Drag link replacement

[Dan-in-MO]

Got a '39 9N. A previous owner put the wrong drag links on it. He made it work by bending the links, but as time goes by, the links have been straitening and now I have one wheel going straight and the other about 45 degrees out. Makes for some interesting rides on a gravel road in hi gear.

Anyway, I'm gonna put her back to right, but I ain't sure how to remove the ends from the tie rods and whatever those things are called coming down from the sectors. Any advice would be helpful.

 

[Cooter143]

This should help, copy and paste if the link doesn't work.

http://www.oldfordtractors.com/rep.htm#q15e
Old Ford Tractors

 

[old]

I always use a good old pickle fork to do that. By the way just so you know I have a complete axle assembly off a 9N here. Took it off when I built a 9N/2N mutt using the best parts of both to make a tractor. My e-mail is open like always and I am just south of Camdenton

 

[souNdguy]

ditto what old said.

pickle fork.

it's never failed me yet..

 

[Paul in Edmonton]

What's the advantage of a pickle fork or wedge over a jaw-style puller? I used the puller when I redid the steering on my '49 CJ (which actually had steering from an '80-ish Camaro in it), and it worked fine.

-Paul

 

[Royse]

(quoted from post at 15:47:04 12/07/12) What's the advantage of a pickle fork or wedge over a jaw-style puller? I used the puller when I redid the steering on my '49 CJ (which actually had steering from an '80-ish Camaro in it), and it worked fine.

-Paul

I don't see how you would get a gear puller onto the steering arms of an N without tearing it all apart elsewhere.

 

[Paul in Edmonton]

Not a gear puller, but a two jaw tie-rod puller, like this:

I don't see that access would be an issue with that.

-Paul

 

[Royse]

(quoted from post at 01:09:11 12/08/12) Not a gear puller, but a two jaw tie-rod puller, like this:

I don't see that access would be an issue with that.

-Paul

I could maybe see the front tie rod ends, but I'm missing how I could
get that to work on the pitman arms without taking them off. :?

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 09:09:11 12/08/12) Not a gear puller, but a two jaw tie-rod puller, like this:

I don't see that access would be an issue with that.

-Paul

That's a great tool to own I luv mine,,, If faced with removing the links from the Pittman arms on a ford tractor Willy N's wedge trick is hard to beat as demoed by John Smith... A Pickle fork should be ones last resort not their first...

 

[Paul in Edmonton]

I could maybe see the front tie rod ends, but I'm missing how I could
get that to work on the pitman arms without taking them off. :?

Sorry--I haven't done this on the 8N yet, and I didn't have my tractor handy to look at. I just had a second look at the pictures on John Smith's site, and now I see that the bolt is pointing toward the tractor. You're right about that making the puller not viable. Now I know why the wedge is recommended!

But on the front end, I think the puller would be quick and easy... (And yet I know that some people still prefer the pickle fork.)

-Paul

 

[Royse]

(quoted from post at 23:37:46 12/08/12)

I could maybe see the front tie rod ends, but I'm missing how I could
get that to work on the pitman arms without taking them off. :?

Sorry--I haven't done this on the 8N yet, and I didn't have my tractor handy to look at. I just had a second look at the pictures on John Smith's site, and now I see that the bolt is pointing toward the tractor. You're right about that making the puller not viable. Now I know why the wedge is recommended!

But on the front end, I think the puller would be quick and easy... (And yet I know that some people still prefer the pickle fork.)

-Paul

I have a pickle fork too. On my air hammer even!
I've not had to use it on my tractors yet.
But those durned Dodge 4x4's? That's another story! :lol: