102 axle pivot pin
 

Hi everyone. I took the deck off of my 102 today in order to put the blade on for winter. I had noticed the pivot pin earlier in the year but didn’t have good access to it because the mule drive was in the way. The front sticks out 1/8”. I assumed it had worked it’s way forward because I could wiggle one side of the spiral pin. I found out today that the rest of the spiral pin is intact and it’s in its original hole. I can stick a small wire clear through. I’ve done a lot of reading on here about these so the next thing I thought was that the c channel had spread but when I measure the channel it’s only 1/8” wider at the bottom than it is at the top. As near as I can tell the pin is in the rear bushing 1/4” or so. Maybe a little more. Is the back of the pin supposed to be flush with the back of the bushing?

Attachment 111637

Picture of the rear

Attachment 111638

You fail to mention if you have any slop in your steering.
It seems to me that "ONLY" 1/8 difference in the channel is a "BIG ONLY" for something that originally had 0/0" difference.
I wouldn't say that the back of the pin has to be "perfectly" flush with the bushing, but 1/4" is way too much recess.
Yes, you have a problem, but if you need the tractor and can live with it, fixing it can wait until a better time.
I don't think anything is in imminent danger of breaking or falling apart.
Just my :TwoCents:, others may differ.

I forgot to add, if you can wiggle one side of the spirol pin, it is obviously broken.
I would try to drive it out and replace with a new one.

It’s likely that the pivot pin is seized in the axle and the spiral pin is broken.

Thanks for the advice. Good news, I got the broken spiral pin out and the pivot pin isn’t seized. I was able to drive it out fairly easy. Before I did I checked for slop like Ironman suggested. I don’t really have anything to compare it to but in my opinion, it was pretty minimal. I checked side to side and forward and backwards. With the axle out of the way I took some better measurements. The c channel is 1/16” wider at the bottom than at the top. I could squeeze it together with a clamp but that will still only give me 5/16” bearing in the rear bushing. The pivot pin measures 4 1/2” long. Is it possible that this is how it was originally? Does anyone know how long the pivot pin is supposed to be? The pivot pin shows some wear on the rearward end. The insides of the bushings feel smooth and regular to me. Regardless, what do you guys think? I could replace the pivot pin with the bolt that I’ve been reading about. I don’t have the oil pan in the way on my 10 horse.

Another idea I had. If I center the pivot pin in the front and rear bushings it’s recessed about 1/8” in both ways. I could try drilling a new hole in the pivot pin. I’d have to drill it nice and straight though.

Tag,
Seeing as how you are a fellow Iowan......
PM me your address
I'll send you a new pin with a new spirol pin as well.
Squeeze that C channel together a bit.
Use a long bolt and some washers.

Got it done and it went well. Thanks for the advice and especially to finsruskw for the new pins. I definitely didn’t have a grease fitting in my axle but I do now. I ended up using a piece of 3/4” all thread to squeeze the channel with. After squeezing, tapping and releasing a handful of times I went about an 1/8”too far. I had a feeling that might happen but I was able to move the nuts to the inside of the channel and use the all thread as a spreader.
Attachment 111730