350b clutch steering shaft removal

[Bfinney5238]

Guys I’m trying to remove the clutch steering shaft for one of the final drives but it didn’t come out with the pressure plate no matter what I do it won’t budge. Is there a trick to that have you all had this problem before?

[Bfinney5238]

It’s stuck in the transmission housing

[LeonardL]

So... which shaft exactly? Is it the vertical shaft that has the throwout bearing on it? Or the horizontal shaft coming from the steering lever?

[Bfinney5238]

It’s the shaft that goes into the final drive. The one that has the pilot and throw out bearing yes the one that works the steering lever

[Bfinney5238]

Horizontal I can probably find a part number for it but it’s my left final drive steering clutch shaft

[Bfinney5238]

Part number is T20731

[Jim B]

Driveshaft by the parts catalog. Most here are going to think of the shafts involved making the steering clutch function when you pull a lever when you say clutch shaft, thus LeonardL's question.

The drive shaft should pull out. Sounds like there is an issue with the splines. Rust, wear, twisted, cracked, etc. Have you tried tapping it in a bit to see if it will move at all? You might need to rig up something for a puller and put a little strain on it while tapping around it.

[LeonardL]

Okay so it's the drive shaft or drive axle is what we always called them. This is a first for me as I have never had one of those stuck in the transmission. Usually they are stuck the clutch pack and rusted to the center hub.

I would shoot some penetrating oil back in and around that shaft and let it soak for a bit. Then try to fasten a puller of some sort to that shaft and use a slide hammer to see if you can jar it loose. It should pull straight out. If you had both sides apart you can push them all the way through from either side.

Sorry this isn't much help and maybe some of these other guys have seen this and can help you further.

[Bfinney5238]

I’m to the point of welding a hook or something on it. And pulling it out. Right now I can’t get a good bite on it with a rope but I am or have put a strain on it.. I guess I’m gonna weld something on it and pull it out. I guess if the shaft is okay I’ll replace the shaft and stop pulling everything apart.. I didn’t want to do that, but I agree it shouldn’t be that hard to remove.

[Jim B]

Try a some heavy duty muffler clamps around it for something to give a grip. You can weld something to the saddles of those if You want to make something for a puller.

[Bfinney5238]

Okay I’ll see what they make. The shaft is like 1”-1/8 its pretty small but I will look online

[Jim B]

A pipe supply house should have heavy u-bolts and friction clamps for 3/4 and 1 inch pipe, those might work.

[Bfinney5238]

I took it out after 4 days of messing with it. It was just seized in there splines are good. I’m gonna reinstall throw some antiseize on it and put it all back together.