Farmall 230 axle removal help, thoughts, suggestions...

Hello,

My 230 has an oil leak where the left-hand axle carrier and the differential housing/rear frame mate together.

My intent was to remove the axles on both sides an replace the seals and the rear axle carrier gaskets.

With the cover off, I removed the two bolts on the inside end of the axle that secures it to the bull gear.

I then fabricated a press type bolt that uses a hardened bolt and an all-thread connecting nut. Basically the connecting nut is screwed all the way onto the bolt and the bolt is fitted between the two axles inside the case, then I unscrew the nut and it presses on the unbolted axle, pushing it out.

Trying to remove the left axle and it will not budge. I am afraid to put any more pressure on the axle, for fear of damaging something.

So I tried to remove the right side axle and it removed easily.

So with the right axle removed, I even tried to budge the left axle by using a large brass drift and a sledge. After a few hits, it didn't budge.

I thought about fabricating a press that mounts to the outside of the right side using the axle carrier bolts. The press would have a long bolt that passes through the case and presses on the left axle as I turned it from the outside.

Or, (which I hate to do) fill the mating surface between the differential and the axle carrier with gasket making caulk and bolt it up. Not bothering to remove the axle. I don't like this option because I really wanted to clean up the axles, bearings and replace the seals and gasket. But, I fear damaging something, or never getting it reinstalled correctly.

My guess is, at some point someone reinstalled it and forced it when the axle was not fitting perfectly.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on what I should try or route to go?

Can you get a torch around their 360 degrees or even halve, i would use a L.P. gas torch, to heat it, but have some help there to move it hold it, what ever.

When I removed the right side, there was a tremendous amount of bearing grease on the inside end of the axle carrier.

My fear of using a torch is igniting the grease inside the axle carrier.

Bob, I may be miss reading your post. Are you just trying to remove the axle or are removing the axel housing and everything at one time? I did my C two years ago and I did like you. I took the top off and removed the bolt or bolts in the end of the axel and took the large nuts off all around the housing and just pulled the entire thing off by hand with an engine hoist supporting the weight. I don?t remember it being hard to take it all apart. I think I just lightly tapped the bearings and they came right off. I did heat them a little to slide them back on after resealing everything. I then reinstalled the axel and housing as one unit. Don?t remember anything fitting all that tight.

Paul, that is exactly what I am trying to do and that is how I took off the right side. But, the left side - the axle will not come loose from the bull gear. It is like it has a very tight press fit.

Had the exact same experience with the exact same tractor. Sledgehammer and heavy Iron pole through the opposite side....came apart hard,
and went back hard...but fixed up all the leaks on the way! Works perfectly, and hope to never do it again as long as I own it. One side super
easy, the other horribly stuck....

Eastsider, thanks. I guess I need to find a short piece of iron bar and fashion something to help hold it in place while I strike it with the sledge.

Ugh.