Farmall 450 Ball bearing found while draining

Tony_Idaho · Apr 1, 2011

Hello and Happy April Fools day!

I do have a quesiton though.

I found a 5/8" ball bearing while I drained my tranmission oil a little while ago. Now that the weather is cooperating, I was told to remove the IPTO and look inside. I did that a few days ago. I jacked up each rearend tire and spun them, while looking at the rear axle ball bearings. They were all there and looked in decent shape on both sides. Both sides spun extreamly easy, I didn hear or feel any grinding.
From the PTO side I couldn't really see any Bull pinion ball bearings. Would I be able to tell if something was wrong there by spinning the back tires. or do I need to removed the Brakes on each side to take a look? Also, anything else I should possibly check. I took a swivel mirror and checked the best I could.

I'm kinda leaning towards someone before me replace a broken bearing and just missed this one that was in the bottom when they were fixing??

Thanks
Tony

pete 23 · Apr 1, 2011

That ball may be out of the differential supporting bearing also. Here is the thing though, you ordinarily find some of the bearing retainer along with the balls. Not always though. A real keen ear can sometimes hear balls droping inside a failed bearing that is missing some of the balls. If the grease is real thick though or cold you won't hear them. I would pull the brake drums and look in at bull pinion bearings and you might be able to detect a loose bearing on bull pinion or even diff. One has to realilze that the inside end of the bull pinion shaft is supported by the side gears inside of the differential so it takes an experienced feel to decide if it it bearings or play in that gear in diff. That is one thing the 656 did different. They mounted the bull pinion on an adjustable tapered roller bearing and supported the inner end with a needle bearing or bushing making for a much sturdy bull pinion shaft assembly.

Theman · Apr 1, 2011

Tony, If all - that's ALL - bearing cages are intact, I would agree with your assessment. I am unsure if there is enough room (at least 5/8") between the bull pinion shaft and the cast iron bull pinion cage on the 450 to let a ball fall out if a bearing failed. For me, a ball bearing floating around in the rear end would be reason enough to pull the cover and go exploring.

sflem849 · Apr 1, 2011

(quoted from post at 10:11:47 04/01/11) Tony, If all - that's ALL - bearing cages are intact, I would agree with your assessment. I am unsure if there is enough room (at least 5/8") between the bull pinion shaft and the cast iron bull pinion cage on the 450 to let a ball fall out if a bearing failed. For me, a ball bearing floating around in the rear end would be reason enough to pull the cover and go exploring.

Same opinions here. If it was only ONE ball and not one other piece of cage I might just fill it back up and go with it. Were there any other chunks in the bottom or in the drain oil?

Tony_Idaho · Apr 1, 2011

Sorry, mind has been in a fog all last week, sick with something not fun. And I did leave something out. When I did remove the PTO, and felt around the bottom, I picked up 2 little pieces of metal something or other. I really could not tell what they were from. I did notice a little corner piece of the cast iron housing missing next to the hole where the PTO goes. I can't tell if the little pieces I found were from that...

Guess I am going to be taking off the top. Does not look like that will be fun. I think I have to remove the battery box, hydrolic lines, and tin. But, I guess I'm just lucky that way..

I am going to hope that taking the top off I should be able to see everything.

Brownie 450 · Apr 1, 2011

Taking the platform off isn't a picnic--but it is compared to having bearing parts or balls get under the bull gears & tearing up the trans. case or more. The platform can be removed with a shop hoist or a chain hoist. The hydraulic lines aren't fun to work with---neither is sheet metal, but you'll have peace of mind that you checked it out.

bc · Apr 2, 2011

Tony, I'd take a magnet on some wire and run it up and around the bottom from all the drain holes and the fill hole. That might find any other loose pieces. Sometimes you get it slight layer of sludge in the bottom of castings that doesn't drain out. Metal chunks get caught up in it. Let us know what you find.

Farmall 450 Ball bearing found while draining

Tony_Idaho

Member

pete 23

Well-known Member

Theman

Member

sflem849

Well-known Member

Tony_Idaho

Member

Brownie 450

Member

bc

Well-known Member

Similar threads