[TMM]

Was playing around with my little wheel horse yesterday, and suddenly i had no steering. as it turns out, the ball popped out of the socket on this steering link. now comes the question... how do i put it back in, and make it stay in? as it is it can be snapped on and off.

i thought perhaps installing it, and then whacking the rod with the socket hole with a hammer and anvil to close the socket down again. My other thought was drilling a hole through the socket, and replacing the ball with a bolt, but that would be a sloppy fit and might bind at certain angles.

any ideas? thanks!

tmm

 

[Tencubed]

The easiest, and best, fix I know of is to replace the ball and socket.

You can find these at a number of suppliers such as McMaster Carr, W W Grainger and the like. Cut the shaft off and weld the new assembly in place.

Mike

 

[bigdodge]

I can get them threw my local hardware store. Also if you have a parts store that sells prime line lawn mower parts they should be able to get them also.

 

[Kbeitz]

You can peen it with a sharp pointed punch or slit a washer open it up and slide it over the ball and reflaten the washer and then weld the washer to the socket.
Both works well...

 

[TMM]

hmm, kbeitz, i like your idea, mainly because it requires no money and little waiting. i guess you meant to use the punch to smoosh the socket back over the ball? i think i will try that when i get some free time.

thanks
tmm

 

[Rog02]

A common problem. There are multiple fixes for it.

My old Murray came to me with this simple fix installed and it has held up for three years that I have had it.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=148461 Go to post #8 to see the fix.