350 row crop steering shaft

[IH Guy]

Have a 350 narrow front that the steering shaft I going through the bolster is locked up. I took out the shaft that runs through the radiator so I could remove the shaft going through the bolster. I can’t get the bolster shaft to budge downward. I have soaked it with pb blaster drove down on it with a brass bar and sledge hammer to no avail. I have taken these out before with no problem. I think this one is froze up on the thrust bearing. My only thought is to remove the bolster and have it pressed out hydraulically. Any other thoughts would be appreciated. Driving me nuts!!

 

[THolmer]

If you can turn the shaft. You have to turn it out of the bolster towards the front of the tractor. Make sure the joint where the u-joints are is loose and half moon key is removed. If you can not turn the shaft you have to remove the bull gear out the top of the bolster. Then shaft should slide out the front of tractor.

Hope this helps.

 

[THolmer]

Sorry I read your post again. You have already removed the shaft. The bolster shaft I am unsure how it comes out.

Sorry again

 

[fastfarmall]

I hate o ask this,but you got the narrow front removed, and the belly of the tractor jacked up? I did two this summer, i had to be careful so they didn't hit my toes .

 

[used red MN]

What do you call a sledge hammer? I have heard people call a 2 lbs hammer a sledge hammer, to me a sledge hammer is at least 5 lbs. If you are using a 2 lbs hammer you are having what I call the ..Volkswagen running over a semi problem.. The inertia of the hammer just cannot overcome the weight of the bolster shaft and still provide any measurable driving shock, especially if the narrow front is still bolted on it. You have a Harbor Freight nearby? If so you need to get one of these 60 inch pry bars as shown in the attached link. Any other home improvement store will have one it will just cost more. Then get that in there on top of the bolster shaft flange and pry it down...show it who is boss. Probably will want to screw the nut on the top with a washer so when it come loose it don’t drop out and chip up your pretty concrete floor.
Here is a pry bar

 

[caterpillar guy]

Could make a couple hard wood wedges to drive in under the bolster to help with tension before driving it down. Or have somebody prying it down while driving it down. And like already said the wheels need to be off the ground or unbolted from the shaft.

 

[ih560]

I had one stuck in a 450 once. I drilled holes in a plate to allow me to bolt it back in place of the narrow front on the bottom of the bolster, then I welded that to a long pipe. If I remember right it was about 10' long and a heavy-walled pipe. I worked it back and forth until the shaft finally started to move and then I was able to get it out. The problem with mine turned out to be that it was bent and bound in there really bad.

While I had it out I welded up the wear in it, turned it back down to the correct size, and then straightened it with my hydraulic press. I had to buy a new thrust bearing for the bottom because the old one was trash and I remember that bearing was really expensive at the time. Looks like there is an aftermarket source for the 350 bearing IHS3922 .