "split stand" bolted into the implement attachments, and then take off the front axle by tapping out the axle pivot shaft. Don't leave it suspended in the air solely on a jack.

I don't mean to preach, but a fella was killed here where I work two days ago by an electric cart that fell of a jack. Just reminds me to be really, really careful when I work on the Cub!

If I remember correctly, the bushings are simply held in place by compressing bolts in the split housing at the front and rear of the axle pivot shaft and come out easily when the compressing bolts are removed. I need to do the same thing because I realized my thrust washers are missing!

[Cecil]

The bolts in the compression fitting fit into a grove in the pivot pin so when you put it back together make sure they line up. Really easy I have done it twice. Now changing the width of the front axle is another story that can get really interesting.

[Bigdog]

And remember that the bolts must come all the way out to remove the pin.

[Bruce Sanford]

It has taken three days to get my front axel apart. Some dummy welded the stering knuckles. The top bolts for the steering knuckles were broken inside,the holes.Lots of grinding and drilling. I hope I never have to do that again. Bruce

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

once you get them apart, there is a hole in the backsid you can stick a punch in and drive the broken point out.

[Bruce Sanford]

John

I found that out later.I had to drill half of the broken bolts that were still in the holes. Now I know why there were welded.Nothing comes easy. Bruce

[allenlook]

I never have gotten my axle apart. Electro-soaked it for two weeks, but finally figured a previous owner had welded a tab onto the outer tube, and that must have welded through to the inner tube and they were never coming apart!

[Bruce Sanford]

Allenlook

A lot of Blaster and a 12 ton press really helps. Bruce