560 WFE...need parts.

Anybody know how big a job it is to get this part off? Can it be repaired (welded) or does it need replaced. If it"s Schwartz, vendor says $56 + S&H, so that ain"t bad. Not sure if it"s cast iron (buddy says maybe cast steel) or what...

I"d like to get right on this and get it repaired. Any words of wisdom?

Getting the part off should be fairly straight forward, take out the four bolts that hold it to the tractor, then, take the tie rods out. I don't remember if you need to take the actual front axle off, maybe someone else here does. If you don’t have a “pickle fork” to pop the tie rods loose, I would suggest loosening the nuts until they are even with the threaded part of the tie rod end. If you have castle nuts (nuts that have a cotter pin through them) turn them upside down and the screw them until even with the threaded part. Then hit the area with the nut on the end sharply with a hammer once to pop it loose. This is a tapered fit so once it is loose it will fall away. Repeat the hammer if necessary, but pay attention so that you don’t swell up the threaded part of the tie rod or you will need to replace that too.

Hope this helps!