Sheared what I'm hoping is a "replaceable" bolt on my front hitch

[dfgasner]

Hi All,

So I just have what I'm hoping is a simple question.

I was installing the front hitch on a 3225 for a snowblower. It's a used front hitch that's seen plenty of use, but it's still mostly yellow . However, after mounting it, I decided I wanted to take the "hitch" part off for mowing the rest of the Summer.

Well, me being a dumb impatient "kid" (I'm 26 and I fear I'll never learn), I sheared the end off of the "bolt" that holds one of the pivot pins in place on the bottom. From what I can tell, there is a "tube" that runs from one side to the other, and what I'm hoping is a long double ended "bolt" inside that tube. However, my punch and a 4lbs maul made no movement. I'm hoping that's just because it's so rusted in there that there's no moving it and it's not that it's actually some welded stud on either side.

I checked the parts diagram (which I'll try to attach), and it just shows that piece of the hitch as one big piece...which has me worried.

Can anyone confirm that it is indeed a long bolt that runs all the way through? If that's the case, I'll probably take it back off, turn it vertical, and try and get some PB Blaster to trickle down in there.

As a last result I figured I'd just grind off the tube, and replace it.

Thoughts?

PS: Sorry if this is the wrong place for this post or if it's been asked before...I tried searching for various things and couldn't come up with anything.

Thanks in advance
Davey

[ol'George]

Just looking @ the diagram, and having experience of things, it could be put in with a shoulder on the inner sides and resistance welded.
Might have to cut it off, drill out and replace with a rod threaded on each end with enough thread to a nut on the back side, but this is all a guess.
Post a good pix would be a better thing to do, and we all can look.

[DoubleO7]

Or............
Just abandon the thought of getting the threaded part that sheared off back.
Rotate part #4 enough that you can drill a new hole in the side plate and use a hex head bolt from the far side to put the knob on.

If there is room to do that.

[dfgasner]

Sorry it's been a busy week, just got back to this last night.

Thank you both for your suggestions.

I thought it was a great suggestion to just rotate the pin and drill a new hole. I figured if I left the welded "tube" on then I wouldn't have to worry about any structure it was providing, and so I just used 2 smaller bolts, one for each side to hold the pins in place.

Looks like it should work quite nicely.

Thanks again!