Recently bought a Ford 3910. One of the front spindles is very loose, lots of side play. I took it apart, the bearing seems fine, but it looks like it needs a bushing. There is a sleeve a t the top, but nothing at the bottom between the casting and the spindle. I found top and bottom bushings listed and ordered them. Any advice on installing?
Zebrafive
Super Member
By spindle do you mean what the wheel turns on? Or for steering the tractor?
Birdhunter1
Veteran Member
Throw the bushings in your freezer overnight and heat the spindle housing with a torch or one of those weed burners on a propane tank. You don't have to get it red hot but get it hot.
My freezer is in my shop building, but if you have to walk a considerable distance set your heating setup and let it do its thing while you go retrieve the bushing. If you have a socket large enough to encompass the diameter of the bushing use that to drive it in, coating it with grease before driving it helps.
My freezer is in my shop building, but if you have to walk a considerable distance set your heating setup and let it do its thing while you go retrieve the bushing. If you have a socket large enough to encompass the diameter of the bushing use that to drive it in, coating it with grease before driving it helps.
This is the wheel spindle. It turned out that there was a bottom bushing. Hard to remove, finally cut it with a Dremel and peeled it out. The new bushing fit fine on the spindle, but not in the casting. It was to small. I miced the bottom of the spindle bushing at 1.34, which was what the parts people said it should be. Finally looked at another parts site online and found two sizes of knees, one with 1.5" bottom and one at 1.34". Former owner had thrown on a incorrectly sized knee that didn't match the spindle. Fortunately a new knee is 160.00. less than I thought it would be. When it comes I will follow thefreese and heat routine. Thanks for that information.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Zebrafive
Super Member
You say wheel spindle, but sounds like you mean the steering part of the spindle, since you mention knees.
When I did the knee bushings on my 2030 I used the spindle as a bushing driver. I had the knee off, clamped in a vise, slid the bushing on the spindle and then into the knee. Then pounded on the bottom of the spindle until the bushing was seated. Repeat for each end of the knee.
I did not use freezing or heat. but mine went is with moderate effort.
