Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs

   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs
  • Thread Starter
#21  
In chasing the oil leaks at the knuckles. I thought it was probably the oil seals in the end of the housing which would seal around the axle shaft as it enters the housing. After some inspection I discovered the leaks are actually the seal in the outer hub assembly that seals the outer axle shaft as it enters the hub. Glad I caught that before I removed the hub assembly and axle shafts.....

The seals are a double seal affair. According to online pricing they are $12 a piece which ain't bad. At least compared to all the other part comparisons.

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   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs #22  
Very Nice !! Makes the job that much nicer knowing if you bugger a seal up by accident you won't have to remortgage the homestead :laughing:

Best of Luck
Kevin
 
   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs
  • Thread Starter
#23  
Update. Got the front axle rebuilt and reinstalled. I'll try to post some of the steps.

First, here's the axle oscillator. These pics are of the front one. Note the bushing has a hole in it. The grease zerk adapter threads into the cast bracket and inserts into the hole in the bushing. This is what holds it from spinning in the casting. I inserted the zerk adapter to hold the bushing in place until the axle was installed. Then had to remove the adapter to access one of the bolts. Same with the rear casting.

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Here's the rear oscillation casting. If you look closely you can see the O-ring that seals the entire front axle assembly. Kinda cheesy.

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   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs #24  
Looking good.
 
Last edited:
   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs
  • Thread Starter
#25  
Now we'll assemble the outer hubs. This is where my axle oil leaks were. Remember I said I thought it was the inner axle seals and it turned out to be the axle seal within the hub assembly. I think I posted a picture of that before.

Anyway, install the new seal in the spindle and install it. Don't forget to add the debris shield before adding the nuts and tightening. If you do you'll hafta go back and repeat several steps to put in the shield that you forgot. Don't ask.

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Once you've installed the spindle you can install the main hub assembly. It has the main bearings and the "Sun Gear" hub in it. You hafta gently drive it on because of the bearings fitting tightly on the spindle. What holds it in place is a spindle nut. You MUST have a spindle nut socket to handle this task. I tried to remove the nut with a punch and hammer. The results are obvious. $20 for a socket and problem solved. For this application it's a 2.5" outer socket.

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   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs
  • Thread Starter
#26  
Then we are ready to install the "Sun Gear" on the axle shaft. This easily slides onto the axle shaft and a snap ring holds it in place.

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Now we can install the final piece. The outer hub cover which also holds the 3 Sun Gears. It has a slight groove machined into it that is a perfect place to put a bead of silicone sealer. No gasket involved here. "Color Coordinated" silicone of course. Button this all up, add oil (.9 qt) and you are done. There's only one plug in the housing. Rotate the hub until the "F" is standing up straight, this will put the plug at the left side, horizontal. Fill til oil runs out.

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   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs
  • Thread Starter
#27  
Reinstalling the axle assembly was a piece of cake. I suggest hand starting all 8 bolts that hold the axle in place before tightening any. This will allow some wiggle room if needed. Don't forget to fill all gear boxes with fluid and grease the snot outta the oscillators.

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   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs #28  
What a great looking job with excellent photography. It's a first class job. That was a great tractor to start with and now it's even better. I wonder if Ford/NH suggests a particular type of grease for that front bushing?
 
   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs #29  
I bought a replacement bushing for the rear which is close to the O-ring, hoping I'd control the leak. $375 or somewhere around that. WTH. That's why I'm gonna try reusing the front one.

View attachment 408562View attachment 408563View attachment 408564

Ouch- Ford parts seem to be all over the map... the entire cast front axle support for my 1967 3000 is $120 less than just the bushing you mentioned?? then again- checked the same revised part for the 1970 + model and it is $666 Wow

Luck of the draw I guess?


The Ford 10 and 30 series Ford 4x4 tractors are some of my all time favorites.

Nice job on the front axle rebuild:thumbsup:
 
   / Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs
  • Thread Starter
#30  
What a great looking job with excellent photography. It's a first class job. That was a great tractor to start with and now it's even better. I wonder if Ford/NH suggests a particular type of grease for that front bushing?

I don't know about the grease. I just used a good quality gun grease. I think the important thing is regular lubrication. I still don't like the O-ring design to hold the case oil in but time will tell. I visited with a guy from New Jersey on here about his tractor and he said it doesn't leak. But he also hadn't checked the oil in the front axle since he bought the tractor a couple years ago. I showed him where the check plugs were and how to do it. Haven't heard back from him so hopefully his is okay.

Thanks for the compliments sixdogs. I'm kind of a slow learner and pictures help me a lot. So maybe someone, someday will use this thread to help them with their repairs. I've picked up dozens of tips on TBN over the years. And sometimes it's things in the background of the pictures that has nothing to do with the subject at hand.... :)
 

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