I have a 1952 TO30 that we bought from the previous owner of our farm about 12 years ago. It has run well, and I have used it mostly for light-duty tasks around our place (I have a modern Kubota as well that I use for the heavy lifting).
The TO30 was in need of a handful of repairs, cleaning up, and repainting, so I found a local tractor repair shop willing to take on the project.
Years ago, my neighbor told me that the previous owner had at some point broken one of the TO30's rear axels, and had welded it (the axel) back together. I never noticed any problems, so just shrugged, kept using the tractor, and admired the skills of the previous owner who is quite an accomplished machinist.
Now that the tractor is apart, we can see that it is the left axel that was welded. The weld itself looks fine, but the axel is just barely curved as the result of the weld. Despite this, I've never noticed a problem and it doesn't appear to have caused any unusual wear of bearings or the differential gears. Yet, while it's apart, I think it's worthwhile to replace the axel if a replacement is available.
So the question is whether a new left axel is available for a TO30, and what the part number would be. Is the axel the same as is used on an 8N or 9N? Any recommendations as to where I could purchase an axel?
One other part that I need to replace is the battery support. It is nearly rusted through. This part does not appear to be the same as on the Fords. Any recommendations as to where I could find a replacement, new or used?
Thanks,
Jeff
The TO30 was in need of a handful of repairs, cleaning up, and repainting, so I found a local tractor repair shop willing to take on the project.
Years ago, my neighbor told me that the previous owner had at some point broken one of the TO30's rear axels, and had welded it (the axel) back together. I never noticed any problems, so just shrugged, kept using the tractor, and admired the skills of the previous owner who is quite an accomplished machinist.
Now that the tractor is apart, we can see that it is the left axel that was welded. The weld itself looks fine, but the axel is just barely curved as the result of the weld. Despite this, I've never noticed a problem and it doesn't appear to have caused any unusual wear of bearings or the differential gears. Yet, while it's apart, I think it's worthwhile to replace the axel if a replacement is available.
So the question is whether a new left axel is available for a TO30, and what the part number would be. Is the axel the same as is used on an 8N or 9N? Any recommendations as to where I could purchase an axel?
One other part that I need to replace is the battery support. It is nearly rusted through. This part does not appear to be the same as on the Fords. Any recommendations as to where I could find a replacement, new or used?
Thanks,
Jeff