4wd drive shaft Bearing replacement?

[scesnick]

I have a 2000BD and I lost the bearings ( balls ) out of the drive shaft on both ends. I am guessing that I would need some very heavy grease to hold the bearings into place while I try ( keyword is try) to slide the drive shaft in place.
Has anyone here replaced these bearings? if so could you please give me a quick overview of the procedure and helpful hints if possible???

BTW-- I do not have any manuals for this tractor so I am doing this blind.

Thanks for the help.

 

[mark777]

I have had great success with heavy grease and needle nose vice grips. After loading the shaft and bearings in the rear, allow enough room for the outer tubes to go fully back...load ball bearings in the front and slide the large spring and washer towards the rear and clamp on the grips. This allow just enough room to align, remove the vice grips and slide the collar (with bearings) into the front axle. It has worked every time for me.

Mark

 

[Saltfork]

Mark, I wish I knew your method about 2 months ago. I left the cotterpin out and the spring pressure wasn't pushing against the bearing cup so putting the shaft in was no problem. But compressing the spring forward with the fingers of one hand and putting the cotterpin in with the other was a challenge.

If anyone is interested I had to make the outer cover and I used 2 straight pieces of exhaust pipe one 2 1/2 inch od and the other 2 inch and joined them in the middle with a rubber plumbing connector. Seems to have worked fine thus far and it was cheep!