Help getting lower draft link pin out

[skysummit]

One of my attaching pins for my 3 point lower draft link arm snapped. I've had this happen before and it was an easy replacement. This time however, I took out the two bolts and the pin won't slide out. It feels really loose and rotates easily but it will not slide outwards at all. Ive tried prying it with a screw driver and pulling with vice grips... no luck.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Roadworthy]

Can you push it through from the other direction?

 

[jgayman]

What tractor do you have?

 

[oosik]

Can you see the "butt" end of that draft pin on the other side of the frame member? If so - it should "drive" out. It would help to gently warm the frame member before attempting to drive it out. Please remember - I said gently warm the frame member.

 

[kthompson]

You need to figure out why it snapped and solve that also.

 

[skysummit]

This is a John Deere 4700.

There is no easy way of getting behind the pin to force it out. The round shaft opposite end of the pin side slides into a round receiving socket in the trans axle housing, and there are simply 2 bolts that fasten it.

It snapped because I was grading in reverse with my box scraper and hit a stump. That part of the attaching pin which broke is the weakest link. It happened another time in the past and took me 2 minutes to fix it.

 

[skysummit]

Here is a photo of a new pin. The red line shows where the pin side (on the left) broke off. The base (right side) remains stuck in the tractor.

Once I removed the two bolts it should just easily slide out. If feels very loose and rotates each direction. It just won''t slide out. If that (right-side )shaft got bent, I can see why that might stop it from sliding out but I can't imagine that could bend being so thick and bolted flat to the housing/

 

[HCJtractor]

Could the opposite end be buggered up/ bradded causing it to bind? If so can you grind it?

Or could you weld on a bolt with a head so you could get some purchase point and then use a crow bar with leverage? I doubt you’re getting much outward pressure with your vice grips.

 

[Diggin It]

It happened another time in the past

How long ago? Could the back side have some rust? It only takes a couple of small spots to do just about what you describe. Can you see the back side? Hit it with some WD or PB Blaster?

 

[pmsmechanic]

I'm guessing that the edges of the hole that the "base" side fits into got peened over the hole when the pin broke this last time. If you take a good look at the edges of the hole in the transmission case you should be able to see if I'm right or not. As has been suggested to weld something onto the stub so that you can get a good pull on the pin with a pry bar would probably be the best removal method.

 

[skysummit]

I figured it out. I just took a better look with my flash light. I have a large mounting bracket fastened to my frame and casing for my backhoe attachment. Apparently I hit the stump hard enough that it shifted the mounting bracket just a bit to now block one edge of the mounting pin to slide out. I just need to loosen the backhoe mounting bracket and the pin should slide out.
Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[oosik]

Good news. No matter what the literature on your box blade says- blading in reverse is always a crap shoot. I've never had a problem with this type situation. Just dumb, really dumb luck.

I gave up blading in reverse when I got the new Kubota. Parts simply cost too darn much.

 

[beenthere]

The draft links just are not designed to push.. only pull.

 

[al20hp]

Just had the same thing happen to my JD 4700. Same deal, pin wouldn't come out. It was getting hung up on the backhoe mount. I took a grinder to the old pin base and got it out in 10 minutes. I was careful not to grind too deep. Now time to buy a $120 pin!!!!

 

[TractorTech]

We had this happen on Japanese Ford CUTs with thos style of pin. We ended up creating a clevis mount for the lower links off of the loader subframe, if it exists, or find an attaching point to weld to under the axle.
It's a lot of work in the short run, but saves having this problem in the long run or possibly damaging the rear axle case.

 

[Tx Jim]

The draft links just are not designed to push.. only pull.

If what you stated is true then the pin that appears can be rotated 180° in differential case should have timing marks so pin could only be installed in correct position for pulling. I'll bet same amount of force hitting a stump moving forward could break that pin.