FarmerDawn Help

I am stuck on getting the stering rods out.

Some say I need a specail tool.

I had planned on leaving the steering box mounted on the transmission and disconnecting the steering rods to split the tractor.

Where is the easiest point to disconnect those things?

This picture is were you separate the drag link (steering rod) from the steering box arms. This is a 9N but an 8N is basically the same. The big fork shaped tool is the pickle fork that Hobo hates. It is driven in between the two parts with a big hammer and it wedges the parts apart.

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It also usually destroys the grease boot as shown in the next picture. That's a little exaggerated cause it was already ruined but it serves to illustrate Hobo's point.

This last picture shows a new tie rod end with a good boot on it - see why Hobo says find some other tool or method to separate the parts or be prepared to replace the boot?

The method Ultradog describes is to take the nut off the drag link end and wedge a metal plate between the tranny and the end of the bolt. Then strike the steering arm a sharp blow in the direction of the plate. That will push the rod end out of the socket. I've never tried it but it should work. Personally I'd only loosen the nut a couple of turns and leave it in place to protect the end of the threads on the drag link.

HTH,

TOH

Good luck,
Dan

TOH

You are right though - the right tool for the job is indeed a pitman puller (I guess I need to invest in a decent one now...)

Thanks for clarifying that.

Dan

TOH

Oh my heavens, SCGF, I fear you have asked for help from the wrong individual! (rueful LOL) I did split my tractor, but I'm not sure the way I did it is a way anyone should emulate. It involved taking everything apart, putting it all back together, and then taking it all apart again! (No, that wasn't how I planned it, but I did it wrong the first time! LOL)

I am be glad to help you in any way I can, but I sure hope you'll ask some of the others on this forum -- people who really know what they're doing -- for help. Meanwhile, here is a picture that might help get you started. See if it helps at all.

This is a picture before I took my tractor's front end apart. The place I disconnected the radius rod is at "a" (although you can't see it very clearly in this picture). The place I initially disconnected the radius rod was at "b," by pounding out the pins that go through the axle there. But I had to put it all back and undo it at "a" instead so there would be radius rods left (attached to the front axle) to hold on to when I "drove" it away (by pushing it with my hands). I disconnected the drag link at the tie rod at "c." A lot of others do it at the back end, but I couldn't get the tool in the tight space at the back and so did it at the front. Then I folded it backwards over the rear axle for while I work on the engine.

I don't know if any of this helps, but if I can take other pictures or something I am glad to, if you tell me what you need. But I do think you ought to check with Zane or Old or Dell or Dan or Hobo or The Old Hokie, because they know a LOT about splitting these Ns.

Dawn

• Hobby farm

TOH

I unbolted the large not at the steeriong box but the arm wouldnt come off.

Do you mean the entire steering box?