bellevillerod 835 #1 Posted March 30, 2019 Hey guy's So I am in the process of restoring my 68 Commando 8. I'm checking the front end during the tear-down for my punch list. Tractor was used as a snow plow for most of it's life. The front end wheel bearing are shot so the tractor had some "play" when driving. As I start to take apart I notice that I have a lot of play in the front axle at the main pivot pin. So the question is how much is normal? Should I take all the front to back slop out of it? I know...it's a garden tractor..not going on a road trip, but the wobble while driving it bug's me. Just curious of how tight the pin fit into the frame when it was new. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 43,710 #2 Posted March 30, 2019 I just did a thread on this a few days ago. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,772 #3 Posted March 30, 2019 If it bothers you, it's too loose. Many are repaired with bronze bushings. I also used shim washers and replaced the pin with a bolt to tighten the support plates against the shim washers and axle reducing the front to back slop. Bushings also help on the steering shaft 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 43,710 #4 Posted March 30, 2019 The most common thing I see is the tab that holds the pin to the frame breaks 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevillerod 835 #5 Posted March 30, 2019 Thanks guys, you have given me some idea's to play with. I like the way you added a plate with a bronze bushing. I have to make up a couple of smaller bushing for the hood hinge as the plastic ones are gone. LOL ya I guess if it bothers me it's too loose. I can't even stand loose change rattling in my car when I'm driving. Going to read through your thread squonk and see how you addressed it. Thanks 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 72,365 #6 Posted March 31, 2019 @bellevillerod @jebbear has been restoring his (856?) And done a lot of phenomenal work with bushings. Might want to check out his thread. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevillerod 835 #7 Posted March 31, 2019 6 hours ago, ebinmaine said: @bellevillerod @jebbear has been restoring his (856?) And done a lot of phenomenal work with bushings. Might want to check out his thread. Wow Thanks, Ok now I see where the bar has been set. I will have to exceed that now thanks to you Ebinmaine......lol. But really that is some nice work there. I have never really documented the work I do when I'm bringing stuff back from the brink. I just do it and call it good. I like restoring all kinds of old things. Anything that has meaning to the family from either use or being passed down . I am thinking that on this tractor I will start a restoration thread with pic's. I think that in doing so it will cause me to slow down, do it right or at least too the best of my ability. Most importantly I will get to learn new methods and tricks from all of you all. There will be more questions than answers from me as we go down this road. So thanks in advance for all the help you guys are going to be giving me. Here is a fan I did for the wife the other day, her dad had used it as a footstool and she couldn't toss it out. Ya know you are getting old if you remember these fans and sitting on them watching TV. Anything is game for clean up around here. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 72,365 #8 Posted March 31, 2019 22 minutes ago, bellevillerod said: Here is a fan I did That's beautiful.... We'd all love to to see you document the build. Pictures ya know. We likes our pictures.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 66,576 #9 Posted April 1, 2019 15 hours ago, ebinmaine said: That's beautiful.... We'd all love to to see you document the build. Pictures ya know. We likes our pictures.... Yep, I like reading. Especially reading the pictures! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevillerod 835 #10 Posted April 1, 2019 2 hours ago, pullstart said: Especially reading the pictures! Careful what you ask for....I like taking pics. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 72,365 #11 Posted April 1, 2019 3 minutes ago, bellevillerod said: Careful what you ask for....I like taking pics. Hehehehe That's okay sir. I'm sure it isn't too difficult to figure out that there is a huge number of, say, five year olds, on this site and we all enjoy looking at the pictorials. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
