Help w/bearing replacement on 18-blade x 4-gang Disc Harrow

[Land_Owner]

I can't get the bolt off of the end of a 4-gang of blades on the disc harrow.  I can put about 500 foot-pounds of torque on it through a cheater bar and large crescent wrench.  I have been soaking it in PB Blaster penetrating oil.  I can put some impact on the nut and bolt with a sledge hammer but do not have an impact wrench.  I don't have heat either.

Is there a temporary "fix" for a stuck bearing (1 of 2 on that gang)?  It was new in August 2006 and hasn't seen a lot of use.  It isn't seized, but it is REAL stiff to turn.

[Gaz-52]

     First  I would use a "ring" or "socket" spanner if you want to get serious without trashing the hex-head and busting your knuckles.  But I think a propane torch would be a big help .It does not have to get things red hot to loosen it up. Oxy- acetylene torch would be overkill .
    Are the bearings greaseable  or the pre packed type with no grease nipples ? ( many of the pre packed bearings have only a gnats fart of grease in them from the factory , a part of their spare parts sales plan maybe?). It pays to pop the seal and add some good quality high temp bearing grease then refit the seal on any bearings that you fit  these days if you want to get reasonable working life out of them.
         Let us know how you get on.
          Gaz

[Land_Owner]

These are sealed bearings and after heating the nut (w/propane torch) and driving off the PB Blaster it STILL resisted both the hammer AND the cheater bar/crescent wrench simultaneously. 

I agree - completely.  The right deep socket and breaker bar (3/4" drive maybe - which I do not have in any drive) would be the right way to approach this removal.  The crescent is a "nasty" tool.  So sloppy.  What ever was it created for?  I also avoided using the 36" pipe wrench.  It "bites" the steel in so course a way and its use is not warranted here.

A Yesterday's Tractor/Implements thread suggested to bang on one flat side of the nut HARD (don't miss and destroy the threads) with a heavy hammer while using a sledge hammer as an anvil below the nut (on the opposite side flat of the nut).  This would elongate the nut slightly (says he) and enable some movement or allow the interstitial corrosion to eke out.  Hmmmmm.  We shall see.

Also, another fellow said COLD CHISEL and HAMMER (I have both).   A last resort.   Then buy another nut.

Also, I could just leave that nut "unprotected", keeper plate off, use the disc with its "hard turning" bearing, listen to the squeal of the galling, and see if work stress loosens the gang nut.  A slow, maybe so, maybe not kind of approach.  Naw...I don't think so.

[flintlock]

You need a torch, I used to cut the nut in half and not hurt the threads...

[Land_Owner]

I rented acetylene/oxygen bottles once before and bought the hoses, regulators, and cutting heads.  At over $450 for gas bottle deposit, which I got back, and the monthly rental on the bottles, which I kept for nearly a year and didn't use all of the gas in the first cylinders, it was too expensive to keep around for the few times it was needed.

[flintlock]

I never was good at wasting time...Take it somewhere and cut the nut off...It's a 5-10 minute job...

[SHOOTALL]

Buy a sawzall or rent one , get some metal cutting blades and saw cut the nut almost all the way thru then drive a chisle in to break the nut. OR get a grinder to do the same, if you rent a grinder try to find a die grinder its faster and smaller .
 Please don't take this as smart azz but you are going in correct direction ? Please don't ask why I would think of this . BTDT !

[Gaz-52]

   Sure is a tough nut to crack. Sorry , I couldn't help myself.  Do you have a electric welder? If all else fails ,weld a solid piece of steel bar or better still a larger steel nut onto the  "frozen "nut to give you something a little more solid to work on with a hammer . Often the heat from the weld can be enough to loosen things . Try not to "butcher" the  threads if possible ,they will probably be a fine / less common one and may be hard to find a replacement .If you have a machine shop near by they could make one if you are lucky. Don't give up the ship just yet .
        Cheers Gaz.

[Land_Owner]

I never was good at wasting time...Take it somewhere and cut the nut off...It's a 5-10 minute job...

To which I would ordinarily agree.  Except this is Hobby Farming.  I have the time to contemplate alternatives, and there are some VERY GOOD ideas posted here for all to consider.   I have cold chiseled similar nuts off before and I like the "bang it with two simultaneous large hammers".  Kind of viscerally satisfying in that one.

I also untangle fishing line.

[keith44]

it is possible to use a fiber cutting disk mounted on a 4" angle grinder and cut the nut enough on two opposing sides without getting into the threads, then use the cold chisel to break the nut off.  You can also just use a stone wheel to thin the nut in a couple places to both generate heat, and make it thin enough to break it off the bolt.  Regardless of how you get the bolt and nut to seperate I would strongly recommend replacing both.
 

