Lift arm removal problem

Ark68SS · Feb 8, 2014

I tried to get the lift arms off of the rockshaft using a big bearing separator and an axle puller, with heat applied to the lift arm by an acetylene torch with a rosebud tip and had no luck. Here's a pic-

This is what happened to the 5/8" studs on the separator, shows how tight these suckers are on the shaft.

Before this operation the lift arms moved freely, but now they're almost seized up. I guess the heat fried the old lube in the bushings.
Anyone here have any ideas on how to get this mess apart?
Thanks,
BillL

samn40 · Feb 9, 2014

I don't think, from the look of the paint still on the arm, that you
got enough heat into the arm. Heat it till it is red hot all around,
then fit the puller and tighten it up real tight, next hammer on each
side of the arm using a real heavy sledge hammer at one side and a
good heavy hammer on the other. Just hold the sledge up tight
against the arm and hit the other side. Swap hands and do the
same again....The shock should help break the bond.........

Sam

miner09 · Feb 9, 2014

Are you sure you have the puller on right? It looks like you should have the puller jaws on the arm you want off. You may be pulling against yourself.

Inno · Feb 9, 2014

On my 202 when I was rebuilding the lift, one side I was able to get off without too much trouble, the other side I took to a neighbor. He put it through many heat/cool cycles with an acetylene torch and gave it a good beating........not sure, I wasn't there when he did it but it was stubborn too. I would also agree that it doesn't look as though you got it hot enough. Mine was black when it was done, no orig. paint left at all.

s19438 · Feb 9, 2014

you guys must have esp cause from that pic I can't tell which end is up ?????

Ark68SS · Feb 9, 2014

Sorry for the confusing picture. The lift arm cover is off of the tractor and is being held on top of a sawhorse with a big clamp. It is upside down on the sawhorse. I guess the flash on the camera made it look like paint is still on the lift arm, but it was burned off early in the procedure.
I guess I'll try the same process again with the cover mounted on the tractor and get the entire arm cheery red and see what happens. I have a friend who's a big guy and likes to beat on stuff with big hammers, I'm sure he'll be happy to help.
Thanks ya'll, I'll let you know what happens.
BillL

Ark68SS · Feb 9, 2014

(quoted from post at 06:31:31 02/09/14) Heat it till it is red hot all around,
then fit the puller
Sam

Not trying to be a smart aleck here, but wouldn't that burn my fingers??

OK, I was trying to be a SA. :wink:
Thanks for the help, Sam.
BillL

Jason S. · Feb 9, 2014

If you have an air chisel with a blunt end you may find that the vibration from it while using it while the arm is glowing red will help break the corrosion loose.

Ark68SS · Feb 10, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:57:26 02/09/14) If you have an air chisel with a blunt end you may find that the vibration from it while using it while the arm is glowing red will help break the corrosion loose.

Yep, we tried that, too.
I'm going to put the housing back on the tractor for a more rigid support and get the arms hotter and slam it with a sledge on Thursday. That's when my buddies can help me out. We'll know the results that afternoon.
BillL

Don Hooks · Feb 11, 2014

My 2 cents: lift covers are pretty strong but I would try to limit my sledgehammer work to the shaft and arm - if it were me. Other than that, I put my lift arm in a big vise, soaked the end with penetrating oil overnight and laid a 1 inch nut on the end of the shaft and whanged that with a 2 pound hammer a few times until I got some movement. More oil and more hammer until it let go after moving about a quarter of an inch.

gears · Feb 12, 2014

I put my cover in the press and forced the splined shaft out the "bottom"

Resulted in 1 arm off, bushing still in housing. and the other arm and bushing came out the other side. Pressed it back together and everything works nicely.

Ark68SS · Feb 14, 2014

Yesterday my buddies came over and helped. One used the torch to heat the arm at the shaft until it was red hot, the other held the arms up so I could get a good swing with a 10 lb sledge hammer. We attached the puller tool on it for good measure. Beat the dickens out of it and it still hasn't budged a millimeter. We tried this on both lift arms. I think I'm giving up. There's just a small amount of play in the shaft bushings, and the only reason I wanted it apart was to make it easier to paint.

I hate to admit to having a machine defeat me, but it's not worth the effort and the pain in my bad shoulder from hammering on it.
Moving on to another part of the project.
BillL

graham_in_NJ · Jun 18, 2016

Having the same problem. Got one off after many heat/cool/beating cycles. The other refuses to move.

Since one is off, can I press the un-armed end out through the cover? I would have thought it would slide out since the internal ram splines were in oil and shouldn't be rusted....

Lift arm removal problem

Ark68SS

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samn40

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miner09

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Inno

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s19438

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Ark68SS

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Ark68SS

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Jason S.

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Ark68SS

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Don Hooks

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