Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-12-2014, 12:05 PM   #1
Steve Plucker
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA
Posts: 6,066
Default Restoration of King Pin holes in front axle...

Has anyone ever attempted to restore the "wallered out" holes in the front axle that accept the King Pins to true the holes up?

I wonder if Willie Higgens has ever attempted this...He is one of the restoration guru's on restoring such items.

Pluck
Steve Plucker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2014, 12:15 PM   #2
jw hash
Senior Member
 
jw hash's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Auburn Washington
Posts: 2,662
Default Re: Restoration of King Pin holes in front axle...

Steve
if they are not really bad, take a welder and make some passes on the very end of the axle let it cool, it will shrink the hole you might have to ream the hole when finished. when you get the finished then grind down your welds. it works real good
jw hash is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 01-12-2014, 12:34 PM   #3
Joe K
Senior Member
 
Joe K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cow Hampshire
Posts: 4,610
Default Re: Restoration of King Pin holes in front axle...

A local machine shop had a Model B axle in his Bridgeport that he was "sleeving" to restore the kingpin holes. He had made a nice little bracket to hold the axle through the wishbone holes and it was stretched out along the Bridgeport table.

I asked "Do you know the correct angle to set that head at?"

He says "I have Murray Fahnstock's recommendation right there..." (pointing)

He also opined that he regretted the removal of stock to place the new bushing but that the axle was so incredibly overdesigned that he didn't feel it was a problem.

"I've never had any one of the 12 or so of these that I've done come back with a complaint" he says.

He's also the machinist who pointed out that he has NEVER seen a straight Model A/B axle. "They're all curled around the wishbone mount" he says.

Joe K
__________________
Shudda kept the horse.
Joe K is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2014, 02:29 PM   #4
dave in australia
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 1,241
Default Re: Restoration of King Pin holes in front axle...

I've repaired five axles by sleeving the holes. Eight of the ten ends needed to be repaired. Out of the axles I had, these were straight, so there are straight axles, you've just got to look. I inspected these by inserting pins into the four holes and checking alignment and angles and comparing them to a diagram posted here a few years ago.
I made the sleeves in my lathe from an old A axle that was beyond repair. I figured it would be nice for it to be used to repair other A parts instead of scrapping it completely. The sleeves were then pressed into the axle, which I opened out in my mill to allow a decent size wall thickness in the sleeve. Finally, the ends were milled level to the axle and a final finish to square up any wear from loose bushes and 80 years of bad maintenance.
dave in australia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2014, 03:11 PM   #5
Pete
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wa.
Posts: 5,423
Default Re: Restoration of King Pin holes in front axle...

Magnaflux the axle before you do anything.
Sleeving is the common way to fix worn holes.

I sure wouldn't do any welding on an axle without re-heatreating it.
If you both lived through the wreck, the other guy could sue you till you were broke.
Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2014, 04:23 PM   #6
Kevin in NJ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South East NJ
Posts: 3,398
Default Re: Restoration of King Pin holes in front axle...

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Been done, but why?

If you are around a lot of A nuts odds are very good they have a good axle and they are usually cheap. Probably cheaper then the cost of a repair.

Do not forget to make sure the axle is straight. See my website for how that is done.
Kevin in NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2014, 07:28 PM   #7
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Senior Member
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,972
Default Re: Restoration of King Pin holes in front axle...

OK your point is understood Kevin but how many early front axles are available for sale, ....and if so, how much.

Steve, yes they can be repaired. We have done it several times with success as we are noticing a shortage of good core units available locally, and by the time the replacement axle is secured and shipped, the price to repair the damaged axle is not much different. To answer you directly probably hinges more on what your talents are, and what equipment you have available for you to use. Like Dave and Joe said, there are those who have the equipment to actually "restore" an axle and do not see it as a daunting task. For those that don't have those abilities, finding a suitable replacement is an option providing it is an axle that is not rare. If it is rare, see if you can find someone that can assist you.
__________________
.

BRENT in 10-uh-C
.
www.model-a-ford.com
...(...Finally Updated!! )

.
BRENT in 10-uh-C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2014, 10:14 PM   #8
redmodelt
Senior Member
 
redmodelt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 6,410
Default Re: Restoration of King Pin holes in front axle...

Spring perch holes are another place that seem to need fixing. We have an axle that the king pins are pretty good but the perch holes are a little big. We are going to try sleeve it.
There are only so many useable axles out there and when you have x number of bad ones and less of good ones there gets to be a point that you need to fix the one(s) you have.
redmodelt is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:09 PM.