[Bugflipper]

Can't say it will work for you, but here's what I do. Heat the nut with a torch. Then put ice on the bolt. When the ice quits melting at a fast rate soak the bolt down with 1/2 atf fluid to 1/2 mineral spirits. Works better than commercial liquid wrench. Get the leverage pipe out, put a foot on it not far off the ground, in case it slips so you don't bust your rump. Then start smacking it with a sledge. Most of the time when I fool with the penetrating fluid I just squirt it on then mess with what ever it is the next day. But if it still gives me trouble I do the above. BTW hitting at the end of the long pipe will give more impact than hitting the nut directly. And hopefully wont mess it up.

Not trying to be a smart alleck but make sure the threads are right handed. Had a heck of a time messing with left handed threads once and felt foolish when I figured out why it wouldn't loosen. 

[SHOOTALL]

If you live near a tool rental , auto parts store with tool rental or a NAPA that sells a nut buster that might be the easy way.

[Land_Owner]

Got to South Carolina and had the welder there heat it red hot, put his 3/4 inch socket and breaker bar on it with a 3-foot cheater, and bang it with an 8-pound sledge.  It was STUBBORN.  But he got it off.  Put it back on with an impact wrench. 

I changed the bearing in an instant and 40 acres are now disc'd and planted for wildlife.  That was a lot of tractorin' for me in 4-days.  Busted two disc's on another gang.  now have to figure out how to get that nut off.  It never ends...

[Gaz-52]

Got to South Carolina and had the welder there heat it red hot, put his 3/4 inch socket and breaker bar on it with a 3-foot cheater, and bang it with an 8-pound sledge.  It was STUBBORN.  But he got it off.  Put it back on with an impact wrench. 

I changed the bearing in an instant and 40 acres are now disc'd and planted for wildlife.  That was a lot of tractorin' for me in 4-days.  Busted two disc's on another gang.  now have to figure out how to get that nut off.  It never ends...

      I hear what you are saying , farming a'int easy and hobby farming a'int much better at times . But for me it wins hands down over chasing a little white ball round a golf course .  Maybe I'm a bit crazy. Anyhow I feel at home with you guys , maybe we are all a bit crazy.
      That bloke with the impact wrench must like you , wants you to come back again .    

[Land_Owner]

      I hear what you are saying , farming a'int easy and hobby farming a'int much better at times . But for me it wins hands down over chasing a little white ball round a golf course .  Maybe I'm a bit crazy. Anyhow I feel at home with you guys , maybe we are all a bit crazy.
      That bloke with the impact wrench must like you , wants you to come back again .    

Naw.  He is over 550 miles away.  The impact wrench was in an attempt to pull the blades and spool pieces back together again.  I had ~1.5 inches of threaded axle exposed before the bearing replacement and ~3/4 inch exposed after.  We were both scratching our heads over that as the bearing replaced was equivalent in depth to the new one.  So, ~3/4 inch of "play" was somewhere in that mess of spool pieces, bearings, and discs.  We ended up with ~1 inch exposed.  It held up and performed very well.  And I completely agree, I don't play golf.  I much prefer preparing wildlife food plots and Hobby Farming over the alternatives. 

I was amazed at how much "fun" I was having, with some exceptions.  I spent 30-hours (in 10-hour days) on my tractor over three days.  No "sun roof".  No "AC".  Temperatures hovering around 110 degrees (F) at grade and dead calm.  Just going around and around and around, etc., with a whole lot of avoiding this obstruction, avoiding planted trees, tight turns, staying off the road with the disc, up hill and down dale, etc.  The disc harrow ate up the uncut fields over four to six passes.  Very few locations had been bush hogged.  Most were fallow ground from last season.  Seed was spread (by others on an ATV) and I straight disc'd all seeded areas.  Then I cultipacked the seeded ground and the others followed spreading clover seed and I cultipacked that. 

The "problems" started whenever I got down from the tractor.  IT WAS HOT at ground level.  I dehydrated on the 3rd day and after a 10-hour tractor shift started hacking Persimmon Trees with a hand saw.  I got a good dose of Heat Prostration.  I still have a remnant frontal headache and it is 48 hours post-event.  That isn't much fun I assure you.

[keith44]

I was amazed at how much "fun" I was having, with some exceptions.  I spent 30-hours (in 10-hour days) on my tractor over three days.  No "sun roof".  No "AC".  Temperatures hovering around 110 degrees (F) at grade and dead calm.   

The "problems" started whenever I got down from the tractor.  IT WAS HOT at ground level.  I dehydrated on the 3rd day and after a 10-hour tractor shift started hacking Persimmon Trees with a hand saw.  I got a good dose of Heat Prostration.  I still have a remnant frontal headache and it is 48 hours post-event.  That isn't much fun I assure you.

We have found that even those cheap umbrella type sun shades are a big help when cutting and raking hay.  Also a gallon cooler of ice water and regular stops to drink.  Every couple hours just stop for 5 minutes or so.
 
Glad to hear you are gonna be Ok