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Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:13 am
by Tom Scott
We have a member that is curious if anyone has repaired a Super front axle with excessive slop at the pivot. I have not, but here are my thoughts on it:

The parts listing doesn't show any bushing (plain bearing) in the axle, so it is just the bolt through the cast iron axle. The bolt is hardened steel, so in all likelihood the axle will wear much faster than the bolt. I suspect there is plenty enough meat in that area to install a bushing. McMaster-Carr is probably the best/quickest route to find an appropriate bushing. I think you want to look for a bushing that fits over the bolt with minimal clearance and has about a an 1/8" wall thickness.

The thru bolt is 3/4" diameter Grade 5. In actuality the 3/4" bolt should actually measure a few thousandths less than 3/4", so my guess is you want a bushing that is 3/4" id x 1" od x (length required).

The correct procedure to install would be to drill on a mill to nearly the correct size and ream to finished fit. Finished fit should be a light interference fit so the bushing doesn't spin in the axle. The only movement should be between the bushing and the bolt. Most people will not have access to a mill, so you can either take to a local machine shop or look into drilling on a drill press and finishing with a hand reamer. I'm hardheaded so I would be looking for a hand reamer to fit the bushing, but likely much less hassle to just let a machine shop fight this battle for you. Final assembly of the bushing into the axle should be with a shop press.

The bushing will also have to be drilled to allow grease to get in. It is likely best to drill through the grease fitting hole after pressing the bushing into the axle. Finally, if the bolt has any wear at all, replace with another Grade 5 and reinstall.

Any other experiences with this job would be welcomed!

Re: Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 11:47 am
by dale campbell
the may not be worn much in the axle it might just need the bolt tightened up some if the axle is moving front to back when steering

Re: Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:23 pm
by dag1450
I'll second Dale's reply. Grease it up good....and snug that big castle nut. Don't forget the two "guide" bolts on each side of cross member. This should be enough unless the hole is really worn out.....in that case... maybe look for another axle.

Re: Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 9:13 am
by Tom Scott
Yeah, I skipped right ahead to "how to repair", but it may not need fooling with. I would make sure the center bolt is tight enough, but you don't want that too tight. The wear won't be in a place that the center bolt would likely gain much clearance, although it might be able to use some snugging after years of service. You just don't want to overtighten this bolt as it will bind the axle and not really correct the slop.

The right and left guide bolts dag mentioned are the important ones; they should be adjusted until they both just touch the axle at the same time. I would then check the adjustment with the front jacked up and make sure the axle has complete full range of motion up and down without binding.

Even fairly worn isn't likely to hurt much, it is a joint that moves a very short distance and a little slop won't hurt anything.

My 2182-2 has a lot of slop in a worse place, where the spindles go through the axle, and I just keep using it. It's not right, but I haven't had time to fool with it, so I just keep using it that way. My justification is that it isn't putting a great deal of wear on anything else, so I'll get to it when I get to it.

Re: Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 8:11 pm
by dag1450
So Tom.....to fix that....go to the top of this thread :lol:
No really...the old wide frames have a replaceable bushings right where u need it. I don't think the supers had that?

Re: Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 8:29 pm
by Tom Scott
No, of course SGT have bushings for the spindles. But when the bushings turn in the axle instead of the spindle turning in the bushing, the cast iron axle wears first.

Cub got sloppy, didn't make the fit tight enough to make sure the bushings didn't turn.

Re: Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 6:58 pm
by dag1450
"Cub got sloppy" :lol: :lol: that's a good one Tom. Maybe you got sloppy with the lack of grease! If u grease things once every couple years.... they don't wear out like yours.....
Maybe along with the plastic hood came plastic bushing.....that's what happened. See....I have oil filled bronze.....you have oil turned into plastic! :roll:
This thread is over!

Re: Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 2:52 pm
by DirtySteve
I had a Super with sloppy cast iron for the left steering knuckle. The top split bronze bushing migrated down to the bottom split bronze bushing. Could not grease it because the zerk was blocked by the bronze bushing. I had new split bronze bushings from Motion Industries. I was going to machine a bushing to put in between which would allow the knuckle to be greased. Figured it would be tough to keep the center of the bushing from getting roughed up and full of burrs. Finally said the hell with it and deployed a time honoured cheap shim material. Beer can!! I spent a nickle. Damn thing is greasable now!!!! Is it full proof? Probably not. Will the beer can shim deteriorate? Most likely. But I can always empty another hop soda to try again!! :beer:

Would be awesome to get the center pivot machined and place a bronze bushing in there.

Re: Super Axle pivot slop and repair

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:16 pm
by dag1450
Yeah good job Steve. I have done creative shimming too.....lol