BX23 Front axel/spline sheared roll pin

[Spoonerist]

Greetings all,

I’m grateful this forum exists. I’ve been working with a BX23 for a couple of years. It had been generally abandoned and heavily neglected. I’ve been giving her TLC and replacing parts as they fail.

I’m stumped right now and decided to post here. A few weeks ago the front drive shaft fell out. I walked my mowed path to locate it. The front u-joint was toast and the roll pin had sheared off.

I’ve got new u-joints and the splines were in decent shape. I’m happy to see that the vendor replaced the roll pin with a pin/cotter pin style (I don’t know the actual term). I’m having a heck of a time removing the sheared roll pin from the spline.

I’ve tried hammering it out with a punch or bolt. I picked up a pneumatic hammer to bang on it. No dice. It’s mighty hard and not conducive for drilling. I’m about to get the oxy-acetylene and burn it out… gently.

Does anyone have any other suggestions before I use the torch, or is this the best bet?

Thanks!

Spoon

 

[85Hokie]

If you are using the correct size punch - that thing should come out with a BFH.

Lube it and heat and beat it.

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

Greetings all,

I’m grateful this forum exists. I’ve been working with a BX23 for a couple of years. It had been generally abandoned and heavily neglected. I’ve been giving her TLC and replacing parts as they fail.

I’m stumped right now and decided to post here. A few weeks ago the front drive shaft fell out. I walked my mowed path to locate it. The front u-joint was toast and the roll pin had sheared off.

I’ve got new u-joints and the splines were in decent shape. I’m happy to see that the vendor replaced the roll pin with a pin/cotter pin style (I don’t know the actual term). I’m having a heck of a time removing the sheared roll pin from the spline.

I’ve tried hammering it out with a punch or bolt. I picked up a pneumatic hammer to bang on it. No dice. It’s mighty hard and not conducive for drilling. I’m about to get the oxy-acetylene and burn it out… gently.

Does anyone have any other suggestions before I use the torch, or is this the best bet?

Thanks!

Spoon

Use proper size punch and good hammer Same as Hokie mentioned . I'am going to add that use some sort of backer like another hammer or pipe or something to take up the shock of you just hitting on the shaft . By using a backer on the oppsite side it makes more of a solid hit on the the pin that your trying to drive out.

 

[Yooper]

Do not try and torch it out! I guarantee it will be ruined if you do. Do what the previous poster’s suggested and use the torch to heat the outside for expansion. And that first hit means a lot. The more you hit, the more the end will mushroom

 

[Spoonerist]

Do not try and torch it out! I guarantee it will be ruined if you do. Do what the previous poster’s suggested and use the torch to heat the outside for expansion. And that first hit means a lot. The more you hit, the more the end will mushroom

You guys rock! It feels like the pin has adhered to the walls of the hole. I fabricated a clamp and backing plate out of the cut u-joint as one of my attempts.

A backing plate and BFH seems a good idea. I’m in America (the outer islands in WA are so remote they feel like a different country) for a couple of days, I’ll pick up another punch set. My old ones are long past prime.

The tractor has been getting pretty hot too. I’m thinking the thermostat needs replacing. I blew out the debris in the screen and the radiator. I may take off the fan shroud for better radiator cleaning. Other suggestions are certainly welcome.

Cheers,

 

[Henro]

Simple question, but is the splined shaft you are addressing on the driveshaft end or the shaft coming out of the front axle?

Hopefully you have not been beating on the shaft coming out of the front differntial without supporting it.

 

[Spoonerist]

Simple question, but is the splined shaft you are addressing on the driveshaft end or the shaft coming out of the front axle?

Hopefully you have not been beating on the shaft coming out of the front differntial without supporting it.

Ruh Roh Scoob

 

[Yooper]

You are on the right track with blowing out the radiator first. The screen will catch the big stuff but the smaller particles can still get through and lodge in the fins.

 

[Spoonerist]

Hello all,

Success today! Some heat and new punch with the BFH did it. 4wd is a thing now!

I changed the thermostat and cleaned the radiator with a nice long air nozzle.

Fuel filter swap. She needs some priming. Plus the ground wire on the fuel pump was frayed. I’m considering a new in-line pump from Amazon, any suggestions as for brand?

The little tractor wore me out today.

Cheers,

Spoon