Another stuck pinion shaft question

[HKguy]

Hello to all the JD crawler aficionados.

I know this subject is sure to bring nothing but groans from the active users on here, and you've heard this a hundred times, but hear me out, this has me stumped.

First the backstory: I bought this crawler (1975, 450B) about a year and a half ago. Got a great price on it, the right steering clutch was not functional so I brought it home, backed it in and waited till I had some time. Well times here, and after a year and a half, the left side steering clutch is also not functional so... kill two birds with one stone right?

The problem is this. Got everything torn down, both tracks broke, lifted and everything's going great. Started on the right side, pulled the case cover and everything in the case (clutch pack, all the associated linkage and arms are badly rusted and seized. So I get to rippen, got everything freed, torn apart and cleaned. Time to pull the brake/clutch pack. Sprockets off, set screw is removed, steering clutch pack is suspended with no weight on the shaft and you guessed it, pinion is frozen tight.

Wont budge. I hit the internet, the message boards, You Tube, you name it. By the book, the pinion should draw out easily. I have a 5 pound slid hammer, and two days of prying, pounding, wrenching and nothing is moving. I have been dousing the plug hole and all the splines I can reach with rust catalyst to no avail. The entire assembly will move about and inch but the movement is in the drive shaft end where it exits the throw-out bearing, and it stops solid when the brake drum impacts the casing.

I had a helper holding tension on the pinion shaft with a 6' pry bar while I attempted to “tap the rear pinion shaft bearing until it is not bound on the shaft (advice from a prior thread). It does not appear that that is the problem, the bearing face does actually does not seem to be moving enough to impact the bull gear anyway. I have however, managed to trash that bearing but, oh well.

Still, no visible movement of the splines where they enter the brake drum. I moved up to the 12# sledge hammer, no movement. Unfortunately, there in no way to get any heat in there.

Though maybe I could pull the final drive off but then re-thought that.... not with the pinion seized in the brake drum.

I took a piece of 1/2” steel plate and used the quill pattern to bore 3 holes, 1/2” x 20 thread. Drilled a 7/16” clearance hole down the center and used it for a puller. Probable in the range of 8-10 tons.

Still no movement, nodda, nothing.

Thanks for letting me vent. Any advice you guys could offer would be greatly appreciated.

[Lavoy]

Can you drive the shaft in slighlty to break the rust maybe? Air hammer, a big one really helps for this kind of stuff.
Lavoy

[HKguy]

Thats a great idea. I do have access to a 65 pounder. I can block behind the brake drum and see if it will push that way. Thanks for the help. I'll let you know.

[Lavoy]

Keep it weasel pissed up as you are doing it. If it will go in, then it should come out, might have to work it back and forth a few times.
Lavoy