Splitting tractor method

[528N]

Have all the original manuals and the Ford/Haynes manual from Tractor Supply. The traditional method to split the engine is to remove the hood and gas tank. In the Haynes manual it states you do not have to do that. You can lift up the steering gear enough to clear without removing the hood and tank. Seems that is easier to me, except I may need a gasket if it even uses one. Also a few less items to remove. Thought I would get your opinion. Need to replace the clutch and ring gear. Always looking for the K.I.S.S. principal if possible. Thanks!

 

[R Geiger]

I always remove the hood, just make sure the gas tank is empty, easier if you have help tho. I have used a block and takle to pull it.

 

[Hobo,NC]

When possible and no other work needs to be done I do not take the hood off. This was a Zane tip its a time saver...You will have to tie a rope around the steering wheel and lift it up...

 

[Underwood]

I agree, zanes method is easier and quicker. I just finished a split on mine. Blocked the front axel so the engine portion couldn't tilt, reached over the hood from the front with a cherry picker, chained to the steering wheel tube and tilted the hood/gas tank up as a unit. I supported the engine 1/2 with a bottle jack, put a floor jack under the rear 1/2 and rolled the rear 1/2 back with the floor jack. The hood only has to be tilted up a few inches so the battery tray bottom flange will clear once the bolts are removed that hold the tray.

 

[PatrickB]

I got a lot of noise coming from what I hope is the input shaft bearing so I will be splitting the '52 here in a couple of weeks.
Going to remove the hood only because I also need to change coolant hoses, thermostat and fluid.

 

[John in Mich]

Interesting. I never gave it a thought and had not read Zane's shortcut.
Here is a funny for you. I have told this in the past. Before I owned any lifting tools I wanted to
lift the hood off of my 8n. I know the owner's manual shows one person lifting from the front. Not me.
My only help was my wife who is under 5' tall and no lifting strength. I threw a rope over a barn beam
and under the empty gas tank at a point I thought would balance. The other end of the rope was around my
wife's hips. As I lifted, she backed up.
Once clear of the tractor, I rolled the tractor back and then relieved my wife on the end of the rope and
let the hood down.
No, she did not repeat the reverse process to get the hood back on. I found some help. Wonder why? LOL

 

[528N]

John if I did the rope method using my wife the rope would have then been used to hang me from the barn beam!! Thanks for the info!

 

[528N]

Thanks for the info. I think that is the general rule that the shortcut is easier unless there is other work to be done up front. Thanks!

 

[528N]

Thank you for some good information! This is what I will do after I look up front a little more and see if I need to do something up there. May have to put a gasket on the timing gear housing, may be a leak coming from there. If no leak I will do just what you said. Thanks!!

 

[528N]

Thank you for the info. Thought it was a good approach if no other work needed to be done up front. Thanks!

 

[528N]

I may need to remove the hood if I need to replace the timing gear gasket. Usually everytime I look I see something that could be done. But, it is also an 8N and it has all worked this long. "If working leave it alone" I think is a good rule with this tractor! Thanks for info!

 

[528N]

[size=18:54835d17e9][/size:54835d17e9]
Just an update ref Splitting the Tractor. Thanks for all the suggestions. I did the Lifting of the Steering Gear Method instead of taking the hood and gas tank off. Worked just fine. Jacked it up just enough to clear the battery box lower mounting holes and place a short 2x4 on the rear engine block under the gas tank that preventing hood from tilting. Cylinder block under the oil pan and roller jack under transmission on rear end. A few wiggles and off she came.

Took off clutch then flywheel. Used rubber mallet to loosen up flywheel. Don't use your fingers under the bottom I learned! That guy is heavy and likes fingers! Took flywheel to Joe Harrison Automotive in Renick, WV and he did it while I waited and I learned a lot from him. He also heated up the new Ring Gear and put it on the flywheel and also the new Pilot Bearing that saved me some time. Is in the phone book, done piles of them. Has done machine work for 47 years. Put flywheel back on to torque specs and new clutch. Used dummy shaft that came with clutch to align floating disk. Found you do not need to do the piece of wood under the clutch spring arms. Tried it and just made the floating disk float around when all you have to do is screw the clutch mounting plate just finger tight with dummy shaft in and that floating plate will still slide easily. Get dummy shaft where it slips in and out easy, tighten down and done with no movement.

Also put a new starter and bendix on after installing the flywheel and clutch. Wanted to see how the Bendix Gear lined up with the Ring Gear. It was dead center. The previous Bendix Gear was smaller and I believe wasn't engaging all the way, thus broken Ring Gear teeth. Also new Clutch Bearing on Hupp shaft.

