kwt Posted June 29, 2019 Posted June 29, 2019 Having problems removing the wheel spindle from the axle. I've gone as far as heating with ox/ace and beating the spindle downward with a 2lb brass hammer. Not a budge. Am I missing something?
Brettw Posted June 29, 2019 Posted June 29, 2019 Those generally get sloppy as the bushing wear a bit, would have been greased at one time and very likely many times over, and are constantly being moved around as the steering is used. It should fall out of the axle, no? Are you speaking of the steering arm perhaps? There are the two set screws as mentioned above, and the related keys that go with them. If those screws are loosened, you should be able to drive the axle assembly out.
PhanDad Posted June 29, 2019 Posted June 29, 2019 If it's the steering arm as @Brettw suggested, I've had success using a 2 arm puller to remove it. The issue with driving the spindle down could be the keys are stuck to the spindle and can't be driven past the solid top of the axle. Pulling the arm off will let the keys stay where they want and you can deal with them after the arm is off.
kwt Posted June 29, 2019 Author Posted June 29, 2019 Tried two jawed puller. Yes it is the steering arm. The spindle itself is free as a bird. The whole axle assembly is off the machine now and on the work bench. Yes, the set screws are removed. She's soaking in PB Blaster right now.
PhanDad Posted June 29, 2019 Posted June 29, 2019 17 minutes ago, kwt said: The spindle itself is free as a bird. If there's some vertical movement and you can get some shim stock between the bottom of the arm and the top of the axle on the sides arm where the keys aren't, maybe you can drive the spindle down a bit to break the bond; then use the puller Also check for a second set screws. I've seen double short set screws used on the steering arm.
kwt Posted June 29, 2019 Author Posted June 29, 2019 I would like to drive a pickle fork (ball joint separator) between the arm and the axle, but I just know I would hash the spindle housing.
kwt Posted June 30, 2019 Author Posted June 30, 2019 So I have both keys removed and I can move the steering arm up and down freely for about 1/4". Amazing. I guess I'll have my friendly neighborhood independent auto garage put it in a press. Sigh. I just wanted to try thrust bearings under spindle. I probably have 6 hours into this.
PhanDad Posted June 30, 2019 Posted June 30, 2019 Never had that happen. It’ll be interesting to hear what the issue is preventing the arm from coming off.
kwt Posted June 30, 2019 Author Posted June 30, 2019 Got it off. The top 1/4" of the spindle was mushroomed. It's hard to imagine that I did it with the brass hammer. I had to take a LOT off the spindle shaft to remove it. Used a dremel and notched the interior radius of the arm so that I could fit the tool all the way around the spindle, then walked it around taking material off the shaft. 1
kwt Posted July 2, 2019 Author Posted July 2, 2019 PMPS project is done. Not sure if the steering is easier, but everything is tighter. Replaced bushings in the spindle housings, built up the do dad at the rear of the front axle that goes into the frame to keep the axle from twisting, and replaced the bronze bushing there too. I couldn't see a bushing there in the parts diagrams I saw, but I did see blue paint on the original (Simp built Homelite T16H), so maybe Homelite wanted a bushing in there that Simp thought unnecessary.
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