JD 630 Steering shaft - Need some wisdom

[JQuest]

I need some wisdom from guys that have done this. I inherited my grandfathers 1959 JD 630 and I need to replace the radiator core. However, I'm stuck on the steering shaft removal. It has a universal joint in front of the fuel tank and another behind up under the instrument panel casting. Obviously I only need the section clear forward above the radiator out of the way but it looks like is slides out of the backside of the front steering pedestal so I have to remove all the back sections first. I've started with the section up under the instrument panel but it will only pull out about a quarter inch before seeming to get stuck. It then slides back into the u-joint fine but I can never get it to pull out more than that 1/4". Maybe the woodruff key is jamming it up? Or maybe I'm going about this all wrong? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[NY 986]

I need some wisdom from guys that have done this. I inherited my grandfathers 1959 JD 630 and I need to replace the radiator core. However, I'm stuck on the steering shaft removal. It has a universal joint in front of the fuel tank and another behind up under the instrument panel casting. Obviously I only need the section clear forward above the radiator out of the way but it looks like is slides out of the backside of the front steering pedestal so I have to remove all the back sections first. I've started with the section up under the instrument panel but it will only pull out about a quarter inch before seeming to get stuck. It then slides back into the u-joint fine but I can never get it to pull out more than that 1/4". Maybe the woodruff key is jamming it up? Or maybe I'm going about this all wrong? Any help would be appreciated.

Might want to post this down in the JD section on this site. Maybe a worm gear that requires threading it out versus a straight pull?

 

[Kendall W]

I had the same problem with mine trying to change the upper bushing behind the steering wheel. I had to improvise and put in half a bushing. For changing the rad core I could get enough movement on the front u-joint to get the shaft apart to replace the o-ring in the pedestal . That should get you the room to get the core out. I think I needed to remove the bolts in the u-joints and use a chisel to spread it to make it easier to remove the u-joint. Hope this helps.