question How to dropping front end off of Zetor 3545

Hi

I'm having trouble dropping the bracket that holds the front axle and rad. etc off my tractor. A 4wd Zetor 3545.

There is 8 bolts that hold it on, or rather there is supposed to be but 5 of them are either sheered off or the threads have stripped so I want to get the front end off so I can remove the bolts and rethread the holes.
Iv'e removed the tin work, rad,driveshaft and the 3 remaining bolts The fan belt pulley wheel stops me from just rolling the whole thing forward.

So I thought that if I jacked up the engine to clear the fan belt pulley it would just come away. But it wont.
Is it because the axle pivot recesses in to the engine block , mabe?
Any ideas anyone?
Do I have to remove the axle and wheels first?

yes the pivot locates into the block by 5mm or so. I could take it off my Zetor 3011 with just a wiggle.
Dont jack it up high, pry it forward a bit and scoop it away under the pulley.

...at least i THINK thats the way i did it.

Cool Thanks Renze I'm going out to have another go now.

Result!
It just needed a bit more jiggling, it was catching on a lip next to the sump.
I,ve managed to get two bolts out by welding on a nut to the end of the stud, one more to go, it's broken off inside the hole so I'll try a stud extractor on it.
Now what about the ones that have stripped thier threads?
Drill them out and cut a bigger thread into them?
Trouble is it's a blind hole so it may not be to easy or is it worth buying a helicoil kit?
I've never used one before so I Utubed them and it looks quite straight forward.
What's it like re threading the cast block I've only ever done aluminium. (I think?)

Helicoils are quite common at the service shop of a national construction company i have worked for in a past life. Never used them myself though.

Hi again Well I've just about fixed the holes so I had a look at the rest of the front end.
I noticed a bit of play in the axle so I've knocked the pin out and found that it's got a couple of plastic collars/ sleeves at either end, they are worn away so need replaced.
And I noticed, for the first time a grease nipple over the pin, which has never been used, in fact the pin is totally dry.
Next thing is the fan belt pulley wheel or rather the nut that holds it on. It was loose as.
Took the nut off and realised that it's possible to change the oil seal behind it thus stopping the oil leaking out!
I'll be on to the Zetor dealers on Monday with a list of bits needed.
At least after dismantling the heavy front end it should be easier to put it back on bit by bit.
There we go, one thing always leads to another


Reading over my first post reminded me that it was because I couldn't get it off because of the pulley wheel in the first place!

Just done the same on my 6745, except i did not have the problem with broken or stripped bolts.
However my pivot pin required replacement and a 60 tonne press and a gas torch to get the old one out.

Planning to re assemble today if the rain holds off.

i found it easier to remove the diff first and then the front casting and pivot yoke last, but the 3545 may be a little different.

an as i type it is raining again
what happened to summer ..... it was hot and sunny for the 4 weeks i was out of town, but has rained every day since i got home 5 days ago, and i am back at work on Tuesday ...... Grrrrrrrrrrr

Summer? You must be in Ozz or NZ then?
And 4 weeks dry! We're lucky if we get 4 days dry in a row here in Wales
I drifted (lovely word -- meaning you knock seven bells out of it with a bl@@dy big hammer) out the axle pin and changed the bushes but it wouldn't bash back in at the back until I put the 4 bolts back in tight , hit it,, tightened up bolts, hit it, etc. Then it went OK.
Changed the oil seal behind the pulley wheel and changed the fuel filter too (cripes!) next is the track rod arm end then


i,ll probably not have to do anything again for the next 10 years.
Must say it's a pleasure working on the tractor every thing is so straight forward.

Summer? You must be in Ozz or NZ then?
And 4 weeks dry! We're lucky if we get 4 days dry in a row here in Wales

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Yes, NZ
only i live in the Manawatu (lower central north island) and we seem to get more rain than sun the last few years.

Between showers, I managed to get the pivot yoke and front diff all bolted back together yesterday with no dramas, new Pin, new Bushes and new Grease nipples
I had forgotten how bloody heavy the front axle is on the 6745, ........ it was about 6 months ago i pulled it off ..... not helping i was working on the gravel (ankle deep in water) where the shed is "supposed" to be ..... and the front tyres are full of water!
Eventually got the 8 bolts and 2 dowels lined up and the diff bolted back on.
Now just need to reassemble all the steering, and panels.

Send that rain over the ditch to me, I wouldn't have had an inch of rain in the last 6 months, and have had some real hot days. It was 45* in the shade here yesterday, 20% humidity, and 35km/hr winds

I too need to replace the front axle bushes, dreading getting that damn pin out though!

I too need to replace the front axle bushes, dreading getting that damn pin out though!

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Take the axle yoke off and drift 69) it out

Yep, will do. I just wish Zetor had designed such a high load bushing with grease seals so that the grease wasn't pushed out instantly!!

Yep, will do. I just wish Zetor had designed such a high load bushing with grease seals so that the grease wasn't pushed out instantly!!

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Pretty much need to grease them every week if in regular use :-\
But mine has the opposite problem, will be sitting for weeks at a time unused.
Planning to put a frost plug in the hole on mine to keep the grease in and the dirt out.