The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Finally managed to find a bit of time away from work and the Dexta is well stripped down now, almost ready for preparations for painting.

I'm having problems dismantling the rear wheel drums to get to the brake assemblies. I can't find anything previously discussed on here. I've got the wheels off and found two countersunk slotted screws on the front of the drum which i have taken out. Should the drum now come off? I don't want to fight it too much if there is something still holding it on.

Thanks in advance.

Have you slackened the brake adjusters?

See page 3 of the Braking System Workshop Manual

HiWP

Our path's crossed recently on the MIG welding forum, just bought a Portamig and I'm busy blowing holes in scrap - small world

As Ben said, just the shoes to hold the drums on after the screws have been removed, the links to the Dexta manuals on this site are broken. If you haven't got the PDFs let me know and I'll put them up on my site temporarily and send you a link.

Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy,

I've spent two days searching for my Workshop manual to no avail. Annoyed as it was an original. I have just bought another copy off ebay but if you could let me have a link to the relevent page it will get me away until it turns up.

So in a nutshell, if i back-off the brakes the drums should come free?

Have been following your other thread with very keen interest, you are at a similar stage as me. I too have been scratching my head tonight at getting the bush out on the top link.

Nice to catch up with you on here!

WP
Here's a link to the manual
Cheers
Andy

The drums are probably seized to the hubs due to rust and slackening the brakes will not solve the problem.

In the past I have had to remove the halfshafts complete with brake drums and back plates from the tractor, remove the backplates, pour releasall or Diesel in the brake drum and leave it for a few days. Then using a piece of wood and a heavy hammer drive the drums off the shafts.

Do not be tempted to hit the drums directly with a hammer as they will break!

Gerald

hi
link , i think , to a post on the rocker bushing prob. i made the puller , i'll try and take a better photo if u like .

http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/phpbb ... 474#p30985

re. the brakes u can knock the hubs a bit but they are brittle castings and can chip / shatter as stated , use copper slip on reassemberly . u'll know u hit it too hard when it shatters !! rubber mallet ect,
cant remmeber if there are two tapped holes in the hub so u can screw in studs to help push the drums off ??

hope this tom

Thanks all, the drums do turn so i assume the pads are not contacting the insides of the drums and they should pull off.

I have given them a gentle bit of encouragement with a rawhide hammer but they don't want to budge.

i'll bet its the inner flange , half shaft - to drum , thats stuck .

Looking that way isnt it

With the drum on i can't get to any fixings to take the two half shafts out. Workshop manual doesnt suggest how to get them out without taking the drums off first.

Can it be done?

Perhaps try some gentle heat to help free the drums?

Plus more tapping with piece of wood...

A couple of ideas for you Paul
big puller, you may have to fab one
or if there are tapped holes in the drums

not sure if you can tap them off from behind with a punch via the adjustment slots in the back plates
Cheers
Andy

Absolutely stuck on the half shaft; the way to go is :-

1. Soak the hub/half-shaft interface with loads of easy-free type lubricant and leave as long as possible.
2. Locate, beg, borrow, fabricate big pullers. Three leg best, two - ok.
3. Apply pull pressure with the pullers, hub may come off
4. If no joy, apply pull pressure with pullers and encourage movement from the rear with a composit mallet.

The hubs WILL come off. I have done many this way.

No way the drums were coming off today, ended up taking the half shafts/drums out in one piece, standing them on their ends and leaving them flooded with release agent. They are rusted solid between the back of the drums and the flanges. Everything else nicely greased

Thanks for your help fellas