Tightening A 701/702 Ball Joint

[rmaynard 16,299]

Short of replacing, is there a simple way to tightening a ball joint on a 701/702 #3940 steering link?

I have gotten rid of most of the slop in my 701 steering, but I am left with loose ball joints. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[peter lena 9,280]

@rmaynardhttps://www.google.com/search?q=wheel+horse+701+ball+joints&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS866US866&oq=wheel+horse+701+ball+joints+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigATIHCAYQIRirAtIBCTE0NDMxajBqNKgCCLACAfEFlyard6NCxzI&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8   this is easy , personally been using  heim joints for years , just about bombproof  , pete

[ri702bill 9,454]

Bob - the real solution to to toss the OE parts & go with aftermarket Heim Joint assemblies.

BUT - look at the 4 swage marks on the rod itself wrere the ball goes in. That metal was displaced in a press to capture the non-greaseable ball. You MAY be able to close up that retaining area a tad using a small punch or chisel and striking it with the BFH's Little Cousin. Work it bit by bit - you go too much, game over...

All this does is buy you a bit more time to get a proper replacement (IHMO - even buying a NOS part is one and a half steps up from buying used toilet paper...)

Edited May 28 by ri702bill

[Achto 29,405]

2 hours ago, rmaynard said:

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

I have peened the socket closed with a hammer to tighten up a few ball joints. Did this on my 855 to keep ball from falling out of the socket.

[Handy Don 14,082]

14 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

You MAY be able to close up that retaining area a tad using a small punch or chisel and striking it with the BFH's Little Cousin

 

7 minutes ago, Achto said:

I have peened the socket closed with a hammer to tighten up a few ball joints. Did this on my 855 to keep ball from falling out of the socket.

 

I’ve done this, too, but since I only run workers and dislike the idea of an unanticipated (and possibly dangerous) failure, it was as a temporary step before replacement

[Ed Kennell 42,047]

I have successfully peened the socket closed around the balls.   I also carried a plastic tie wrap for an emergency field repair.

[kpinnc 14,651]

K&B sells repros that are very nice. They come painted and ready to go. I just put one on my 701. 

 

 

[Wayne0 1,205]

8 hours ago, rmaynard said:

Short of replacing, is there a simple way to tightening a ball joint on a 701/702 #3940 steering link?

I have gotten rid of most of the slop in my 701 steering, but I am left with loose ball joints. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

 

[peter lena 9,280]

@ Wayne0 . also like SUPER LUBE on those joints , just a drop , might also check out the rest of any movable points , like the vertical shaft gear base , bushing for sloppy set up . most of my WHEEL HORSE ANYTHING , problems has been  FUNCTIONAL DETAILING , like snugging up a sloppy connection point , washers , etc . often refer to , roller stooling  around , a problem spot  with a helper moving  that very area, showing you what it needs . have heims on my clutch rods , solid / smooth . the simplest change  / addition , to movable areas has made the BIGGEST DIFFERENCE . plow frame and pto lever set up , are gold mine areas for , improvement . shoulder bolts , washers , elastic  lock nuts , let you do a  dial in a perfect , movement point , add a spring  to a buzzing pto cone , connection clip  , silence . experiment , pete   

[rmaynard 16,299]

Finally decided to make a new one. 

Problem solved.

 

 

 

[Lee1977 7,215]

On 5/28/2025 at 7:32 PM, Wayne0 said:

 

It don't get and better then this.  I put brass lined heims joints on my C-120 in 1989 they are still tight. I used 1/2" heims joint and bushed them down to 3/8" to fit in the original holes on the triangle and spindle arms. When I got my 520-H in 2019 I used the two from the spindles on my C-120 for the triangle of my 1989 520-H  for the triangle on it.  I had bought the new 1/2" heims joints with 1/2" stud installed.  the spindle arms I drilled out and tapped

for the fine tread studs on bothe tractors and also used 1/2" jam nuts on the arms. There is still no loose play in the tierods.

Here is the set I put on the 520-H, they may have cost a few dollars more, but they are worth it.

Edited June 15 by Lee1977

[rmaynard 16,299]

34 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

It don't get and better then this.  

Except that won't work on the 701 type steering which has a flat non-adjustable tie-rod bar and a non-adjustable drag link as shown below.

 

[Lee1977 7,215]

If you can use a ball joint , you can used a heims joint. They come in the size you need. You can used what ever you like, just point out a better way.