GC2300 front axle

deansailer · Aug 19, 2009

I broke some gears in the front axle. I think that I need to remove the large bolt that goes through the axle housing, front to back. I have removed the cotter pin and the nut; however I can't remove the bolt. Can anyone tell me how to get the bolt out so I can get to the gears on the far side of the housing?

massey driver · Aug 19, 2009

What gears did you break? If you have the tractor jacked up a bit to take the pressure off the front axle you should beable to gently tap the bolt out with a soft faced punch. At the back side [under the tractor the pin has a flat spot check to make sure its not bidding on itself.It should come out fairly easy so long as there's no weight or pressure on the axle housing.I don't know if you still have the tires on or if there off either way the front axle should be supported.You don't want it dropping out as there's power steering lines attached to the cylinder,you'll have to disconnect them as well once you lower the front axle housing,be careful so as not to stretch or damage the power steering lines.Of course you'll need to cap both the cylinder and hose ends to keep dirt etc from getting in.Good luck and let me know how things go. As always Larry..

massey driver · Aug 19, 2009

Also if not done yet you'll need to remove the front shaft that comes from the rear diff.

deansailer · Aug 19, 2009

The pinion and the bevel gears are in very bad shape. I have done all that you recommended. The tractor frame is on stands, the power stearing unit is disconected and I have tried to support the axle with a floor jack. The head of the bolt is ok, and the shaft from the hydro is off. Maybe I haven't gotten the geometry correct yet.

massey driver · Aug 19, 2009

on the axle pivot pin it sits in bushings on either end of the axle housing as well as a oil ring at either end with a small backup ring. looking in the work shop manual it says; remove the castle nut and washer from the front axle pivot pin. Raise up the front of the tractor 2-3 inches and support the tractor with a suitable jack stand.Drive the pin rearwards until axle is free from tractor.Note take precautions to avoid damaging the threads and aviod stretching the steering cylinder hoses.Not much in the service manual except that.I'd maybe try wiggling the axle back and forth and sideways at the same time as trying to either push or pull the pin out.Note the pin is a bit thicker on each end where it sits on the bushings and a little narrower in the middle but that shouldn't cause any problems with at least getting it out the first few inches. There's nothing else holding it in other then it sitting in those bushings and O-rings on each end.Might have to bang a bit harder and careful of damaging those threads. Good luck with this As always Larry.

massey driver · Aug 19, 2009

something else came to mind while sitting here thinking about getting that pin out.Make sure that the axle isn't hanging down on the pin nor any upwards pressure either.In another words try to make it as close as possible to 0 zero pressure on the pin either up or down.

amkfken · Aug 19, 2009

Be sure to check my post in index 17 titled "what do you think I broke"
Read it thru, you may have the same "factory defect" I had, did not cost me anything, just my time.
Previous posts on your pin removal difficulty are all correct, it is a tight fit in the bushings, make sure axle is fully supported, it's heavy (without wheels)!!