3500 rear end problem

[BarnCat]

I bought a 3500 TLB and have started doing the maintenance that had been neglected for years. I emptied the rear axle fluid, but almost no fluid came out, only a gallon of water. I looked in the fill hole and see what appears to be a tapered roller bearing cage. I tried to pull it out with needle nose pliers, but it seems stuck in the bearing. Can anyone tell from the picture looking through the fill hole on top of the axle what bearing I am seeing that needs replaced?

 

[Sean in PA]

It looks like it could be the remnants of the bearing labelled #22 in the parts drawing at the link below:

Link to the parts drawing for the rear axle of the 3500

 

[Destroked 450]

That’s the right side bearing on the ring gear carrier, enlarged view shows rusted bears so it’s likely all of the bearings in the rear axle are going bad, unfortunately if the rear axle has been run low on oil or full of water the gears could also have issues
I’d pull the seat and top cover off to get a good look at the gears and bearings
3500 used the same style rear axle assembly as the 3000 ag model so there’s options if you need to replace the rear axle assembly

 

[shaun wallace]

See nothing thru lift cover/ plate. Have to pull Right trumpet/axle .

 

[BarnCat]

Can I pull the axle/trumpet as a unit, or do I need to take the brakes off,axle out, etc first?

 

[shaun wallace]

Yes, May have to separate when going back together.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Yes, May have to separate when going back together.

Shaun,
He can remove and replace the trumpet without having to touch the brakes.

 

[Destroked 450]

See nothing thru lift cover/ plate. Have to pull Right trumpet/axle .

Pulling the top cover will allow one to see the rest of the bearings and gears enough to determine what extent of repair will be needed

If the pinion bearings and other side carrier bearings are as rusty as the one in the photo finding a good used rear axle assembly would be cheaper than trying to repair that one

 

[BarnCat]

Well I pulled the top cover. The gear looks ok. The input bearing at first looked rusty, but actually it feels like old hardened grease. I found a crack that has been poorly welded. And I found another poorly welded crack in the bottom of the housing that leaks fluid. At this point I may just try to clean it and jb weld the leaking crack and replace the one bearing that is falling apart to use it for the little I need to in the next couple of months. In the future if I want a replacement rear end housing, what models interchange with a 3500?

 

[Fordfarmer]

Well I pulled the top cover. The gear looks ok. The input bearing at first looked rusty, but actually it feels like old hardened grease. I found a crack that has been poorly welded. And I found another poorly welded crack in the bottom of the housing that leaks fluid. At this point I may just try to clean it and jb weld the leaking crack and replace the one bearing that is falling apart to use it for the little I need to in the next couple of months. In the future if I want a replacement rear end housing, what models interchange with a 3500?

If you're swapping the whole rear axle assembly, any models with drum brakes and square axle tubes will swap in... 3000, 3400, 3500, and some 2000's, (some 2000's have round axle housings) I believe the newer equivalent models will also work.

 

[MeanGene1]

Where are you? I have a 3600 I might part out in 94558

 

[BarnCat]

I am near Grand rapids, mi.