Rock shaft removal help needed.

[ebinmaine 72,424]

I have a 1978/9 C141 Automatic parts tractor that I'm trying to remove and save the well known stubborn rock shaft from. 

 

This machine is VERY rusty. 

 

I got the left side step off, outer sheet metal. Worked at getting the hydraulic cylinder off. It was frozen solid to the step support rod. That's done. 

 

I now have the rock shaft pins out and it's floating between the steering tower sides. 

 

What's the best way to free up the two pieces of the rock shaft?

 

 

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,461]

@ebinmaine some favorite type of penetrant and heat possibly? Usually just the penetrant works for me. Once it gets worked in it might loosen things up.

[SylvanLakeWH 28,325]

Big penetrating juice

Bigger hammer

Biggest heat

 

Repeat...

 

(I know,  it's not a haiku )

[squonk 43,734]

Since it's a parts tractor that's rusty, cut the rock shaft out of the tower. Get it in a vise and heat / quench it. Might take a couple tries. I watched Taryl's video and have done it a few times and am amazed on how well it works.

Edited May 3 by squonk

[ebinmaine 72,424]

2 minutes ago, squonk said:

Since it's a parts tractor that's rusty, cut the rock shaft out of the tower. Get it in a vise and heat / quench it. Might take a couple tries. I watched Taryl's video and have done it a few times and am amazed on how well it works.

 

 

What's your quench?

[squonk 43,734]

16 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

What's your quench?

Cast iron can shatter so don't get it red hot but heat it up well then hit her with a garden hose.

[ebinmaine 72,424]

15 minutes ago, squonk said:

Cast iron can shatter so don't get it red hot but heat it up well then hit her with a garden hose.

 

I only have propane so it won't go to red hot anyhow.  

 

 

[953 nut 59,774]

28 minutes ago, squonk said:

Cast iron can shatter so don't get it red hot

I don't think either portion of the rock shaft is cast iron, they are both mild steel.

[squonk 43,734]

4 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

I don't think either portion of the rock shaft is cast iron, they are both mild steel.

Never removed one so I never paid attention to what they were made of. Just a warning about heating cast parts

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,449]

Can you cap/plug the two pin holes on the bottom so penetrant can be applied there also? 

[8ntruck 7,780]

Didn't  you just post in another thread that pretty much everything is a saws all/welder issue?  

[ebinmaine 72,424]

2 hours ago, gwest_ca said:

Can you cap/plug the two pin holes on the bottom so penetrant can be applied there also? 

 

 

Likely. Yes.  

 

 

 

 

28 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

Didn't  you just post in another thread that pretty much everything is a saws all/welder issue?  

 

 

I did in fact.  

 

And this will be the sawzall portion.  

[Retired Wrencher 5,767]

10 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I only have propane so it won't go to red hot anyhow.  

 

 

Eric are you using Mapp Gas? I have used this many times. It does pretty hot. But not red hot.

[ebinmaine 72,424]

4 minutes ago, Retired Wrencher said:

Eric are you using Mapp Gas? I have used this many times. It does pretty hot. But not red hot.

 

I've had that here but I believe I'm out. 

I'll take a look. 

Appreciate the reminder.  

 

 

 

[Retired Wrencher 5,767]

Any time Bud.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,449]

Have you noticed the Mapp gas has been replaced by Mappro which is a Mapp/propane mixture. Not as hot either.

[ebinmaine 72,424]

1 minute ago, gwest_ca said:

Have you noticed the Mapp gas has been replaced by Mappro which is a Mapp/propane mixture. Not as hot either.

 

I haven't actually purchased it myself in yeeeeaaars. 

The cylinder bottles I had/have are all older ones I've inherited. 

 

What's the hottest one can get for a small hand torch nowadays? 

[squonk 43,734]

I bought a small Oxy /Acetylene torch set from Horror Fright about 4 years ago. About $350 and have only used it a few times but enough to need to get the tanks refilled. 

 

YES they are cheaply made. YES the tanks are expensive to refill. BUT the time and aggravation they have saved me getting something apart, bending some thing or brazing some tinwork together has been worth the cost.

[ebinmaine 72,424]

5 minutes ago, squonk said:

I bought a small Oxy /Acetylene torch set from Horror Fright about 4 years ago. About $350 and have only used it a few times but enough to need to get the tanks refilled. 

 

YES they are cheaply made. YES the tanks are expensive to refill. BUT the time and aggravation they have saved me getting something apart, bending some thing or brazing some tinwork together has been worth the cost.

 

 

I love the idea of having a torch set but I can't get the tanks filled here unless I'm a commercial customer.  

[squonk 43,734]

4 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

I love the idea of having a torch set but I can't get the tanks filled here unless I'm a commercial customer.  

So become one. "Eric and BBT's Tractor and Stove Restoration" 

 

I had commercial accounts even before I got my DBA years ago. Pretty easy. Or does Maine really restrict such activity?

 

Here I walk into Air Gas with an empty tank and they give me a full one. all they need is a name on the ticket.

Edited May 4 by squonk

[ebinmaine 72,424]

1 minute ago, squonk said:

So become one. "Eric and BBT's Tractor and Stove Restoration" 

 

I had commercial accounts even before I got my DBA years ago. Pretty easy. Or does Maine really restrict such activity?

 

It could be done.  Yes...

With a business license and tax ID number. 

But then we'd have to file taxes as the business for at least a portion of our income. Track this. Count that. Record these. 

PITA. 

 

 

[squonk 43,734]

4 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

It could be done.  Yes...

With a business license and tax ID number. 

But then we'd have to file taxes as the business for at least a portion of our income. Track this. Count that. Record these. 

PITA. 

 

 

Didn't have to do that here. When I was working at Napa we had all kinds of customers with accounts and we were an AirGas exchange station. Farmers or Joe Blow off the street. I opened an account without any business records or tax exempt status. I only got my DBA when the work I was doing at night got so big I had to work out of another shop. All kinds of folks came into the store with accounts with no business license or Tax I.D. 

[953 nut 59,774]

In Florida and North Carolina you can exchange oxygen, acetylene or the CO2/Argon cylinders without any paperwork other than cash or credit card. I got rid of the 20CF oxygen/10CF acetylene tanks years ago. The cost to fill them was too high for what you were getting. I now have the 80/40 sizes, the cost per exchange has gone up quite a bit but is much less than the cost per CF of the little ones.     Those little tanks always seemed to run out at the worst time.

[squonk 43,734]

I got used to the little tanks when I had to rope them up to the roof all the time or when needed the torch in a kitchen to repair refrigeration equipment. Had spare bottles on the truck. Nitrogen was the worst. We went through that stuff like water

[wallfish 18,069]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

I love the idea of having a torch set but I can't get the tanks filled here unless I'm a commercial customer.  

You can get a small, one time use replaceable tank type of kit. 

https://www.bernzomatic.com/Products/Hand-Torches/Manual-Ignition/Brazing-Torch-Kit-WK5500OX

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

But then we'd have to file taxes as the business for at least a portion of our income. Track this. Count that. Record these. 

PITA. 

Doesn't cost anything to get a Federal tax ID and it's done online. Why would you have to claim income if you don't have any coming in? Or do you?