Question on axle pin wear limits

[EricWww]

How much wear is acceptable on the front axle pin? I bought a new axle pin for my 1450 as a "while I'm in there" project - and found it was exactly 0.750" as measured by my micrometer. The existing axle pin is .005" less and measures .745". This tells me that it has minimal wear and is still good but I could not find any spec tolerances. This tractor was only used to mow my parents' 2 acre yard and wasn't used in the last 15 years so it's had an easy life. If anything it was a good opportunity to clean out the 40 year old grease in there. Hate to prematurely change out still good parts.

I thought it was worn because the axle has some front to back "rocking" play. Is this normal? If not - will the axle squeeze mod take care of this?

[sawdustdad]

The axle play may be attributed to expansion of the channel that the axle is housed in. You can use a 3/4 inch bolt, a couple washers and a nut to squeeze the channel tighter to the axle (don't over squeeze it!) so that the axle will pivot right to left, but won't wiggle in the channel.

Also, be sure to adjust the steering gear box to take up slack there--both with the follower stud and the large pivot bolt hat goes through the gear box. Both of those should be adjusted to reduce slop. Finally, look at the tie rod ends and assess if there is looseness there that needs to be addressed.

[EricWww]

Originally Posted by sawdustdad

The axle play may be attributed to expansion of the channel that the axle is housed in. You can use a 3/4 inch bolt, a couple washers and a nut to squeeze the channel tighter to the axle (don't over squeeze it!) so that the axle will pivot right to left, but won't wiggle in the channel.

Thanks for the reply- yup- bought the grade 8 6" bolt from TSC already, plus the nuts and washers. Oddly- they had the fine thread version of the bolt (grade 8 and 6") but not the nut not even in grade 2 or 5. I will try the axle squeeze.

Also, be sure to adjust the steering gear box to take up slack there--both with the follower stud and the large pivot bolt hat goes through the gear box. Both of those should be adjusted to reduce slop. Finally, look at the tie rod ends and assess if there is looseness there that needs to be addressed.

Yup, got the steering box apart. Replacing both tie rods and drag link. The follower stud has only slight wear, so I'll reshape it. Also got the Nice 606 thrust bearing. Of course I didn't realize there was a mod for the upper bushing but I don't have the bearing. There is a Motion Industries not too far but they're closed on Sat and Sun and I was planning on having my tractor mowing by Sunday...

[john hall]

Here is one I made compared to the original out of a 129. I had quite a bit more wear than yours. You won't see much gain if it was only wore .005", but every little bit helps.
On a technical note, that's a pair of calipers, not a micrometer--couldn't resist not pointing that out, its the machinist in me.

[Berwil]

My local tsc had a spot for the upper column bearing in the hardware drawers in the bolt isle; of course they were out of stock when I needed one though. The upper bearing is easy enough to drop in at a later date.

Bill

[mortten]

Originally Posted by Berwil

My local tsc had a spot for the upper column bearing in the hardware drawers in the bolt isle; of course they were out of stock when I needed one though. The upper bearing is easy enough to drop in at a later date.

Bill

You can use a wheel bearing also.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by EricWww

How much wear is acceptable on the front axle pin?

Lots. Tons. You can measure it with a tape measure.

Originally Posted by EricWww

but I could not find any spec tolerances.

That's because there isn't a "spec" for it. This is not a "critical" item requiring a wear spec.
Sort of like when do you replace mower blades? When they're shot right? No wear "bar" or markings on them. "Replace when worn to here" type thing. You just replace them when they appear to be worn out. So.... if your axle pin looks and feels worn out... replace it. If it looks good..... put the old one back in.

[sawdustdad]

.005 movement 2 inches from the pivot center will allow about .05 inch movement at the wheel. Probably not enough to worry about.

I'd start to be concerned with wheel play at 0.1 inch and definitely be making repairs with anything approaching .25 inch (which would correspond to .025 wear--or .725 inch.

I've never seen anything that severe in terms of pin wear--most of the steering slop is in the channel and steering gear/links.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by john hall

Here is one I made compared to the original out of a 129. I had quite a bit more wear than yours. You won't see much gain if it was only wore .005", but every little bit helps.
On a technical note, that's a pair of calipers, not a micrometer--couldn't resist not pointing that out, its the machinist in me.

Ma-she-inist:
Make it wif a snag grinder,
measure it wif a cee clamp
an fit it wif a sledge hammer.

[EricWww]

I stand corrected- calipers.. I do have a micrometer too

Local TSC had bearings but not one that fit.. just figures.

Anyway- I did the axle squeeze project and put the old pin back in with fresh grease. Much tighter now! But ran into another snag with the steering which I'll start another thread about...