706 axle size

[BillFinn]

A friend told Me he has two 706 gas tractors one has 34 the other has 38 inch wheels. He claims axle sizes are also different. How many variations of axle sizes are there? Could I swap the complete final drive to switch them? We want to make one good tractor from two with issues.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I don't think there is a difference. I would suspect one is an 806 and the other is a 706. And I'm not so sure there was a difference without measuring if there was a difference there either. Now length could have longer axles shafts that the other but you could just swap out the shaft to make them the same length. OR maybe even one might be a 1206 which had bigger axles in diameter and probably also had different lengths as an option.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

None. There are no variations of axle sizes. They are all 3-1/4" in diameter. Even the 806 and 1206.

The first IH tractor to come with larger axles was the 1456 which was introduced for 1970. It would be highly unlikely that someone installed axles from a 1456 or other 3-1/2" axled tractor in a 706. It is completely unnecessary.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Thanks Barnyard. I just figured the 12 had bigger axles since it had more HP with the turbo. I have heard they put bigger bull pinion shafts in for the brakes becasue they got broke in them. I also don't know if that is true or not. I do know there can be differences in the casting lock up on the Axle .My 806 has the 4 bolts on the clamp. I believe my 856 has the wedge lock hub like our 1466 has. I suppose one could have put a newer casting on it though.

 

[BillFinn]

Thankyou for the information. I am having my friend remeasure to no for sure what he has.

 

[T in NE]

If my memory is right from when we cracked a couple 1066 axles almost 30 years ago, the wheel hub is the same, but they use a different wedge lock on the 3½" axle.