The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

In an earlier post I spoke of my bolt that fell into the gearbox and warn selectors (after advice decided to leave selectors).
The gear stick assembly fixing bolt problem.
I have tried magnets and not been able to find it. I drained the oil and tried from the drain hole, no luck.
Looking in and filling, it seems to lots of bulkheads making it hard on how or what to take apart. Can anyone please explain how to best find the bolt, if it means taken the gearbox apart how would I do this, what problems I could encounter, what bearings, seals and gaskets could cause problems or require replacement. Can the tractor be split at the clutch housing to gearbox, or back axle to access this compartment. It’s difficult to work out what’s inside and how to gain access.
The dexta is a 1961 with double clutch and livedrive.

Hi Bigmax,

I think you have no other option than to split the tractor.
You will need to replace some gaskets,which i could not buy,but are easily cut from a sheet of gasketpaper,available at autopartsstores.
If you want me to,i can send you some photos i made when i fixed my gearbox.
Those will give you a look inside from both sides.
I can imagine the bolt will be underneath the gearlevers.
And you will need pullers.

Rob.

Just went for a quick peek in my garage,and it looks like you will need to take the gearbox out of the tractor.
Because in order to remove the cover to gain access to that bolt the main driveshaft will have to come out,and it looks like it's secured on the frontside with a circlip.
The good news is that you will only need to replace the gaskets,and locking wire,everything else you can put back in.

Thanks Rob for the offer of the pictures I would much appreciate seeing them (I’ll pm you). To remove the back end would I have to drain the back axle oil or is it contained in its housing.
Will the back end just pull away freely once the outer housing bolt have been removed. Any recommendation on which part to move front or back end.

Yes you will need to drain the oil,it's a lot!
I would remove the engine first,while supporting the clutch-housing.
Then support the rearend and take the gearbox off.
This weighs some 150 pounds!
If you remove the bolts from the flange indeed it slides off,forward.
Be careful not to twist the box relative to the rearend,as there are some delicate parts in there.

Hi

not sure on dexta gearbox, but I had a similar issue on a motorbike a few years ago, if you can see the bolt or drain oil and tip tractor to be able to locate it you may be able to 'suck it' out.

On the bike I attached smaller tubes onto the hoover outlet, then used to 'grab' the bolt. this worked on the motorbike, not so sure on a dexta gearbox tho. may be worth a try before splitting it down???

good luck (and I'll take a look on my father in law's dexta for ideas)

nigel

Would an endoscope ('shufti-scope') be any use for finding the bolt?

You said you drained the oil out and tried to feel up into the transmission housing for the bolt, but you never said if you had taken the shifter off and looked down into the housing without the oil in it. I'd make me a small scraper out of 1/4 inch round stock by bending the end 90 Degrees, and feel around with that. You could also magnetize it by wrapping wire around the end and hooking it to a battery.

You could also take a small copper line and hook it up to a blower nozzle that we use with our air compressor's, and possibly bend the end a little without crimping it, and move it out of it's hiding place. I believe I'd try these idea's before I'd break the tractor, that would be my last resort.

hi i had and still have the same problem as you , one of the bolts fell in when removing the levers , this was about 3years ago , idone every thing that you have done with magnets etc but with no luck , so i left it hoping that it would move so as icould possible retrive it , up to now ihave been useing the tractor taking the chance and have had no ill effects, this is against the the good advice of the board but i just thought it was to bog ajob to split for the small bolt , i do try ever now and again too see if i can retrive the bolt but like yourself have not been able, its really up to your self but ileft mine ansd so far so good , iuse the tractor alot in the smmer not so much in the wintrer, Gerry

Thanks for the replies and good advice.
My next attack is use an endoscope if I can get down to the bottom, its a fixed shaft. Thanks very much to Dunggatherer for his pictures and very good advice which will be my final try. Split the tractor in three and turn up the centre section, gearbox and clutch housing and the shake it out. If not remove plate from rear gearbox and have a look.
If I think it is too big a job I will do as Gerry, as its main use is for shows.

Jubilation. I managed to get the bolt out by using an endoscope, some fiddling with some welding rod and the withdrawal with a magnet.
Thanks to everyone for their very useful advice.
Unfortunately I had started to remove the engine and in doing so had to cut the temperature capillary wire. Refitted all other parts starting pouring the gearbox oil in, and yes you guessed forgot to put the gearbox bung back in lol.

Well done. Endoscopes are pretty useful for looking in things like jet engines and tractors!.
All the best,

Good job!
I can imagine you celebrated the event with a large cold one.