Steering ball joints

[lukeh]

I have an older Massey Ferguson 20C that I am replacing the drag link and steering cylinder ball joints. In both cases, I feel like the tapered shaft is too short, and the dust boot is being crushed. I haven't even tightened them all the way yet and the boot is totally squashed. If I steer with it like this, the boot won't last the first turn!

Am I doing something wrong? Do I have the wrong ball joints (these came from yesterdaystractors.com and are the part listed for this tractor)? Is there a source of universal ball joints with extended tapered shafts?

 

[kirkawilson]

Its likely that the hole diameter has been 'wallered' out from use. You might find a thin bushing that will fit inside the hole and keep the arms from squashing the boots. Otherwise, you might fill-in some welding metal. Or, replace with ends having oversized tapered shafts.