720 - Can't get axle out of housing

[tonyAdrian]

So far the repair manual's direction to slam on wood didn't work. After that two 4 ton bottle jacks haven't worked - even after repeated soakings with PB blaster and heating with an acetylene torch. On deck simultaneously: bottle jacks, acetylene torch, and slide hammer. If anyone else has advice I'm open to it. Tony

 

[antfarmer2]

The bottle jacks should work.......did you take the bolt out on the inside holding the sprocket and the axle?

 

[tonyAdrian]

The bottle jacks should work.......did you take the bolt out on the inside holding the sprocket and the axle?

Yes - I removed the big nut. The first axle separated nicely. Not this one. Tony

 

[antfarmer2]

Yes - I removed the big nut. The first axle separated nicely. Not this one. Tony

Can you get a porta-power inside with the bottle jacks

 

[jerry]

Can you get a porta-power inside with the bottle jacks

Can you put pressure on it and get something in there so you can hit the housing at 90 degrees to the axle? Sometimes a shock like that will free a tight fit.

 

[flyerdan]

Can you put pressure on it and get something in there so you can hit the housing at 90 degrees to the axle? Sometimes a shock like that will free a tight fit.

If you have an air hammer, try putting the pressure on it with the jacks and give it a couple of bursts in the center of the hub with the dullest chisel (grind one flat if necessary to keep it from digging in), that should free up anything stuck to the shaft further back. You can get a cheapo air hammer at Harbor Freight for $8 most of the time; I've had pretty good luck using them to free up stubborn stuff without tearing things up.

 

[antfarmer2]

If you have an air hammer, try putting the pressure on it with the jacks and give it a couple of bursts in the center of the hub with the dullest chisel (grind one flat if necessary to keep it from digging in), that should free up anything stuck to the shaft further back. You can get a cheapo air hammer at Harbor Freight for $8 most of the time; I've had pretty good luck using them to free up stubborn stuff without tearing things up.

If no air hammer put the jacks on tight and use a BFH

 

[tonyAdrian]

If no air hammer put the jacks on tight and use a BFH

OK. Got it. Talked to a guy who backyard mechanics his tractor-trailers. Told me to keep pressure and whack the hub with a maul. Loosen the jacks and rotate 180 degrees. Pressure up the jacks and whack again. I did. A couple of dozen times. And it finally came loose but fought nearly the entire way. The races and bearing look undamaged. Sure hope the other two aren't like this. If so I might get four splitting wedges and go in on opposite sides opposing each other and whack on those first. Thanks all for the advice. Tony

 

[Tazza]

OK. Got it. Talked to a guy who backyard mechanics his tractor-trailers. Told me to keep pressure and whack the hub with a maul. Loosen the jacks and rotate 180 degrees. Pressure up the jacks and whack again. I did. A couple of dozen times. And it finally came loose but fought nearly the entire way. The races and bearing look undamaged. Sure hope the other two aren't like this. If so I might get four splitting wedges and go in on opposite sides opposing each other and whack on those first. Thanks all for the advice. Tony

Glad you finally got it. I'm not a fan when repairs go like this, a simple job turns out to be a nightmare that takes you days to do.
I have had jobs i think i can do that in an hour, 2 days later.......