Elongated Holes

[ernemats]

Souunds similar to my 425. I thought for sure the steering valve was going out with the horrible noises I'd hear when turning. Terry said lube the steering ram ends. I told him I did. He said do it again, but really soak them down. OK sure buddy. So I soaked the heck out of them and guess what? The sound went away. :ashamed: Even though I was lubing them often, apparently I wasn't putting enough lube on them. So now I spray them all down as I walk around the machine, then make a second pass. That seems to give it time to soak in.

What do you use to lube them with?

 

[m5040]

Super Lube 31110 Aerosol

 

[MossRoad]

What do you use to lube them with?

Super lube.

 

[cqaigy2]

Super Lube and spray lithium grease. Sometime old gasoline with dissolved lithium grease, i use a small chip brush and slather it on.

 

[ponytug]

I am more wondering why the original elongated. I seem to be the only one in the group with this issue.

My bet is that the prior owner didn't lubricate the eyes, they then elongated out, the prior owner then tacked on the washer to hide the elongation and reduce the rattle, and you bought into a previously worn eye that was resting on 3/32" of mild steel, which wore down quickly. Are all the elongated holes ones that don't have grease zerks?

I don't think it was your doing, despite all the wild driving on 45 degree slopes (kidding!). My bet is that if you put new eyes on and lube them regularly that you won't ever have this issue again.

FWIW: I use super lube as well.

All the best,

Peter

 

[johara1]

The reason the holes elongated was first was not lubing the joints and second not keeping the bolts tight. The fix is weld up the hole and bore it....... jim

 

[m5040]

This brings up a common thing that I often contemplate. Is it better to have the bolt tight enough that it bends in the ears and clamps the center ball, which then would cause the ball to rotate in the socket when in operation? Or do you want the ball to rotate on the bolt and randomly rotate in the socket too?

 

[MossRoad]

Looking at mine, i can't see a reason you'd want the ball to rotate around the bolt since the eye rotates on all planes around the ball.

 

[MossRoad]

Probably a good question for Terry.

 

[cqaigy2]

yes good call for Terry, but i'd think the balls are just to allow enough adjustment, to make the connection and that you'd still want the joint to be were most of the movement to take place.