The Ford Barn

springerpete · 08-04-2017, 01:38 PM

The locking pin nuts on my '29 king pins needed tightening today. After just over 500 miles I did a lube job and while I was there put a wrench on these nuts. They were tightened before the car started out on the road this spring. I was surprised that I got almost a turn on the drivers side and almost a half turn on the passengers side. Is this normal ? Bill

Jacksonlll · 08-04-2017, 03:50 PM

Probably means that they were not tightened enough to begin with. Make sure you dont have them in backwards.

Synchro909 · 08-04-2017, 05:22 PM

Don't over tighten those nuts or you will stretch the eye in the axle and ruin it. The Model A front axle is not very strong. A stretched eye will give the same symptoms as worn king pin bushes, only it virtually can't be fixed. Bushing is out of the question because the axle doesn't have enough "meat".

Chuck Sea/Tac · 08-04-2017, 08:50 PM

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If you have to tighten again, then what synchro said is happining.
I pulled it pretty much thru on my car. Tried several crazy tricks to make it work for the season. I drilled a hole thru the axle, thinking of pinning it, but when the drill hit the king pin, that was it. So I stuck my arc welder in the hole and welded the king pin to the axle. It actually worked and held until winter. Because it was basically a spot weld it came apart easy, and was able to reuse the kingpin in the new axle. All caused from the end holes wallowed out which let the king pin wobble in the axle and would eventually loosen the locking pin.
Always check the axle eyes and perch holes when buying an axle.

08-04-2017, 01:38 PM	#1
springerpete Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Central Maine Posts: 644	Locking pin nut The locking pin nuts on my '29 king pins needed tightening today. After just over 500 miles I did a lube job and while I was there put a wrench on these nuts. They were tightened before the car started out on the road this spring. I was surprised that I got almost a turn on the drivers side and almost a half turn on the passengers side. Is this normal ? Bill

08-04-2017, 03:50 PM	#2
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Locking pin nut Probably means that they were not tightened enough to begin with. Make sure you dont have them in backwards.

08-04-2017, 05:22 PM	#3
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Locking pin nut Don't over tighten those nuts or you will stretch the eye in the axle and ruin it. The Model A front axle is not very strong. A stretched eye will give the same symptoms as worn king pin bushes, only it virtually can't be fixed. Bushing is out of the question because the axle doesn't have enough "meat". __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

08-04-2017, 08:50 PM	#4
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Locking pin nut Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If you have to tighten again, then what synchro said is happining. I pulled it pretty much thru on my car. Tried several crazy tricks to make it work for the season. I drilled a hole thru the axle, thinking of pinning it, but when the drill hit the king pin, that was it. So I stuck my arc welder in the hole and welded the king pin to the axle. It actually worked and held until winter. Because it was basically a spot weld it came apart easy, and was able to reuse the kingpin in the new axle. All caused from the end holes wallowed out which let the king pin wobble in the axle and would eventually loosen the locking pin. Always check the axle eyes and perch holes when buying an axle.