Ford 600 front end

[Chipper]

I have a Ford 600 (looks like a Golden Jubilee)the right front spindle appears to be bent. The distance between the tire and the arm that turns the spindle has reduced even though the tractor hasnt been driven. The bushings and wheels bearings appear to to be good(minimal movement). Is this common?

 

[awhtx]

I doubt that the spindle bent with the tractor just sitting. Are you saying that the gap between the tire and the steering arm has gotten smaller since you've been watching it? I believe the 600 series originally had 6.00X16" tires on it. If someone has put larger tires (6.50X16 or 7.00X16) on it the gap will be narrow or the tire will even rub on the steering.

 

[GlenIdaho]

Hi Chipper;

If I understand you correctly. The distance was fine when you parked the tractor and since it has been parked the distance has changed. If it is bent that would indicate the some force has been applied to the wheel/axle spindle to cause damage. Only you can answer how that would have happened.

You say the wheel bearings and bushings are okay. Did you make sure the wheel bearings were adjusted properly? Is your tire pressure where it should be? Could your tire have a bubble it at the point you measured from? Do you have a bent spindle or a bent wheel? To check the wheel, jack up the axle until the wheel is off the ground and rotate it. If it's bent you should see the wheel wobble. One way to check the spindle is to pull both wheels and compare both spindles by observation and measurements. They should be the same.


To answer your question more directly, it is not common, let alone possible, for a spindle to change it's geometry while sitting unless some outside force has been applied to it. I don't know if this has helped. Post back and let us know what you find. Have a Merry Christmas!

 

[old]

If it has been sitting a long time it did that I would pull the hub off and look and make sure you don't have a broken/cracked spindle, I have seen that more then once and if cracked they can just keep brakeing till they hit the ground which would not be good
Hobby farm

 

[GlenIdaho]

Hello Old;

Where does the spindle begin to crack? Does that happen often? I guess the most logical place would be where the axle spindle meets the upright. Curious, but good info to keep in mind.

Merry Christmas!

 

[old]

Most of the ones I have seen brake are right where the inner bearing is just behind it so yes just as it starts to go vertical. I have broken off 3 or 4 of them on my 841 and my dad broke a whole lot more of them over the years on other tractors. If the tractor has a loader they brake more often because of the extra loads put on the front ends
Hobby farm

 

[GlenIdaho]

Thanks Old. I'd never heard of that. It's good info. I wonder how the after market spindles hold up. I replaced my old ones with them. I'll have to keep an eye on mine as it has a loader, but I don't know that I'll be lifting any very heavy weight.

Thanks again, you're always very helpful.

 

[old]

Well so far all the ones I have replaced where after market ones and most seem to hold up ok. I do and have pushed my 841 to its limit and then some. With the heavy duty loader it has plus the sherman combo tranny its easy to push it to hard and try to lift/do things that are really to much for this old tractor I have
Hobby farm

 

[Chipper]

I am sorry I should have added more info, when I bought this tractor the gap was smaller than the one on the other side, I have been rebuilding the steering box. After I finished rebuilding the box i noticed the gap was smaller. I wasnt sure what was going on so I jacked it up and spun the tire, no wobble, checked air pressure, bearing movement and movement in spindle all seemed ok. Guess the spindle was cracked or bent and it got worse while sitting. The tractor does not have a loader so I was just wondering if this was a characteristic of this tractor. No worries I ll replace the spindle and bushings. Ya gotta love working with older tractors. This one is great perfect size for my five acres. Thanks for the info and Merry Christmas to all.

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

Chipper,It sounds to me that you may have two rims that don't match.Someone may have changed one over the years.Thats a common problem when buying replacement wheels.The center dish may be welded in a different spot or in other words the offset is changed.I recently had to buy two new wheels for an 861 because of this.Measure both wheels to be sure.