Country Manufacturing Repairs part 2

[DMF]

This is the most important upgrade that CM-made wagon owners can make in my humble opinion. They assemble the front axle, kingpins and tie rods at the factory and they install the pin from the bottom up with nothing securing the pin but a cotter pin. There isn’t even a washer. This photo shows the top of the pin.

 

[DMF]

In this photo, you can see why they did it this way; the bent bracket above does not allow the pin to be installed from the top down. Still, it’s a crappy excuse IMO…

 

[DMF]

McMaster-Carr to the rescue! I bought ¾”-16 x 8 ½” long grade 8 hex head cap screws. If you do this, buy the 9” long ones. I ended up machining 0.10” from the underside of the head on mine.
¾” – 16 slotted nuts, P/N 95030A270 and ¾” flat washers P/N 98023A036.

 

[DMF]

This shows the end of the pin compared to the washers. You can see the difference in diameter and thickness.

 

[DMF]

Remember how I mentioned that I couldn’t believe they didn’t even use a washer under the cotter pin? The reason is they couldn’t fit one! A little trimming with the angle grinder solved this.

 

[DMF]

Here is a picture of the completed upgrade. You can see why the washer needed trimming. In fact, on the other side of the wagon I didn’t even have enough clearance to turn the nut! Also, on the other side the cotter pin was broken inside the kingpin! I bent the end with some needle-nose pliers and half of the cotter pin came out. This is really dangerous…

 

[DMF]

Another shot showing the entire bolt.

 

[Inspector507]

DMF,
Send a link to this post to them, they may just make the upgrade at the assembly facility.

 

[milkman]

The same part on the Kory wagon.