JD 450 Pinion Shaft stuck

[Antwan2000arp]

I am currently in the middle of replacing both the steering clutches on our straight 450 dozer. I’ve gotten the tracks and drive sprockets off. I’m now trying to remove the pinion shaft that runs through the final drive and the clutch. I welded up a slide hammer and was able to get the pinion shaft to move about an inch or so.
It will not budge now. Can’t get it to move forward anymore at all. It seems like it might be stuck on the splines of the shaft but I’m honestly not sure.

The bearing that sits on the inside wall of the final drive seems fairly loose and the shaft is also loose from the clutch. The whole shaft can move around fairly freely but just won’t come out the last few inches.

This is my first time working on anything bigger than a skid steer so I’ll take any Ideas I can get? Thanks in advance

[Jim B]

Welcome to the Board. You say you have a 450 so we assume this is a straight 450, built between 1965 and 1970.

Do you have John Deere Service Manual SM2064 for the 450?

Did you loosen the set screw located in the brake drum that holds it to the pinion shaft?

[450FiveString]

I just went thru the same problem with my straight 450. The problem was the bearing on the far side of the bull gear. The bearing may be loose but when you pull on the shaft it tilts enough to bind and hold the shaft. I used a rod to tap the bearing to keep it perpendicular to the shaft and it came right out. I assure you that bearing can stop that shaft from moving. I put a puller on mine and pulled hard enough that I was sure something was about to break but I think it was Jim B who suggested the bearing might be binding and that was indeed the problem.

[450FiveString]

Do a search for "Removing Final Drive Pinion Shaft" and you'll see the same problem I had.

[Antwan2000arp]

Yep I had already removed the set screw already

You were exactly right. It was that back bearing all along. Tapping on it like you suggested worked like a charm. Took all of 2 minutes to get it it out. Thank you so much!!

[450FiveString]

You're welcome. I never owned, operated or worked on a dozer before I got this one but I've learned a lot since I've had this one. Lots of good folks with a lot of knowledge on here.