adjusting wide front end on model 60

ironheadxlch

New member
Hello all
I have lerked around this site for some time and have benefited from its many posts but until now have never had the need to post.........well now I do. I have a 1952 JD model 60 with an adjustable wide front end. Had it about 20 or so years and it has been barn stored since I got it. It has and is in its fully extended front end position. I needed to move it on a car trailer and that required me to move the front adjustable front end inwards by say 6" per side. I jacked the front end up..... disconnected the steering link arms and removed the large horizontal bolts that secure the extention tubes to the main housings. I then pushed on them. No movement. I hammered on them..no movement. I then sledged them....no movement. I installed a 1/2" alloy chain around the entire front end and used a 4 ton ratchet type steamboat wrench (like a ratchet screw binder) on the chain to pull it in and I honestly thought I would break the chain and still no movement. I am perplexed. This can not be that stuck due to corrosion...can it?? I would estimate that I have applied force that exceeds 2 tons or more and it does not move at all. Am I missing something. Is it possible that these inter axle tubes screw into the outer housings rather than slide or have I missed some other securement bolts....help please
Thanks
Harry ironheadxlch
 
Frount end adjustment.

Quite a few years ago dad had 2 of the 60s and I remember dad doing the same thing, He blocked the frount up and applyed a great amount of fuel oil and liquid wrench for a few days in all the holes and around the iner and outer axels. as I remember he had the tractor blocked in a way that let the frount axel tilt back and forth so that the oil would run down hill from each side.
then he and a couple of the hands used a long piece of 3 inch pipe and some chain and twisted the iner axel back and forth until it came loose. once loose they puled it out and cleaned it up and applyed a good coat of antisease.
before putting it back. then went and used the gentel method to the other side. Hope that might help Later Jerry:Tip-Hat2:
 
A rose bud on a torch might help speed the oil loosening things up also, but would be hard on the paint and might soften the steel. Have fun!:)
 
Be very careful when heating the axel tube because it is cast.and unless you use a very soft heat it may very well crack and Im betting it will be costly to replace. Jerry
 
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