Obsolete pins & bushings

[scott-ak]

I need to make some steering pins and bushings for an old obsolete Gradall 534B. Replacement parts are not available. This will be the last repair to the steering. Anything done will last longer than the rest of the machine.

The pins look to be standard sizes, 1" to 1.5" diameters. Figure I'll cut them from 4140 or 4130 bar stock (the owner wants cold rolled ...) They will only need some grease holes/groves and a couple need a grove at one end for the retention plates.

If the housings are damaged they plan to just weld in the bushings, there will be no line boring

What material would you use for the bushings?

 

[moonlight machine]

I would use Thompson 60 case rod for the pins and most any steel, 1018 or such for the bushings. The difference in hardness will make the repair last a long time. The Thompson rods have a hard surface and are soft inside. I have used it to make king pins for old cars for years.

 

[EmGo]

I would use Thompson 60 case rod for the pins and most any steel, 1018 or such for the bushings.

If you can get it easily, I'd go cast iron for bushings. Different materials against each other tend to work better.

You're going to get a lot of more complex suggestions in about ten seconds but I take it you just want to get through this as quick and easy as possible ...

 

[Limy Sami]

If you can get it easily, I'd go cast iron for bushings. Different materials against each other tend to work better.

You're going to get a lot of more complex suggestions in about ten seconds but I take it you just want to get through this as quick and easy as possible ...

Not to weld the bushes in EG - unless you know something I don't.

 

[EmGo]

Not to weld the bushes in EG - unless you know something I don't.

hey, you Brits like to use brass rod ! Almost invented it, I thought. Rickman, and all those other guys !

 

[memphisjed]

Not to weld the bushes in EG - unless you know something I don't.

Press in bushings. Cu-fe is common, cast iron press fit are days out on misumi.

 

[Limy Sami]

I will quote from the OP
''If the housings are damaged they plan to just weld in the bushings, there will be no line boring. ''

I could be wrong (I often am) but (short of OA bronze welding) I don't know of a simple easy ''in the field '' method of welding CI bushes in to steel parts .

 

[gbent]

Lo buck? I'd scour my obsolete material inventory (edited from junk pile) for an appropriately sized piece of cylinder shaft. I only save induction hardened chrome plated. Then I'd use whatever size piece of mild steel or heavy walled tubing was most convenient to make the bushings. I'd leave alloy bushings off the list anywhere welding is mentioned.

 

[GregSY]

PVC

This sounds like one of those jobs the customer doesn't want to spend a lot of time or money or effort on...and no fancy materials. They just want it done fast, cheap, and to last forever. That's all.

 

[EmGo]

I could be wrong (I often am) but (short of OA bronze welding) I don't know of a simple easy ''in the field '' method of welding CI bushes in to steel parts .

There's brazing rod for both MIG and TIG, besides gas. It may not work very well, I'm not even a beginner welder, much less an ace, but they do make it so someone must use it.

Maybe cast iron is not the best choice but should be easy and cheap, which is what he wants. I just hate the idea of steel on steel.

 

[Phil in Montana]

You need lawyerproof steel sae 101, bought at any courtroom in your state, a little pricy about 100k a pound...

 

[Scottl]

Press in bushings. Cu-fe is common, cast iron press fit are days out on misumi.

Trouble is he said no line boring so presumably the bushings will be welded into oversize holes.

 

[deltap]

I would go for a much harder bushing say 1144 hardened by welding heat and a softer pin like anealed 1144 or 4140. Pins are much easier to replace than welded in bushings.

 

[gustafson]

Would a steel backed bronze bushing be a stupid idea? Turn pin to match. Grease fittings....

 

[4GSR]

Did a repair for my neighbor several years back for his JD back hole. He bought the bushings, and I made the replacement pins for him. The bushings were some kind of steel and file harden, more than likely 8620 carburized or 4140 nitrided. Might get lucky and buy the bushings from a tractor place and make the pins for them. Another thought is to buy drill bushings....

 

[Garwood]

Ideally you want hard on very hard. Soft doesn't last long.

If he wants cheap then nothing you can do. Give him cheap.

Cold rolled pins will last a few days of hard use in dirt.

 

[Superbowl]

Have you considered drilling and tapping the pin or bushing for a grease fitting? Not much extra work but will likely make the joint last forever with regular grease maintenance.

 

[Garwood]

Have you considered drilling and tapping the pin or bushing for a grease fitting? Not much extra work but will likely make the joint last forever with regular grease maintenance.

Pins and bushings all have grease fittings.

Modern stuff has seals.

Even with grease there's often high forces involved and they need to be hard to last in dirt.

 

[Superbowl]

Pins and bushings all have grease fittings.

Modern stuff has seals.

Even with grease there's often high forces involved and they need to be hard to last in dirt.

This is not modern stuff. It is a home made job to be done on the cheap.

 

[Garwood]

This is not modern stuff. It is a home made job to be done on the cheap.

A Gradall 534B has grease fittings on every pivot.

Are you suggesting the op was going to do pins and bushings and leave the ability to add grease out of his work?

And no, adding grease to a soft steel pin doesn't make it last forever.