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Bar Nuthin

Front spindle slop

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Bar Nuthin

I now have 3 Wheel Horses and all of them have been rode hard and put away wet.  '73 No Name, 76 C-120, and a '79 C-141.

Each of them has slop in the front spindles when lifted off the ground.  I bought new spindles bearings for the C-120, and it took care of the slop at the wheel, but I still have some slop at the cross axle.

I just picked up the other 2 tractors and haven't gotten into them yet, but at a minimum, they'll be getting new bearings.

 

My question is, how much free play is acceptable at the spindle/axle before it's a concern? It seems to be pretty common on every old tractor I've looked at.

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ebinmaine

I'm not sure I could answer you with a particular specification but you want it to be as close to zero as possible.

 

At the recommendation of the folks here on the site, several years ago I bought a 7/8 reamer along with appropriate 3/4 ID bushings. Make sure you get the flanges as thin as possible.

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Bar Nuthin
3 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I'm not sure I could answer you with a particular specification but you want it to be as close to zero as possible.

 

At the recommendation of the folks here on the site, several years ago I bought a 7/8 reamer along with appropriate 3/4 ID bushings. Make sure you get the flanges as thin as possible.

 

Yes, I've been considering this. Just checking to make sure my OCD isn't causing me to overreact. :scared-shocked:

 

image.png.ea99f62bac68f391c3bb429dbe51d275.png

Edited by Bar Nuthin
added photo
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Bar Nuthin
5 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

Yes, I've been considering this.

 

I think I'll look for a short piece of 3/4" rod to use as a gauge to decide how much of the play is from the spindle vs the axle.

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ebinmaine

Center pins are easily reproduced as well.  

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ri702bill

I use the milling machine to fix a front axle, with an upgrade or two.

First setup is to drill / ream the pivot thru hole and install sleeve bearings from each side. I also face the the outer ends of the bore to be smooth and square to the bore. Play is taken up with shims at assembly.

Second setup - I use the pivot hole to help hold the axle square for machining. As the underside of the axle wears, there is excess vertical movement. I remove material on the bottom to allow using either a flange bearing or the thrust washer / bearing stack and only leave .010 to .015 vertical movement.

Next, the spindles them selves may have spots that are excessively worn - those get TIG welded up and filed for a proper fit.

There should be just a bit of preload on the wheel ball bearings to immobilize the inner races so they do not spin on the shaft. Shim accordingly.

Reinstall axle and install a new set of adjustable Heim rod end tierods. This allows you the center the steering wheel and get proper 1/8" toe-in alignment.

Finished product is better than new....

 

 

 

 

Setup from Left End.jpg

Finished Flycut.jpg

Edited by ri702bill
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kpinnc
7 hours ago, ri702bill said:

I use the milling machine to fix a front axle, with an upgrade or two.

 

I think I know where I'm sending my next axle to for repairs... :D

 

VERY nice setup!

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Handy Don
20 hours ago, ri702bill said:

I use the milling machine to fix a front axle, with an upgrade or two.

I got to watch part of this process on a 312 axle. As is so often the case, observing someone having the needed skills and tooling and carefully doing the multi-step setup and preparation was fascinating. Seeing the machine taking off a couple of thousandths on each pass was almost hypnotic!

 

20 hours ago, ri702bill said:

I remove material on the bottom to allow using either a flange bearing or the thrust washer / bearing stack and only leave .010 to .015 vertical movement.

Thrust bearings (standard on the swept 520-H) noticeably eased our steering effort. 

 

Importantly, while that axle was being overhauled, I discovered that one spindle’s lever arm was bent. How'd it happen? I don’t know, but that surely contributed to the wonky steering. 

Edited by Handy Don
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ebinmaine
4 hours ago, Handy Don said:

wonky

 

 

You and your technical terms......

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ri702bill
19 hours ago, Handy Don said:

wonky

Akin to cattywampus and willy-nilly.

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Bar Nuthin
16 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

You and your technical terms......

 

Coming from the guy that waggles magnets. :lol:

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ebinmaine
1 hour ago, Bar Nuthin said:

 

Coming from the guy that waggles magnets. :lol:

 

 

:ROTF:

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