So, I have a 104 and an early cyclops parts tractor sitting around. They just happened to be parked about 6' apart, so I went out and did some looking.
First of all, I want to say to the OP that you made the comment about hearing about a lot of guys doing this swap..... not to a NF tractor I doubt. Not all that uncommon of a thing to swap into an '82 styled tractor. But not a NF. I've seen a few guys move a WF axle to a NF, but not a cyclops axle. I think this is the first I've seen anyone do it.
That said, lets address some stuff. (Reference pics below.)
Double07, you were asking what is different. Well, we know for sure it sits a bit wider, but that isn't all. Lets just call the axles C (for cyclops) and the other a NF axle. The NF axle has no caster. None. Just straight up and down spindle. The C axle actually has a very positive caster to it. That in and of itself should make it return to center easier. Between the positive caster and the shape of the C axle, it does also move the front wheels forward. About 3" as a matter of fact. All that into account, the length of the drag links is very different. The NF drag link is 17" center to center of the tie rods. The C axle....15.5". That's quite a bit shorter. Just because I want to state it, I measured the pivot pins. I really thought the C axles used a larger pivot pin, but they don't. They are the same at 3/4". Now the two sets of spindles are quite different also. The C axle spindles are taller. If you notice in the pics, there is also a difference between the resting point of the pitman arm between the two by several degrees. That might account for the difference in drag arm length. (I didn't take the time to figure it out.) All in all, I think you couple the difference in axle design, and the difference in ratio of the steering column, you would lose some torque. While we are on that subject NO, you cannot use the column from a C in a NF. The C column is a tilt column. You should be able to use an '82 styled column though. Pretty sure it will swap without issue.
One more thing to the OP. You never did say how it works jacked up. Is there something binding because it is dry?? Little grease might go a long way.
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