Dexta front axle

[welderpaul]

After a lot of knuckle scraping i managed to get the bashed nose cone off my Dexta without damaging any original parts/brackets. This has then let me take off the radiator (which leaks ) and strip off a few more bits at the front end.

Can anyone tell me how the front axle comes off? it pivots on a tube which the starting handle passes through. There is a keeper plate with a single bolt through which i have taken off that looks like it should then let me knock the central tube out, but it won't budge. I've soaked it in release fluid but don't want to spend too long bashing away at something that might not want bashing There is a spacer ring, the axle, then a further spacer at the back if i remember correctly.
Also drained off the oil. It was like black treacle--don't think it been changed for a long time.

[Tubal Cain]

The axle pin should pull staight out, but due to the pin wearing unevenly forming ridges which may prevent the pin from being withdrawn.

Presumably you have supported the weight of the front of the tractor, you also need to support the weight of the axle. Place a bar through the pin and see if you can move it. The workshop manual suggests the use of a slide hammer to remove the pin. Use a crowbar in the slot to try to lever it out and try to hammer it back towards the engine.

Gerald