Worn front spindles on 700

[PatRarick 1]

Yeah, I've never seen one without bearings either. Don't know if you would have to change the entire axle, or just the spindles. Pat

[SmilinSam 4,242]

The early 700's had press in bushings in the front wheels (similar to whats found on the older Broadmoor series. This was before the advent of the taper roller bearings. You just press the old ones out but you have to go to a machine shop to have new ones made. It cost me $20 or so to have 2 made for the 700 I had. You should take the shop the old bushings , the spindle and the wheel so they will be sure to get all the dimensions right. You can also replace with a newer set of wheels and taper roller bearings if you so wish, as they should fit right on as long as you have all the spacers, washers and collars that go with the them. If I were you, I'd visit a shop and see what it would cost for sure. Even a high school machine shop class could make them. Might be cheaper than a newer set of wheels and bearings. Sam

[MPH 12]

So Sam, I take it the spindles are the same on the old 700's as on the 725??MPH

[johnmonkey 4]

Thank you for all your help. MPH I was wondering that same question as your last reply. The spindles are not removeable I think I would need to replace the whole axle if I didn't go with the machine shop route. PS I bought my an engine lathe (9" South Bend) plus a Burke verticle/horizontal milling machine. plus all of the tooling involved from my old next door neighbor. He was a master tool and die maker. (he died at 83 years old in 1986 ). I should be able to cut my own gears (bevel & straight) if I knew how. The only thing that I did not recieve from the neighbor was the "know how" to use all of this great stuff. Now on to my next post, dealing with a model 19 B&S. John H

[SmilinSam 4,242]

John, On the one I had the axle spindles were removable from the axle assembly(front axle) in the same manner as the 725, landlord and so on. Maybe I'm just not envisioning what you are describing.......... Martin, I sure couldn't see any difference between the axle assemblies laying side by side. As near as I could tell (when I last looked into this) is that the first Wonderboy 700's came with the press in bushing type wheels. Somewhere in mid production of the 700 they switched to taper roller bearings. The later parts books and owners manuals show the old pictures of the bushing type wheels , but were given new typeset describing them as taper roller bearings. They changed the words but not the picture- a source of confusion for me for a while. The newer parts books don't even mention the Bushing differentiation for the early tractors. I would like to see a original owners/ parts manual for the earliest WB 700's to see what the print actually says in relation to the pictures.

[Guest Jef]

The spindles are the same for both the tapered bearing wheels and the sleeve bearing which are still available you just have to use part# 156316 which is a older Broodmoor # They are 3/4"ID and 1 1/8" OD with a flat area the is to be pressed in at the grease zerk fitting area to allow the grease to get to the bearing spindle area. Jeff

[johnmonkey 4]

I repainted the the front rims on my 1961-2 simp 700. One or two of the front bushings were loose and I looked at the front spindles. There was some wear on the front spindles plus there was some play with the front tires. My question is can I repair the front spindle and how would I? Are the front bushings available? Could I replace the older rims with a newer set of front rims with the taper roller bearings? Thanks John H

[MPH 12]

Thanks Sam. I should have engaged brain a little better when I was replyin'. be tough to stear if the spindles were welded to the front axle, dudaaaaaaaaaMPH

[ka9bxg 3]

To repair the axel on my wonderboy 700 I cut the axel off just to the inside of the bent steel.I was able to remove the 3/4 in shaft and replace it with a new one.Then I just welded it into place take care to get the correct angle on it.As for the bushings I bored out the old bushing on a lathe and pressed in oilite bushings works great and it is hard to tell that it was done.Good luck Bob

[MPH 12]

John, I've never seen a 700 front end with the bushings but I'd guess the spindles would be different for bushings then for bearings. As they are welded to the axle, seems to me you'd be best off to find a parts tractor front axle with bearing type rims and spindles. I think any of the B series up to 110 or beyond/or Simplicity equal are the same front axle. I could be all wrong on my assumption but sure I'll be corrected if so. then I'll learn something too..MPH