I bent both front spindles on my 1972 135 moving dirt

[Tractor Destroyer]

I bent both front spindles the upright king shaft portion moving dirt, the tops of the wheels are angled inward a substantial amount I had to flip the wheels around because they were touching the top steering arm I think one side is about to snap as shown in the second photo its bent where the king shaft meets the corner . the steering arms are worn and need replacing the key way has been stretched out and won't clamp tight anymore . My concern is if I buy all the parts that the main part that everything is mounted too has been compromised and this will happen again I wasn't even doing full bucket loads I don't think they were original, one was a green color on the cast corner part and everything is a bit loose with a bit of play including tie rods. Is there a better option or help full hints other than "don't do it" to making the front end stronger or is this a fluke and if it isn't is there an upgrade or swap I can do for a better result the tractor is a English made 1972 135 Massey Ferguson with power steering and a loader. thanks in advance Timothy A. Como

 

[Stan Coryell]

They dont look bent in the photo. I have a 202 and the spindles are stout. Making the front end stronger won't help you. How are the thrust bearings in the spindles?

 

[Ray,IN]

The front axle is cast iron, bending is not a known property of cast iron, or steel. What does a level read when held against the top and bottom (plumb)of the tire?
Does the king pin slide up/down in the spindle bushing? If there is space between the spindle and the steering arm with weight on the tire, loosen the steering arm bolt and tap arm down against the spindle, re-tighten bolt.

 

[m16ty]

The front axle is cast iron, bending is not a known property of cast iron, or steel. What does a level read when held against the top and bottom (plumb)of the tire?
Does the king pin slide up/down in the spindle bushing? If there is space between the spindle and the steering arm with weight on the tire, loosen the steering arm bolt and tap arm down against the spindle, re-tighten bolt.

I don’t think the axle is cast iron, maybe cast steel but most likely forged.

 

[Ray,IN]

I don’t think the axle is cast iron, maybe cast steel but most likely forged.

This wesite states it is a casting: https://agrilineproducts.com/massey-ferguson-left-hand-axle-casting-5932
If his wheel lean is due to worn bushings, this is how to replace them: https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/threads/135-front-axle-rebuild-question.1363528/

 

[Tractor Destroyer]

The front axle is cast iron, bending is not a known property of cast iron, or steel. What does a level read when held against the top and bottom (plumb)of the tire?
Does the king pin slide up/down in the spindle bushing? If there is space between the spindle and the steering arm with weight on the tire, loosen the steering arm bolt and tap arm down against the spindle, re-tighten bolt.

They dont look bent in the photo. I have a 202 and the spindles are stout. Making the front end stronger won't help you. How are the thrust bearings in the spindles?

I just posted more info and pictures of the damage in the thread

 

[Tractor Destroyer]

They dont look bent in the photo. I have a 202 and the spindles are stout. Making the front end stronger won't help you. How are the thrust bearings in the spindles?

I just posted more info and pictures of the damage in the thread

 

[Tractor Destroyer]

This wesite states it is a casting: https://agrilineproducts.com/massey-ferguson-left-hand-axle-casting-5932
If his wheel lean is due to worn bushings, this is how to replace them: https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/threads/135-front-axle-rebuild-question.1363528/

I just posted more info and pictures of the damage in the thread

 

[Tractor Destroyer]

The front axle is cast iron, bending is not a known property of cast iron, or steel. What does a level read when held against the top and bottom (plumb)of the tire?
Does the king pin slide up/down in the spindle bushing? If there is space between the spindle and the steering arm with weight on the tire, loosen the steering arm bolt and tap arm down against the spindle, re-tighten bolt.

I just posted more info and pictures of the damage in the thread

 

[Jim.ME]

Look and see if the axle tube has broken under the center pivot bushing.

Pull the knees out and see if they are bent inside the tube.

There may be room to shim under the inner ends of the knees inside the tube, which would take some of the chamber out of it.

In your pictures it looks like the bolts that hold the knees in the tube have been welded in. There is the possibility they are the wrong bolts or they have bent/broken. I believe they are special shouldered bolts going through the axle tube and knee. If straight bolts were put in they would be loose in the holes and could be causing part of what you are seeing.

 

[m16ty]

Yeah, it sure looks like you bent it. Probably time for a new axle and maybe a smaller bucket on the loader.

I’ve got the same loader on my 40 industrial. It’s about the same physical size of a 135 but the front axle is much heavier.

 

[m16ty]

This wesite states it is a casting: https://agrilineproducts.com/massey-ferguson-left-hand-axle-casting-5932
If his wheel lean is due to worn bushings, this is how to replace them: https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/threads/135-front-axle-rebuild-question.1363528/

It may be cast steel but it’s not cast iron. Cast iron would be too brittle for that application.

 

[Ray,IN]

Look and see if the axle tube has broken under the center pivot bushing.

Pull the knees out and see if they are bent inside the tube.

There may be room to shim under the inner ends of the knees inside the tube, which would take some of the chamber out of it.

In your pictures it looks like the bolts that hold the knees in the tube have been welded in. There is the possibility they are the wrong bolts or they have bent/broken. I believe they are special shouldered bolts going through the axle tube and knee. If straight bolts were put in they would be loose in the holes and could be causing part of what you are seeing.

I agree with your thought the axle might be broken at the pivot pin, I hadn't thought of that possibility.

 

[Tractor Destroyer]

This wesite states it is a casting: https://agrilineproducts.com/massey-ferguson-left-hand-axle-casting-5932
If his wheel lean is due to worn bushings, this is how to replace them: https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/threads/135-front-axle-rebuild-question.1363528/

I just posted more info and pictures of the damage in the thread

This wesite states it is a casting: https://agrilineproducts.com/massey-ferguson-left-hand-axle-casting-5932
If his wheel lean is due to worn bushings, this is how to replace them: https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/threads/135-front-axle-rebuild-question.1363528/

Yeah, it sure looks like you bent it. Probably time for a new axle and maybe a smaller bucket on the loader.

I’ve got the same loader on my 40 industrial. It’s about the same physical size of a 135 but the front axle is much heavier.

can the front end from a 40 bolt into a 135 hopefully without some modification?

 

[Tractor Destroyer]

I agree with your thought the axle might be broken at the pivot pin, I hadn't thought of that possibility.

I pulled the really bent one out a few weeks ago and it's definitely bent now it's more bent once we flipped the wheels out which I think it just gave it more leverage to bend but I was under a time constraint to have the pile of dirt moved for a project

 

[Jim.ME]

You should put new spindles in now before you break one moving with a loader bucket. That would include bushings, thrust bearings, etc.

Turning the wheels out increased the leverage bending the spindles.

Unless someone has made the actual swap to a heavier front axle, it will take a good bit of studying. The front support and steering may need to be changed as well.

This is not an answer you want but, if you are doing dirt work a lot or as a business you should look at swapping this tractor for an actual industrial tractor.

 

[m16ty]

can the front end from a 40 bolt into a 135 hopefully without some modification?

I don't know. You could go to AGCO Parts Books and lookup and compare part numbers on both.

A 40 is basically a 135 front half with a 165 back half. Of course there are some other differences like a hard nose and heavier front axle.