Source for 5/8 hardened steel

[mcanders]

I am trying to replace the shaft that holds the steering gear, and clutch pedal on my fathers Bolens 1000. The old shaft was bent from the previous owner, possibly from removing incorrectly or hitting a solid object?
I have tried several bearing supply houses locally, and several metal shops. I have looked online and cant find any hardened steel. Only cold rolled rods here, they are more oval than round and the gear wont slide like it should.

Any ideas, or should I get an original part?

Here's a shot from the manual.

[bontai Joe]

I've had good luck with McMaster-Carr in the past for such things.

http://www.mcmaster.com/

I just checked and if you go to McMaster-Carr and then search for "steel shaft" you will be presented with several choices from cold rolled, to precision chrome plated to stainless steel. Pick what fits your budget.

[mcanders]

Great, this is exactly what I was looking for. I even have several chioces on length. I did not want to buy 10ft of the stuff. Thanks

[chipmaker]

What exactly are you calling hardened steel? Steel is usually machined first then hardened to the spec needed. Unless you went with O1 or A1 shafting which is as round as your gonna find shafting, pretty much any cold rold C1018 series of steel would be as good as necessary for what your looking, and only take a lathe to true it up. Usually a hardened material has to be machine ground to finish spec. Odds are Bolens probably used HR or CR in their manufactuer of the tractor to begin with......Dealing with a hardened material is a headache when it comes to fitting or welding or drilling, as the usual run of the mill tools found in home shops just don't work right. Even close spec material is far from being an identical item, and may require final fitting and machine work, although there is times one does stumble on a piece thats just right......lots of luck

[mcanders]

I just wanted something a little harder and rounder to make things easier. As far as the machining, welding, fabrication goes, I work at a local Technical school that teaches welding, hydralics, metal working, and has an Okuma training center. So I get give the students little projects to work on. The teachers dont seem to mind! I dont either.
I try to stay out of there hair most of the time, thats why I wanted to have the right material before I showed up in front of the door grinning with my parts in hand.

[mcanders]

I also go through the metal scrap bins at the end of the day. I found a perfect stainless 5/8" bar of about 10 feet. I went to the car to get my pocket hacksaw and the bar laughed at it. I just walked away, it must have been for some kind of track system, it had little nylon rollers that went with it.

The McMaster-Carr site is awesome! They have everything...so far.

[sixchows]

mcanders
Those parts are readily available and cheap! Easier to just get a used one. Save the metal shop favors for NLA parts.

[mcanders]

I have the machine tool teacher at the school turning one down as we speak.
He said as long as he can work it into his class projects, he doesnt mind doing anything for me. And plus the metal, and labor is free! I'll treat him to coffee and doughnuts or course...

[chipmaker]

Cheap is good, FREE is best there is.

About the only thing in todays world thats free anymore is advice in forums, or annual plants in regards to being cheap.

[mcanders]

sweet! I just picked up the shaft from the machine tool teacher. It seems I got upgraded to stainless for the price of nothing! I will definately be taking pictures of the new shaft and posting here once I get to my camera at home. Thanks for the tips and info guys.

[sixchows]

So you got the shaft w/o getting the shaft! ROF

[mcanders]

Here it is guys.

[sixchows]

Looks good!

Did you try to fix the old one? Looks like it's been heated.