Rotary Cutter PTO ball bearings won't move

[Soundguy]

here is what I'd do. use brake cleaner and spray it clean and dry.

then use a rust disolver.. like clr, or driveway cleaner, etc, give it a swim for a bit to let it eat that rust.. rinse off, spray dry again. NOW do the diesel soak... etc.

with that extra rust gone.. you just have balls to deal with. once you get it free, just keep it lubed.

 

[jdtractor]

What soundguy said x 2!

 

[bgeehens]

Thanks Soundguy and jdtractor - any and all suggestions are so very much welcome and appreciated - and I know my critters are tired of hearing "son of a bee" for hours each evening so they thank you too...

Almost anxious to get back at it tonight - just have to do some shopping first - I do not have brake cleaner or clr on hand (but I will soon).

 

[M5farms]

M5farms - This chick don't do my own oil changes...

Gotcha, I had just read a thread of a guy that was complaining about the car only needed 4.5 qts and was ranting about why it was not even and didn't know what to do with the other pint.

FWIW acetone and atf is the best "knockem loose" you can use . When I was a boy My great uncle told me about it and said when you spray it on a bolt and nut ,walk away and when you come back it will have screwed itself off.

 

[sal64]

I had same problem I clamped the ball in my bench vise and used the the leverage of the bars and rocked them back and forth as much as they can go.

 

[DJ54]

If it's something I'm planning on working on, I'll apply it a few days ahead of time. I usually leave the squirt bottle beside it, and give it a shot when ever I walk by it, 3-4 times a day. I had an old manure spreader that I needed to repair the drag chain in. The adjusting bolts had that nasty flakey rust on it. That one I applied the mix 2-3 times a day for a couple of days. I wire brushed it off, then hit it again. Once it broke loose, I removed the adjusting nut with my fingers.

Works very well on older machinery where paint and rust are on threads. The Acetone will also dissolve the paint.

 

[CalG]

If you enjoy acetone, you will love 1,1,1, tri clor
1,1,1-Trichloroethane - Wikipedia

I've never seen a substance penetrate and separate metals like it does. Tapping fluid for steel, CHECK!
Free stuck fasteners, CHECK!

If only it could be purchased in small quantities. A half litre would last a life time.

 

[bgeehens]

Gotcha, I had just read a thread of a guy that was complaining about the car only needed 4.5 qts and was ranting about why it was not even and didn't know what to do with the other pint.

FWIW acetone and atf is the best "knockem loose" you can use . When I was a boy My great uncle told me about it and said when you spray it on a bolt and nut ,walk away and when you come back it will have screwed itself off.

That is EXACTLY what I need - thanks again M5farms! This old dog has learned some new tricks!

 

[bgeehens]

If it's something I'm planning on working on, I'll apply it a few days ahead of time. I usually leave the squirt bottle beside it, and give it a shot when ever I walk by it, 3-4 times a day. I had an old manure spreader that I needed to repair the drag chain in. The adjusting bolts had that nasty flakey rust on it. That one I applied the mix 2-3 times a day for a couple of days. I wire brushed it off, then hit it again. Once it broke loose, I removed the adjusting nut with my fingers.

Works very well on older machinery where paint and rust are on threads. The Acetone will also dissolve the paint.

Thanks DJ54 - all of my equipment is old so this is knowledge I will use often I'm sure. You may have just saved my sanity!

 

[bgeehens]

If you enjoy acetone, you will love 1,1,1, tri clor
1,1,1-Trichloroethane - Wikipedia

I've never seen a substance penetrate and separate metals like it does. Tapping fluid for steel, CHECK!
Free stuck fasteners, CHECK!

If only it could be purchased in small quantities. A half litre would last a life time.

After reading this article seems we may all want to stock up on a lifetime supply since it is being phased out as yet another ozone destroying compound. Ordering some as I type this...