tarcoleo 119 #26 Posted May 3, 2010 Like I said, these likely would have to be turned down for you. But what else? I would call that guy in Gardener, Pa. He parts out WH's regularly. Worth a shot. On the ebay page there is a way to email him with a question. We're going to get you back on the road! Oops, I guess you did contact him. Tom in RI Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarcoleo 119 #27 Posted May 3, 2010 Also- http://cgi.ebay.com/Wheel-Horse-520-8-Lawn...f#ht_500wt_1182 Tom in RI Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fiddlestix 0 #28 Posted May 3, 2010 Why not buy a "normal" spindle, eBay spindles Be gentle by controlling your bucket heaping and get your job done, then have them reinforced? I don't think they will fold up on you instantaneously. Even if they begin to sag and lose camber, they can later be heated and trued then reinforced. I was going to do this routine when, because I could see limited tire capacity, I elected to abandon normal routes and went mad with the modification that tarcoleo linked! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarcoleo 119 #29 Posted May 3, 2010 Observations- 1) Fiddlestix's Ebay spindles are not heavy duty and will fail soon in your usage. They do not provide much access in their design for applying any reinforcement. 2) WH steering spindles apparently come in two flavors, 3/4x3/4 and 1/1. Yours are 3/4x3/4. Heavy duty ones are more common 1/1. Sorry the news is not better. Maybe you want to go back and consider repairing the broken spindle. Looking at your detailed photos, I almost want to say that the part failed because the weld at the bottom of the kingpin was incomplete. It looks that way--the kingpin didn't break, the partial weld did. Rotsa ruck, Tom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MRM 4 #30 Posted May 3, 2010 I had the HD ones on my 418-8 FEL and they bent, I took a stock set and welded a gusset and had them heat treated now the only thing that breaks are the wheel bearings :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rodco 0 #31 Posted May 3, 2010 Why not buy a "normal" spindle, eBay spindles Be gentle by controlling your bucket heaping and get your job done, then have them reinforced? I don't think they will fold up on you instantaneously. Even if they begin to sag and lose camber, they can later be heated and trued then reinforced. I was going to do this routine when, because I could see limited tire capacity, I elected to abandon normal routes and went mad with the modification that tarcoleo linked! So you guys think the Stock spindles / kingpins would fit my axle? Would the wheels that I have now from the Heavy duty kit fit on a stock Spindle? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarcoleo 119 #32 Posted May 3, 2010 From what I see, HD spindles can be the smaller (3/4x3/4) same as stock, or larger (1x1). Your pics seem to show yours as 3/4x3/4? So the stock spindles should fit even if they won't stand up for long. Make some measurements. That's $.02 worth payable by postal money order. If I'm wrong, don't send money. -Tom PS- This guy has tie rods too. http://cgi.ebay.com/WHEEL-HORSE-8-1-2-TIE-...a4#ht_742wt_941 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rodco 0 #33 Posted May 4, 2010 From what I see, HD spindles can be the smaller (3/4x3/4) same as stock, or larger (1x1). Your pics seem to show yours as 3/4x3/4? So the stock spindles should fit even if they won't stand up for long. Make some measurements. That's $.02 worth payable by postal money order. If I'm wrong, don't send money. -Tom PS- This guy has tie rods too. http://cgi.ebay.com/WHEEL-HORSE-8-1-2-TIE-...a4#ht_742wt_941 OK.. My Spindles are in fact 3/4", so I may buy the standard ones and have a bracket welded onto them. The ones you listed say the whell is held on by a bolt, but my wheels are held on by a clip. Will they still fit? The tie rod that is on ebay says its 8/12" in length. I measure mine and its 10" end to end. As of today I sent my part out to a welding shop. He is going to groove out the kingpin a small amount to gain some surface area, then weld the pieces and grind down the excess.Hope it fits..hope it works. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarcoleo 119 #34 Posted May 4, 2010 Rob- The welder's fix you outlined (groove in kingpin) may get you back on the road, but not for long (doubting comes with the name Thomas). If I understand correctly, much of the weld bead around the kingpin will be removed when the kingpin is fitted back into the axle crossbeam. Fiddlestix has the solution. Get him to make you a set of his patented Super Spindles. Also, a long tie rod can, of course, be shortened with a sleeve and welding. Your feedback is appreciated. We're all rooting. Tom in RI :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rodco 0 #35 Posted May 5, 2010 Got the part back from the welder and so far, so good. Seems to work fine so far, but I still want to get a replacement part. The weld was a little too thick and could not put both washers on the kingpin. I could not get the tie rod today, so I swiped one from my Sears Custom 8E tractor and it fit perfectly. I will be using the tractor a lot this weekend, so we will see how she goes. I have to repaint it,as it looks like all the paint was lost while welding. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raider12 13 #36 Posted May 5, 2010 It looks like your welder did you a nice job. I hope it holds up for you so you can get your job done. Any way of up grading the whole front axle assy from a 520? Would that be an improvement? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris11 184 #37 Posted May 5, 2010 your going to have to machine that weld down to get the c clip on it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarcoleo 119 #38 Posted May 5, 2010 "Any way of up grading the whole front axle assy from a 520? Would that be an improvement?" --------- Raider's got the right idea. That would solve the problem. After all, the original HD spindle was not so heavy duty. Others I'm sure can tell you if that's a way to go. One inch kingpins better than 3/4 inch. Tom in RI Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,659 #39 Posted May 5, 2010 I assume you put the one washer between the weld and the axle. Watch it closely that weld is hard and will quickly tear up the washer and then chew up the bottom of your front axle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mavfreak 11 #40 Posted May 5, 2010 i wish i would have seen this posting sooner. I think i would've fixed up a little better. I would of opened up the hole that the king pin fit into and then undercut the pin to allow the weld to have somewhere to flow and wouldn't have had as much build up on there. I feel it will tear up the bottom of your axle. It still would have been a temp fix. by the way if welded properly the weld will be the strongest part of assembly, but can cause weak spots just above and below weld do to heat sinking Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarcoleo 119 #41 Posted May 12, 2010 Rodco- OK, drop the second shoe! How did the welded spindle work out? Were you able to move the dirt? Desperate to know how you are solving your problem what with all the opinions that were offered here. Curious!!!! Thanks in advance, Tom (sleepless in RI). :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rodco 0 #42 Posted June 9, 2010 Rodco- OK, drop the second shoe! How did the welded spindle work out? Were you able to move the dirt? Desperate to know how you are solving your problem what with all the opinions that were offered here. Curious!!!! Thanks in advance, Tom (sleepless in RI). ey guys..sorry for the delay in updating the topic. I have been out of town for work stuff and busy in the yard. The weld job was done 5 weeks or so ago and it is still holding up. I am always keeping an eye on it. I know what my problem is though... I am using the tractor/ loader like a payloader. It is not designed to lift and transport a full bucket of clay topsoil or blue stone. I am using it constantly and have moved about 2 triaxle loads of clay soil and today I moved a half a truckload (10 tons) of new topsoil. I am just expecting it to break at any moment, which is why I still want a new spindle. I have had no luck finding one. I will be at the Wheelhorse show in Pennsylania at the end of this month and hope to find one there. I did get a new tie rod, its an aftermarket adjustable one from stens. ROB Pittsburgh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites