What's this stuff about 169 discussions no longer being posted here on the Main Forum AND WORSE YET - maybe the 169 is an off topic tractor. There sure enough is discussions here about 169's. Heck, they are the same as the rest of the 1x9 line up cept for the engine, the hour meter, and the decals. As for being off topic - WELL, it might be the King of the Line Up, but it sure as heck ain't off topic.
I think things have been sorta quiet on here recently and just not to much posting. At least not much I could address.
In fact, I'm surprised Bill J's post didn't have a "Quick Question". I been wondering about the 1650 project.
And ole Tom H with your brand new squished tires, where were you about 15 years ago? I got the T-shirt for those things. I'm betting they were front tires.
Now, about the collar on the front axle frame channel. I believe the Service manual talks about checking it and "replacing" as necessary. I remember early in my days where I had a sloppy axle and thought one of those collars was the problem. I believe they are or were available but they did have to be welded to the channel. In my situation at the time, and everyone after I discovered there really was no problem with the collar - it was really the channel had spread open, along with the pin itself being worn. Squeezing the channel back together, and installing a new pin always solved my problem. I had seen someone else have the rear collar poppped out, and I believe they just re-welded it back on the channel. And for what it's worth, the 169 uses the same collar and channel just like the rest of the 1x9 line.