Spindle removal

CPACy

Member
So I have this old wagon and the steering is frozen. I have been soaking in PBlaster and giving it some love taps about once a week for the last 6 weeks when I get out to the farm where it is. I pulled the rim off as well as the tie rod so I could try and get some movement.
Keep soaking and it will come eventually, or time for heat? I don't have a torch and haven't heated something up like this before.
I'd like to get the project moving, but don't want to get started on new flooring if I can't steer it.
If this was loose, would this just slide down out of the axle? I don't want to just start beating on something if it isn't supposed to come out that way.
a232847.jpg
 
I would say it's time for some heat on the outer tube. If it hasn't freed in 6 weeks it probably never will. Once it's heated you can spray more PB on it and it will help to wick it down into the spindle. It should then beat out the bottom. Just be careful not to booger up the shaft so it can't fit down the tube.
 
Looks like there is a hole for a grease zerk. Clean out the hole with a drill bit and then a piece of wire down in around the bottom of the hole. Install zerk and see if you can pump grease into it.

Hook up the tie rod and use the tongue as a longer lever, trying to move the spindle.

It may take heat to get it to loosen up after all this, but greasing is worth a try.
 
Our David Bradley trailer did that once. After trying some other things that didn't work, we applied heat with the torch until we could work it free with the tongue. Eventually we got the spindle out, sanded it down and greased it good and never had that problem again.
 
It is a David Bradley wagon so I'm having that issue, too, Dick2.
RogerinIowa, those are zerk openings. I was able to take those out pretty easily and have been squirting the blaster down those too to try and get something in there on the lower part. The zerk itself was rusted shut and they wouldn't take grease, but I'll try a new zerk and see if I can get anything in.
Sounds like I'm going to have to heat. Can I use one of those hand held thermos sized gas bottle torches? Does that give enough heat to do something like this?
 
I would put a grease fitting in it again and start warming it up, then try pumping grease into it when it's hot. The grease will melt and penetrate with the force of the grease gun. If you have a gear puller and can figure a way to secure it to the axle, the screw can be used to force the spindle out. If you pound too much on it you are going to head it like a rivet and then you are sunk. As a last resort I have split them with a torch to get the spindle out, then you have to vee it out and weld it back together.
 
The couple times I've bought old gears had the same thing . I used heat and a big hunk of brass and a sledgehammer . Really need a torch tho.
 
Did you take a bolt with a big washer off the top of the spindal? Looks like a hole there. There has to be something to keep the spindal in place while working. If there is not that place for a bolt and washer on top then there will be something else holding it in. I think it should just drop out.
 
Yes, there was a big wash and bolt. I took that off to try and soak it. I was hoping that the washer had kept some water out of it so it wasn't so rusted but it is. All the bolts and zerks have come out really easily, so I was surprised that the spindles are so rusted tight.
 

I'm thinking a lung piece of pipe with one end flattened could be put on to that piece where the tie rod goes, so you could gain some leverage. Others have mentioned the tongue but then you are stressing the tie rods too.
Heat, PB, lever, PB, heat, lever, PB, repeat....
 
I'd say heat, grease and PB Blaster. I've had some that I couldn't free up, and had to split. I use a angle grinder with a cut off wheel to make the cut, then drive a chisel in to open it up. Then take the spindle out, clean things up and weld it back together - hopefully it wont come to that
Pete
 
I'm with mtf you will pound till your blue in the face . Split it and they come right out . I cap them with a piece of pipe with zerks at the seam .
 
A regular old plumbers torch with a Map Gas cylinder is all I have to use. I have used it on axles like this on an EZ trail wagon. Heat and beat.
 
I've only fixed one like that once. After the boys and I had beaten the thing to death, I made a cut top to bottom with a four inch angle grinder. Then the spindle will come right out. Then you can clean everything up real good, put it back together. then put a small rod in the cut, just a little larger diameter that the width of the cut and weld it in. Don't over do it welding it it, because you will want to weld a scab over it like 36A says.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top