The only thing I didn't do was put in a new front transmission seal. I bought one to put in but decided I wasn't going to take out the Hupp Transmission to do it when it wasn't leaking. The "If not broke leave it alone principal". I did top it off with 134 oil while I had it apart knowing any extra will join the rest of the trans oil. My Hupp (Right side shift, Sherman is left) is the 3 speed, D59 or D59-2 I have no idea. When you go out with the shift arm and up it puts it in the lowest gear that is certainly half the regular gear speed so that matches the description of the D59-2. Wish I could find more detail, but not easy. Saw a gentleman that had this info had it on his website, but the website is now down.

Got all back together and readjusted the clutch linkage. Clutch and starter are all working great now!! I posted this in hopes it can help answer some questions for others, just as I asked for some help. Thanks for all of your replies, was very useful! Here are a few photos of the process.

 

[Welding man]

528N where are you located? The name Joe Harrison really threw up a flag for me. He is somewhat of a legend in WV. Former Nascar
Driver and A Bad AZZ engine builder.I didn't know he was still at it. He is about 65 miles from me.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Thanks for the bang up follow up : )

 

[528N]

(quoted from post at 13:07:45 07/27/20) 528N where are you located? The name Joe Harrison really threw up a flag for me. He is somewhat of a legend in WV. Former Nascar
Driver and A Bad AZZ engine builder.I didn't know he was still at it. He is about 65 miles from me.

Welding Man you are correct, that is him! Joe is in Renick and I am in Marlinton. I had called him and got directions never being there before. When I drove in I said to myself, OMG it is a shade tree mechanic! Boy was I wrong! I walked down a narrow trail thru the weeds to an open door into the metal building and was in shock! He was by himself boring out a racing engine block, I think! Had a hand held caliber in his hand measuring each cylinder. He stopped and said, lets take care of your flywheel, bring it in. He did it all for me there and then and we had a great conversation, just me and him the whole time. He said he is 71 now and his son is 45 working at another location. The machinery he had in that shop was amazing, just needed a way to walk to it all! He could do what I needed blindfolded and with percision. I was absolutely amazed at his knowledge and skill! I am glad you replied because I would sure like to acknowledge a man with such skills. I am a retired cop from further south and know I have a new friend that can help me with this old tractor when I need it, and other equipment, because he can do it all! Come see me if you get over to Marlinton!! Always like to meet another WV Hillbilly with like taste, and I include myself in that category!! Take Care!

 

[Welding man]

Good to hear we have another Hillbilly on here. I live on the lower end of 219 at Peterstown.We will try to make it up to Marlington before too long. Was in Lewisburg last sunday. Here is my 52 8N.

 

[528N]

(quoted from post at 08:03:37 07/28/20) Good to hear we have another Hillbilly on here. I live on the lower end of 219 at Peterstown.We will try to make it up to Marlington before too long. Was in Lewisburg last sunday. Here is my 52 8N.

<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto51659.jpg">

Wow! That is so nice!! I didn't know they came with paint!!! Used mine yesterday to put in some corn and beans in a food plot using a Covington TP-46 planter I bought at the Dothan, AL Equipment Auction a few years ago. Put the Hupp in low range and away it went. First time I every used the planter and tractor to actually do some work. I thought about painting it to look pretty, but then would spend all my time keeping it like that. I am going to paint the bumper and a couple other items to dress it up some but that will be it. Great to hear from you! Take Care!

 

[Tony292]

Can anyone point me to the link with the original Zane tip? I m going to have to split mine soon and would like to read up on it.

 

[used red MN]

Not a Ford guy maybe someone can help you out. I doubt it was an actual post but it may have been. I believe everything you need to know is covered in the pictures above. The steering gear box and all that it supports such as the back of the hood and fuel tank are left in place. But to do this and split the tractor you need a method to support the steering box from above as shown in the pictures. Never split a Ford but looks to me like if you can arrange it so the rear part can be rolled back away from the front by placing a wheeled floor jack under it you could support the steering box from a stationary point like say you building rafters. Be careful, tractor parts are heavy and have no respect for human flesh and bones, crib everything up well once you get it apart so it cannot fall on you or at least it s fall is slowed down by the breaking wood. By the way you are welcome to look through the 3600 plus posts by Zane which will be narrowed down a bit if you choose to search by topics. Go to the ..Search.. above and type ZANE in with all Caps at the lower left click Topics click search and your journey will begin.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Not a Zane post I think this is what you are looking for. Zane like I tie a rope around the upper steering shaft and lift it from above (one of Zane's excellent tips). I have used a engine lift to do that are tie it to a rafter.

https://www.myfordtractors.com/sherman.shtml

 

[Tony292]

Thanks!!! Got the tractor split and new clutch installed, took me about 5 hours but I did it by myself and this was my first time splitting one. I love this forum and the knowledge that is here.

 

[HFJ]

(quoted from post at 12:31:24 06/10/23)
Thanks!!! Got the tractor split and new clutch installed, took me about 5 hours but I did it by myself and this was my first time splitting one. I love this forum and the knowledge that is here.

good deal. always nice to see a follow-up that's a success story