Ford 1220 bellhousing noise

[nsjames]

so I've got this ford 1220. It has 2100 and some change on the meter, Hydrostat transmission, FWA, rear and mid PTO. It's had a rear transmission half put in it. I was using it to carry some gravel on the three point and it started making a terrible noise underneath. It sounded like gears chattering like if you try to engage a pto without clutching, Definitely a bad noise. Shortly after the noise appeared it started loosing drive. I was on the way back to the garage, so I got nearish and shut it off.
While driving I did try to figure out what it was and I'm fairly certain it's coming from the clutch housing. So it seems the two culprits in that area are going to be the clutch disc itself or the splines on the HST transmission.
I guess I can't post links, so I'm full n00b because of the forum rules.
my symptoms sound like this guys, but his video is gone, and I hope that the coupling and such got replaced when the rear end was done, but I did not hire that job out, and the man that did it isn't around anymore. Anyway, I don't hear or feel anything under my seat, it definitely sounds like the noise is coming from the clutch area.

I'm mechanically inclined. I've taken transmissions out of cars and such, but I've never split a tractor.
I've got jacks, jack stands, transmission jacks and all that. No hoist and I'm working in my garage. Pro tip me if you've taken one apart. My plan is to split it at the bellhousing/engine interface and see what's up with the clutch. I'm hoping that it's just the center of the clutch being broken. If it turns out to be output shaft, can I remove the HST unit from the rear half of the case while it's already split?

 

[arto98607]

Tip: Get the Ford shop manual before messing with the hydrostat transmission.

 

[nsjames]

noted. I've located one and it's on it's way.

 

[nsjames]

service manual obtained.

I've got ll the tins and such off. I'm working on the instrument panel. My current stumbling block is the steerig wheel.

any hot tips? I tried a big three jaw, but that just started to deform the outer plastic ring. I'm loathe to go medieval on it because the power steering orbital box is attached directly underneath and I don't want to damage it with hammer strikes. The service manual says to remove it with the appropriate tool, but never actually says what that may be. Am I going to have to make something? Anyone got a picture of the appropriate tool?

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

We went with a bar puller, look at your steering wheel it has two threaded holes,
get the right bolts and washers to fit, you will need to grind down the middle
of the puller to get the bolts to fit into the holes.

The puller from New Holland cost $220.

 

[nsjames]

We went with a bar puller, look at your steering wheel it has two threaded holes,
get the right bolts and washers to fit, you will need to grind down the middle
of the puller to get the bolts to fit into the holes.

The puller from New Holland cost $220.

no threaded holes.

if it were only that easy.
I did consider drilling and tapping two m6 holes thie morning, but given the width of the bushing, it would be sketchy. I don't think anything smaller than m6 is going to hold on.

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

I think that is the size we used on our new one.

 

[nsjames]

well I called the local new holland dealer. The same one that sold this machine in '92 actually.
I asked about the special tool, he said they didn't think they had one, and that he'd never seen one.
I was going to try and beg my way to borrowing it for 30 minutes.

so it looks like I'll be hand drilling this bushing and tapping some holes into it for a proper steering wheel puller.
fantastic.

If that doesn't do it, or it looks like I'm about to screw up the steering shaft, I will destroy it and cut/chisel it free and just spend $50 on a new steering wheel.

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

My dealer did not have the special tool, my mechanic made their own tool like
I did by getting a standard puller and taking a grinder to it in the middle to
get it small enough to get the bolts lined up on the holes.

 

[arto98607]

Do you really need to pull the steering wheel in order to split Ford 1220?