[DougN]

I have an Allis Chalmers 314 and steering rods came apart on the driver's side. One rod has a ball on the end and the other has a socket. How can I fix this?

Thanks,

Doug

 

[Eric]

I know you can purchase new tie rod ends but the site has slipped my mind, someone should come along that knows the site. Sorry I can't help more.

 

[Gtractor]

Put some grease on the ball and set it back together and clamp the bottom of the socket part really firmly with a pair of Vise Grips. That'll fold the material around the ball more and it'll last a few more years.

 

[KennyP]

I think I have a set of those rods!

 

[WNYTractorTinkerer]

Here's a NEW one. Contact them first if you plan to buy one to make sure it's the right part..

 

[DougN]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Gtractor, I will give that a try. Won't cost anything if it works.

WNYTractorTinkerer- Mine doesn't look like those. Its simply a small metal ball on the end of one rod and a hollow metal sphere on the end of the other rod. Looks like the ball is pressed into the socket end. I will post a photo tomorrow.

 

[WNYTractorTinkerer]

No need to.. I know the type you are speaking of. Good luck peening it back in place!

 

[MH81]

I have re peened a couple, have to make certain you don't egg shape the hole or make the ball to tight.

 

[alleyyooper]

Years ago I bought my first lawn tractor a 150 (seemed like) year old tired Craftsman. Last fellow was pretty good at coming up with cheap fixes for stuff. Those ball and socket thingies he would cut a thick washer in half press the ball back in place and slide the halves of the washers together tight around the balls shaft then welt it to the socket end.

I went to a snow mobile scrap yard and bought several sets of the ball joints they use in the steering and cut my shafts at first and welded the new ball joint in place. Later I started cutting threads on the shaft so I could adjust those ball joints.

You can find used ones here for about $7.00.

http://www.alssnowmobile.com/oemProductParts.aspx?ps_OemSku=293800005&pl_Exact=1

A picture of what I am talking about. early (1978) Polaris ones screw on a shaft.

Forgot I can't post pictures here except photo bucket ones.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SKI-DOO-OEM-LH-BALL-JOINT-SUMMIT-SKANDIC-MX-Z-506151845-/201050799447

Here are the ones I use. But I get mine from a salvage yard for like $10.00 at the most

http://www.motosport.com/bikers-choice-shift-rod-end-and-ball-joint

Al

 

[KennyP]

Years ago I bought my first lawn tractor a 150 (seemed like) year old tired Craftsman. Last fellow was pretty good at coming up with cheap fixes for stuff. Those ball and socket thingies he would cut a thick washer in half press the ball back in place and slide the halves of the washers together tight around the balls shaft then welt it to the socket end.

I went to a snow mobile scrap yard and bought several sets of the ball joints they use in the steering and cut my shafts at first and welded the new ball joint in place. Later I started cutting threads on the shaft so I could adjust those ball joints.

You can find used ones here for about $7.00.

http://www.alssnowmobile.com/oemProductParts.aspx?ps_OemSku=293800005&pl_Exact=1

A picture of what I am talking about. early (1978) Polaris ones screw on a shaft.

[URL=http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m_2YVOnfZoi90jEVRpAnYrw.jpg]http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m_2YVOnfZoi90jEVRpAnYrw.jpg[/URL][/img[

[/QUOTE]

What thread are on those?

 

[alleyyooper]

It was almost 25 years ago when I had to redo my 6517 so I don't remember what size die I bought to cut the threads.

Al

 

[DougN]

I ordered a tie rod end replacement...the brand is Stens. The female end that goes onto the tie rod linkage won't thread on. The other end fits the old nut fine and both ends are 1/2-20 threads the same as the old one. Could the new part on that one end not be threaded correctly? I checked the threads with a gauge and they are 20 threads/inch the same as the old part.

 

[olcowhand]

They often come in LH and RH threads. You may have the wrong thread rotation.

 

[DougN]

Its LH so maybe that is the problem. The nut screws on the male threaded end clockwise so I thought the female end would be the same. But maybe not. I will talk to them tomorrow. Thanks for the reply on this.