[westofb]

The axle bearings will stay in place when you pull the axles out, if they come apart, probably wise to change them out, they are bad. I've been inside both my tractors rears, the axles come out very easily, use a couple screw drivers or an open set of needle nose pliers to push the axle retaining clips off. I reinstalled mine by getting them in place with the needle nose pliers, and then pressing them on with the wooden handle of a small brass bristled parts brush. On the seals themselves I used a small pry bar to pop them out, taking care not to gouge the bearings. I did not need to replace any of the wheel bearings, but am guessing you would need to either jerk them out with a bearing puller on a slide hammer, or remove the axle tube and drive them out from the inside.

I feel your pain on the paint work, I am still in the process of getting all the parts for the 149 painted. I have been doing a few items at a time, doing them as I needed to put it back together. It breaks up the prep work and painting into smaller jobs, but I am going through a lot of mixing cups and wasting some paint doing it this way. Work has been keeping me very busy, but I plug away at it as I can, I hope to have it done in time for fall plowing and snow removal duties thus winter.

Your making good progress, keep up the good work!