Removing drag links/ball ends from Massey 135

JeffScott · Jul 3, 2016

Hi guys, I'm kinda stuck splitting my tractor. I've never messed with drag links or ball ends before and I'm not sure how to take one side or the other off so I can get the tractor split. Rather than randomly beat on things with a sledge hammer, I thought I'd get your help on this. Below are some pictures that show the setup I have. This is different from my service manual, it shows a different style ball end than I have.

Any help is appreciated!

ptfarmer · Jul 3, 2016

A pickle fork is what you need.

JeffScott · Jul 3, 2016

(quoted from post at 11:52:23 07/03/16) A pickle fork is what you need.

Thanks PT! Just went to Harbor Freight and picked one
up!

Jeff

Dieseltech · Jul 3, 2016

I've never used a fork as they sometimes damage the rubber boot. MF dealer I worked for years ago showed me to use a heavy hammer on the arm after the nut is backed off two or three turns. Never had one not pop loose yet.

samn40 · Jul 3, 2016

I'm with dieseltec on this one... never needed a fork. Use a lever to prise up or out on the tiebar and then hit the arm with a good heavy hammer....Hit it as if you were trying to distort the hole the ball end is fitted into...don't worry it won't permanently
distort, but it will shock the ball joint loose in the tapered hole.......or you could simply take off the arm the balljoint is attached to?................Sam

FBH44 · Jul 3, 2016

Our local O'Reilly's will loan out the pickle forks, if you are known to them.

ptfarmer · Jul 3, 2016

As far as the rubber boots go they are usually gone, or need replacing (when not working on new equipment) that it won't hurt to replace them, or the complete end.

maxwell99 · Jul 4, 2016

I see ED on wheeler dealers do this all the time when he is taking apart steering links,

Do not know the proper name of the part, but the end that the bolt is wedged in,

he just puts a hammer head on one side and strikes the other side and the bolt just pops loose, I am shocked each time I see him do this,
always attributed it to it's just TV,

But apparently it works, I always used the fork and yes, most times it ruined the rubber grease seal,

JeffScott · Jul 4, 2016

Got them off guys! Now on to the split.

Thanks to everyone who replied. Y'all are a helpful bunch!

Jeff

ptfarmer · Jul 4, 2016

(quoted from post at 04:31:30 07/04/16) I see ED on wheeler dealers do this all the time when he is taking apart steering links,

Do not know the proper name of the part, but the end that the bolt is wedged in,

he just puts a hammer head on one side and strikes the other side and the bolt just pops loose, I am shocked each time I see him do this,
always attributed it to it's just TV,

But apparently it works, I always used the fork and yes, most times it ruined the rubber grease seal,

The two hammer trick does work, it may work on the first hit, or it may take several hits for it to pop loose. For TV they usually edit out the hits when it didn't pop loose. I've had some where I had to heat one side of the arm with a torch, then hit the other side, and or use a pickle fork.

Removing drag links/ball ends from Massey 135

JeffScott

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ptfarmer

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JeffScott

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Dieseltech

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samn40

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FBH44

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ptfarmer

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maxwell99

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JeffScott

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ptfarmer

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