Torn BX24 tie rod boot = $47?

[milkman]

Redbug, I saw your fix in the other thread, wish the BX had something to hook the mudflap material to. I'll have to look again and if I can come up with a way to make something like you have, next time my brother comes in off the road, he'll be missing a mud flap when he leaves. I keep telling him those curbs are killers when he's backin' up.

 

[Redbug]

I never pass up a good mudflap laying alongside the road...good for lotsa things...

 

[offcamber]

Anybody try an autoparts store...looks like a standard rubber cap for a tie rod end....you can buy just the rubber boots for those...
Worth a shot....

 

[Tom_H]

Another possibility is rubber pond liner from a landscape supply business. It's about 3/32" thick and probably a bit more flexible and workable than the mud flap. It comes in rolls 5' x 50' and they might give you a little scrap for free.

I am thinking about using some as a gasket between the boom and thumb when I clamp on the Bro-tek thumb after it arrives.

 

[simonmeridew]

My left boot tore with 3 (yes, 3) hours on a new L4400. Same deal: brush poked it. I wrapped it with duct tape for a while till I got to the dealer. Like someone else said here a new boot was 10 bucks. Easy fix: taper fit into the steering knuckle. Jack up the ailing wheel,take off the nut, tap the side of the knuckle while pushing up on the tie rod part and off it comes. Be sure not, repeat not, to tap on the threaded part that the nut fits on. It will bugger for sure. count turns to realign, etc.
simonmeridew

 

[mpowrd]

Follow up:
I unthreaded the tie rod adjustment from the outer ball joint after measuring the distance from the lock nut to the edge of the machined and threaded part plus I counted the turns to unthread the tie rod.

I had an extra 26" mountain bike inner tube lying around and it is a nice tight fit over the large end of the existing tie rod boot. I cleaned everything up, worked some good synthetic CV joint grease into the joint, and used the inner tube to create a second boot over the original torn one.

Pics of finished product are attached.

Thanks to all for the hints and suggestions. Saved me $47 bucks for now and I bet this tie rod joint will go many more hours before needed replacement.

 

[milkman]

Good lookin' job, those inner tubes are a lot tougher material than the original boots, and you got an almost endless supply unless you're like me and can't remember where you put the rest of the tube for safe keeping the next time you need it.

 

[allen in texas]

Here is a point of interest...
The white tie wraps you used will not last long. UV and all that.
Black ones, (like I use in the telephone business, UV resistant) are much more outdoorsy is you know what I mean.

 

[Zick]

Here is a point of interest...
The white tie wraps you used will not last long. UV and all that.
Black ones, (like I use in the telephone business, UV resistant) are much more outdoorsy is you know what I mean.

I was just thinking the same thing. Those zip ties are nice but they don't last long when exposed to the sun it seems.

I may have to do this trick to mine before I tear a boot.

 

[rfogle]

New Holland has a part number for the boot only. It's pricey (~$27.00) if memory serves correctly. Can't remember the NH model line but it's the 24 hp
subcut. Kubota BX and NH subcuts use the same steering system....