Tie rod boots

[Gem99ultra]

All this chatter about pickle forks - use 'em or don't... Heck, I have a nice set that I bought over 50 years ago. Still nice and new - paint not even scratched. And all the while, I've replaced a bunch of tie rods, ball joints and drag links. That set of nice pickle forks have held up real good - sitting in the bottom of my toolbox. So, if you got 'em, use 'em, or like me - not. If you don't have 'em, don't bother to buy 'em.

One way to avoid realignment is to throw a wrap of tape around the tie rod shaft marking how far to screw the new one on. Works better than using a marker or counting threads. But, as John0829 says, realignment on a tractor is not child's play. Close as you can measure is good enough.

 

[ovrszd]

All this chatter about pickle forks - use 'em or don't... Heck, I have a nice set that I bought over 50 years ago. Still nice and new - paint not even scratched. And all the while, I've replaced a bunch of tie rods, ball joints and drag links. That set of nice pickle forks have held up real good - sitting in the bottom of my toolbox. So, if you got 'em, use 'em, or like me - not. If you don't have 'em, don't bother to buy 'em.

One way to avoid realignment is to throw a wrap of tape around the tie rod shaft marking how far to screw the new one on. Works better than using a marker or counting threads. But, as John0829 says, realignment on a tractor is not child's play. Close as you can measure is good enough.

I can't say my pickle forks are unused. I used them for several tasks other than removing tie rods. Then I bought a Snap-On Air Chisel that has 3 different sized pickle fork attachments. Now I don't use my manual forks at all. And I still don't use them for tie rod removal.

 

[dragoneggs]

I can't say my pickle forks are unused. I used them for several tasks other than removing tie rods. Then I bought a Snap-On Air Chisel that has 3 different sized pickle fork attachments. Now I don't use my manual forks at all. And I still don't use them for tie rod removal.

Okay... I'll bite. What are you using your pickle forks for?

 

[ovrszd]

Okay... I'll bite. What are you using your pickle forks for?

Usually when working on old rusty machinery during disassembly. My air hammer with pickle fork will shear a pretty good sized bolt and separate metal parts when they can't be wrenched.