Can't get my peerless diff apart.

I'm trying to open up the Peerless diff in my Massey Ferguson 1200 garden tractor, and it's fighting me. I have all the case-half bolts out, and the brake drum off the left side. Something is holding it together inside. From what I can tell those wheel hubs are not what's holding it up, and besides I don't think those are coming off at all. What am I missing here?

was there any clip or bolt holding the hubs to the axle? I think you have to remove the hubs to split the case, the halfshafts probably slide thru the axle sleeves

There is an 1/8 between the hubs and the axle tubes, and the tubes arn't hitting the hubs when I try to separate it. It's hanging up somewhere else. I also removed the 4 bolts holding each axle tube on,and those won't come apart either.

Your going to have to remove hubs to split it anyhow.. the diff is a bolted shut diff. Not like your typical vertical input.

The axle shaft is probably your problem.  They leave a gap between the hub and outer axle tube so they don't rub together durning operation, but that allows the axle to get craped up in that area of (the gap).  Then with the axle being craped up (rusted) the bearing in the axle tube cant slide over it.

The hubs will need to come off.  Theres something in the center of the hub holding them on.  Once you get the hubs off clean up the axle stub sticking out.   Then if the trans axle has bolt on axle tubes (it kinda looks like it  in the pic) I'd take the time to unbolt them and get them off the axles.  You never know if there is a snap ring in there.  Then I would pull the cases apart.

On a side note I have a transaxle that looks like that, if you cant get it apart I can try mine but it will be later in the week before I can get to it.

About to go back out and try it. The axle tubes do bolt on, and those don't want to come off either. I'll try to take the hubs off, but I think my big puller is at my friend's shop.

Have a good look in here---> http://www.wfmfiles.com/download/Tecumseh-Peerless_Motion_Drive_System_-_Transmissions_&_Differentials(691218).pdf

Worked on it for a few hours tonight. I got the "snap ring" off the end of the axle, but I can't get the hub off without my big puller, and probably using my oxy torch. Will try again tomorrow.

Well the oxy/acetylene torch and my large jaw puller still didn't budge it. Gonna grab a flange-style puller for tomorrow and try again.

Grabbed a flange style puller tonight. I think this axle is in there like Excalibur. All I succeeded in doing was pulling one of the wheel studs right through the hub. Going to give it one more chance tomorrow with longer bolts then I'm giving up on the posi idea and RTV'ing the diff back together.

Fill the cup with like 1/4" of PBlaster and leave it sit for a few days. Might help.

Yep, already did that.

go to a shop that has a 60 ton or more press, that has always worked for me.

1997 Murray wrote:

go to a shop that has a 60 ton or more press, that has always worked for me.

This.

Id say you could support the hub and air hammer it, but that might cause damage.

Press it out. Or you could try the candle wax method... Thats how i got the stuck woodruff keys outta my axle.

Soak it in Vinegar!   

I had some stubborn hubs on mine, one I used a pickle fork and air hammer to get off and the other I actually cut off with an oxy torch.

heat and a BFH (big f'en hammer) a dead blow hammer may be better so you dont crack anything

My vote is on a large hydraulic press, with heat and the wax trick (or soak in PB Blaster for a while). This combination of previously mentioned methods should get the hub off without damaging either component. Just be sure to hang the transaxle below the hub and press the axle downward. Have a soft landing prepared for the transaxle too!

Good luck!! And keep us posted.