pitman arm

[louieglen]

Pitman arms, with new balls welded on, is there any danger there? Thanks in advance

[johnbuckley]

No problem so long as welding done correctly. (IMHO!)

[slammin]

Welded by a top notch welder with the right equipment shouldn't be a problem. However, Berts and Brattons both sell new forged steel shorten pitmans for less than $40.00 Brattons sells a new stock length arm for $41.65 I would go that route. In fact I will be buying one of the new short pitmans for my 29.

[redmodelt]

2X's what slammin said. Snyders sells them too.

[George Miller]

It would not use it. I have seen some fail. Every ones life depends on a weld that who knows who did it.

[eagle]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

If in doubt, bring it to a competent welder you trust and have him inspect it. Won't cost a dime. Better yet, if in doubt, buy a new one!

[figment]

Call A & L. They do new balls for some of the other suppliers. Quality work .

[johnbuckley]

Does anyone know if new RHD pitman arms are now available?

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by figment

Call A & L. They do new balls for some of the other suppliers. Quality work .

I agree with that.

This brings me back to reflect on an experience I had back in 1980.

I had sent my pitman arm to someone at the time who advertised in Model A News or the Restorer at the time.

They advertised that they could weld new balls on to make my arm like new. WOW...Just what I wanted. So I did.

Drove the car from Walla Walla down to Chico, California the summer of 1980 and then returned home. As I was just coming into Bend, Oregon I lost my steering...What the heck!

Go it to the side of the road and inspected it and found out that the pitman arm ball that was welded on to the pitman had broken loose.

It was a scary situation.

Thank God a member of the Model A Club there at the time came by and we went to his place and he gave me a good pitman arm so I could get back to Walla Walla.

Never again will I use a welded on ball on the pitman arm or the other steering arms on the Model A Ford.

I have used the ones that A and L redo with no problems (knock on wood)!

Pluck

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

Does anyone know if new RHD pitman arms are now available?

I would think that A and L could do the RHD arms as well as the LHD arms!

Pluck

[History]

I would agree with both opinions on this matter. If you need one and can't or don't know a PROFESSIONAL welder I would buy a new one. If you know a certified professional welder there shouldn't be a problem. If you know a clown who never admits he doesn't know what he's doing, , ,, ,,,,,,,

[quickchange]

John , we produce a short version RHD one in NZ, Only available in USA from Arizona Model A .

[steve s]

I was unable to mount a new Pitman arm that I recently purchased from Snyders, so I resorted to a re-balled original that I had in my backup stuff. However, the ball is not polished so I'm sort of concerned about how my plastic EZ Steer components are going to hold up.

The problem was getting the bolt thru the holes after slipping the arm onto the steering box shaft. Are all of the new ones made by the same person?

[Ron in Quincy]

I installed a Snyder new short pitman arm on both my 29 Roadster and 30 Coupe. I did not have a problem installing the retaining bolt.

The 30 Coupe with the 2 Sector Steering Gear steers like I have power steering. Most happy with the new Snyder short pitman arms, well worth the cost, and I do not have to worry about a weld failure.

Ron

[quickchange]

Im with Ron, Go new, ones we have fitted no problem LHD & RHD, Round balls fit holes nice & tight ? Think Ford shortened them up in 32 ,

[Tom Wesenberg]

If they are new balls welded on by A&L then you are OK. If the arm was drilled and welded, then I wouldn't trust it.

I welded my original worn balls and filed them round, but it was way too time consuming, so the next ones will be done by A&L.

[katy]

FWIW, in some jurisdictions it's illegal to weld up steering components.

[CarlG]

I wouldn't / didn't take the chance. New ones are relatively inexpensive, probably less than paying someone to weld up or repair an old one.

[glenn in camino]

I use an original, welded in the worn spots and hand filed back to round. They work fine and are still one piece.

[Ron in Quincy]

Glenn in Camino,

55 years ago that is the way I use to repair the balls on the steering arms, takes a lot of time but as you said they are one piece. I still like the new Snyder short pitman arm and think that is the way to go.

Ron