I am cleaning up the transmission and final drive system on my dads OC-3, and I noticed that I have some end play in the countershaft (#112 456 in the parts book). I measured it @.061. Does anyone know if that is within normal wear? ???
I may have answered my own question. After reading the instruction manual it says to tighten the adjusting nut until "a slight drag can be felt in the rotating shaft". My interpretation is there should be little to no end play. I was hoping to avoid dismantling the transmission and differential, but after inspecting the gears it looks like there was a lot of grit introduced into the oil. I noticed in the parts manual there was suppose to be a cover over the end of the counter shaft. This one did not, as a matter of fact the bolt holes were plugged with dirt. It looks like I will start tearing it down. :( :(
Not a very educated reply, but I have seen some with a LOT more back and forth 'play' than your lower shaft. And these machines seemed to work perfectly well. Its a function of how worn those bearings are I guess, once the nut is tightened. Yes, it should have had a cover over it. I guess if there's wear in those bearings, that will convert into accelerating the wear elsewhere. Depends on how much you plan to 'push' your machine.
Yes there should be no end play on that shaft. There should be a slight preload on the bearings. That keeps proper alignment of the gears. Running with play will wear gears faster. That cover also keeps the oil in. With out it you would always be running with a low oil level as well as letting dirt in! Sounds like new bearings would be needed, probably for the top shaft as well.
I took the end play as a sign that the bearings were bad. I realize that I might get lucky and have them last a while, but since it is torn down this far it wont be any easier later. I ordered all new bearings from Zimmerman's today. I stripped it all the way down. I will take the casting out to be cleaned and primed.Towards the end my Dad didn't take good care of the little tractor.
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I have another question for the group. My tractor has not been run for over 40 years. Before my Dad parked it, he must have replaced the steering bands, they are like new. I am debating if I should just replace them while everything is out of the case. My concern is that the fiber will disintegrate once they are used. I am assuming that it is a good thing that they were bathed in oil all that time. Has anyone had any experience with steering bands that old? ???
You might try manipulating the friction material in a few places with pliers or a screw driver just to see if it has a tendency to dis-bond. If it's still pretty firmly in place it might be fine.
I don't think I've ever heard of them deteriorating. I'd just run them. Not hard to change later anyway.
That is a good point Blake, they are easy to get to!! I was hoping that once I got it painted, I would not have to crack a bolt for a while. After getting the transmission case all the way apart I have decided that I will replace all of the bearings.
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