Front radius rod ball

[dave in australia]

This was my solution to repairing the ball on the rear of the front radius rod. I didn't want to weld a new ball on, nor did I want to cut the forged piece off, build the ball up with weld, turn a new ball and then re-weld the arms back on. The following descriptors match the photos with the same number.

1. The rusty out of round original ball.
2. I made a jig for my mill which allowed the arms to hang over the side of the bed, and then tilt the mill head to suit.
3. I measured the shaft size between the U shaped und peice and the ball. It was 3/4" and figured it would be the weakest part of this, and decided to use a 3/4" UNF thread. I found an annular cutter that would leave a core the correct size.
4. I cut the old ball off, leaving a pin on which I could cut a thread.
5. After cutting the ball of, this is what I had.
6. I cheated slightly here. I would normally turn a ball in my lathe, but I don't have a ball turning fixture, so I bought five balls of the correct size. I then drilled a hole and cut a 3/4" UNF thread through each ball.
7. The finished ball, ready to be screwed on, with some loctite.
8. The finished thread on the radius rod.
9. After screwing the ball on, I drilled a hole, half into the radius rod thread, and half into the ball thread.
10. I tapped in a 3/16" roll pin.
11. Three finished radius rods, ready to be sand blasted and painted.

[Gunmetal blue2]

Nice job, wish I had a brigeport so I could fix my AA universal joint [not an A].

[mshmodela]

Very fine work! Well done.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Nice work. Now, why didn't Henry think of this!