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Upgrade time: spindles, steering, hubs, tires


Nuzzy

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My ever changing AC 912 has done it again... I've been putting plenty of hours on this ol' workhorse since my diesel swap and have been VERY pleased on the whole. However, there's always room for improvement! One area of concern was the steering; years of use had worn heavy grooves, causing the already lacking steering to become quite cumbersome, especially with a plow/blower hanging off the front. I decided I'd like to do the thrust washer/needle bearing mod (so graciously outlined on this site) and run tri ribs. I wasn't entirely sold on the 6.5 wide tri ribs that would fit my stock rims, so why not upgrade everything... lol I could have bought the 6.5s for $140ish; instead I picked up 4.0s from GCT and then hopped on to eTrailer for some 3.75x8 4 bolt rims and 1000lb 4on4 hub assemblies and spindles (standard 2000lb trailer stuff); total cost was about $150. Of course while I was ordering things, I went ahead and grabbed some 23x8.5 Deestone Ags. They may not be the greatest, but they'll suit my needs fine! Now, on to the fun! I do love a fresh pile of parts. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/Photo0228Small.jpg[/IMG] No pics of the fronts getting mounted, but they were a pain. Too small to fit in the tire machine, and the tubes I was forced to buy were slightly too large, causing a hassle trying to avoid overlaps. However, the rears fit in the tire machine just fine!! What a nice thing that is to have! [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/Photo0231Small.jpg[/IMG] I'll fill these with washer fluid later when I bring the tractor back down to retrofit my FDT blower, but that'll have to be another night. The tries were narrow enough that I couldn't get the bead to seat using the normal tricks, so out came the starting fluid and a torch to seat the beads the dangerous way. Oh well, it works. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/Photo0232Small.jpg[/IMG] When I do the washer fluid, I'll give the rims a shot of paint at that time. Then the wheel weights and chains will go back on as well. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/Photo0233Small.jpg[/IMG] Ahhhhhhh... [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/Photo0240Small.jpg[/IMG] Today I got back down to the shop to finish up. First was cutting apart the old spindles. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09909Small.jpg[/IMG] The 1" spindles just seem to dwarf the old 3/4" ones! Tacked in and check for square. I measured the angle of the stock ones at 100° so that's what I set these at. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09910Small.jpg[/IMG] And fully burned in. Used a couple passes to fill in since I had used the round stub type spindles. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09911Small.jpg[/IMG] Now for the thrust washer portion. Apparently I didn't get pics of the worn in grooves, but they were bad; I wire wheeled and then filled them in with weld. I could have sat down with hand file and worked away creating a perfectly flat area for the bottom washer to sit, but I didn't feel like it. So I as carefully as possible tacked, leveled, and burned in a thick flat washer to act as base for washer/needle bearing/washer combo. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09920Small.jpg[/IMG] Because of my thicker base washer, I had to ever so slightly widen the groove for the e-clip on the "passenger" side. It did the trick though. Here things are taking shape. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09925Small.jpg[/IMG] I had known my original supporter thingy was broken; now seemed like a great time to fix it. I tried grinding the tube stub down so I could weld a new one on, but found the metal to be of sub par quality. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/Photo0238Small.jpg[/IMG] So I made my own out of fresh new steel. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09932Small.jpg[/IMG] Now we're getting somewhere... [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09937Small.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09941Small.jpg[/IMG] Bearings packed and hubs on. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09942Small.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09945Small.jpg[/IMG] Tires on checking for clearance; perfect at full stuff, full lock. [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09946Small.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09949Small.jpg[/IMG] All buttoned up for now. I know a lot of guys like wide tires, and I do admit they look cool and serve a great purpose for flotation. However, my uses are mowing and more importantly snow removal. I'm from the narrow tire more ground pressure for traction club, so the 8.5s seemed a good fit for me; I do really like the stance of narrow tractor looking tires! [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09952Small.jpg[/IMG] I can't wait to play with filled tires, tire weights, chains, and maybe even additional weight hung off the back! [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09954Small.jpg[/IMG] And there really is just something about tri ribs that's screams awesome... [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09957Small.jpg[/IMG] Got home just in time to throw on the deck and mow! [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09964Small.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t135/yzzun/Simple%20TrACtors/DSC09969Small.jpg[/IMG] I guess I still have to add back in the panels on my hacked hood one of these days... :p
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Nice job and nice write-up. It should be of interest to the members who have front end loaders. Also, should go in the tech articles section.
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Here is another upgrade you might want to think about, from The Tech Tips area. Front axle bolt support bracket. [url]http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=68701&SearchTerms=pivot[/url]
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quote:
Originally posted by Simplicity85
THe pics are not up.
Hmmm... I can still see them. Do you by chance have photobucket pics blocked? Are others not able to see them...?
quote:
Originally posted by GregB
Here is another upgrade you might want to think about, from The Tech Tips area. Front axle bolt support bracket. [url]http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=68701&SearchTerms=pivot[/url]
Thank you! I had not seen that one before and it looks to be an excellent upgrade! Especially considering I noticed the frame portion of my front axle was bent rearward while doing this work.
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I am impressed, mighty fine fab work there. I like a good dark beer, But, I like beer flavored beer, Sierra Nevada, Guinness, , Boddingtons etc.
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quote:
Originally posted by johnmonkey
I like a good dark beer, But, I like beer flavored beer, Sierra Nevada, Guinness, , Boddingtons etc.
:D Truthfully, I'm an equal opportunity beer enjoyer... Everything goes! My favorites are generally porters and reds, however currently we have a local oatmeal stout (The Poet) which has been keeping me well nourished. :p
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Thanks everyone for the kind words :I Ya know it's funny, I can remember a little over ten years ago in my late teens sitting in my driveway with a couple car batteries daisy chained together and a coat hanger, trying to weld up my exhaust (no joke). Now, I'm still a complete rookie compared to some of the talent here, and in the world as a whole; I just like to keep reading, keep learning, and keep trying things. I really enjoy the online community in places such as this, and can't give enough appreciation for the wealth of knowledge available! Thank you for all the ideas! I can't wait to try Burntime's deck roller revamp next spring :D
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Nice project and some fine work. I totally agree on your statement about the look of tri-ribs, they just give these machines that "tractor" look.
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quote:
Originally posted by stevenj
Why is the bottom of the frame below the engine all cut away?
I had to notch the frame and weld in bumped out sides to clear the diesel. Was fine level, but the steering drag link interfered with the bumped out portion while the axle was fully articulated up on that side. As a quick fix I plasma'd out material until the drag link could clear under all scenarios. I'll prolly go back in and clean it up one of these days, but it doesn't really affect anything at this point other than looks, so to the bottom of the to-do list it goes... :o)
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That's a great upgrade! I've been looking for idea's on my 6212.5. They're a much lighter duty spindle assembly, but I think the fundamentals will still apply. I'll have to look at it a little closer to see if I can fab something like this up. Thanks for posting.
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