Broken Spindle

[Matt W]

I just broke the left front spindle on my T5B manual steering. Anyone know if this is a Terramite only part? Sources?
Thanks .. Matt

 

[Matt W]

Thanks TCusack, I'll for sure call them Monday. It is just a personal use machine but I still can't stand to have it broken for long.
Just wondering if it is an off the shelf part or unique to that machine. Since I have a B chassis also wondering if a C part is the same. Never found a parts manual for the T5B. If worse comes I might be able to make it being a blacksmith with a good machinist friend.

 

[Matt W]

$287 plus shipping, Shipping is apparently an unknown until the part is ordered.

 

[Matt W]

Part made, looks and works as good as ever. I made the whole part. If it were to do over I think I would search for the correct spindle and cut and weld it in. Northern has some trailer spindles that might work starting around $15. Just a different way to go for someone who doesn't have easy way to make the bend or machine the spindle.

 

[Alan7s]

Part made, looks and works as good as ever. I made the whole part. If it were to do over I think I would search for the correct spindle and cut and weld it in. Northern has some trailer spindles that might work starting around $15. Just a different way to go for someone who doesn't have easy way to make the bend or machine the spindle.

Forgive the ignorance but by "spindle" we are meaning the front curved axle type piece that holds the wheel on?

 

[Matt W]

Yes, Was a good little project. I'm not a machinist, a better description would be a blacksmith who owns a lathe.
So the bend was no problem. The lathe work wasn't hard, just more precise than an artist blacksmith normally works to. Had the material already on hand.

 

[Alan7s]

Any chance you could post a picture of how it looks now? Maybe a welder could pinch hit for a blacksmith?

 

[Matt W]

Talked to another guy in my area who has broken one, so it must not be all that uncommon. If I break another one I have a torsion bar from a tank that might be about the right size.
The part the bearings go on is 1 inch and the rest of the shaft is 1.25".

 

[Alan7s]

Talked to another guy in my area who has broken one, so it must not be all that uncommon. If I break another one I have a torsion bar from a tank that might be about the right size.
The part the bearings go on is 1 inch and the rest of the shaft is 1.25".
View attachment 383971
View attachment 383972

Thanks Matt; very nice job and congratulations on a job well done; money saved, and probably help for others of us when we get there!

 

[bd53bz2]

Just out of curisity...... how did you break it? Carrying a load or off roading it or what?

 

[Matt W]

Actually, I had been digging with the hoe and it fell off when I turned around and took the front end weight off the loader bucket. Admittedly I have overloaded the machine, if you look back I think there might be some photos of huge rocks in the front bucket. Looking at the broken ends it showed signs of being partially broken for some time, maybe even before I got the machine. I wasn't upset it broke, I routinely overwork this little machine as most here probably do and understand things break on old tools. I was just disappointed by the price for such a simple part. However credit must be given that Terramite is still supporting at least to some degree, a machine that old.

I looked back and didn't find the photos. So here is what I'm talking about.

 

[Pepsiboy]

Looks like some of the rocks I picked up with my BX2350. :shocked:

 

[Matt W]

Ok, Looks like the spindle I made from scratch lasted through 5 years of abuse on my rocky ground. It broke yesterday. I took my own advise and went with the trailer spindle from Northern Tool this time. Pretty happy with the out come. 4 wheels on the ground and sitting nice again. you can see the part number in the photos if I can remember how to post them.

 

[Djames55]

This is good to know... Thanks for posting the info...

 

[Matt W]

All the positive camber must be for easier manual steering? But it complicates building the spindle.