one of those days

[can whlvr 993]

so i thought i would treat the 50 dollar 414 that i got last year to new tie rods,the old ones are wired but are really loose,i like to mow straight lines starting in the center of the area and mow out trying to keep it straight is a chore with really loose steering,i priced new ones and they were 55 a peice,so i was gonna order(i was right at the dealer desk when i told him that i have made my own before but place doesnt carry them anymore)so he says i got ends,he shows me and they are 7 dollars each,i ask any bigger ones,he says i have to order them,but the next size are 18 bucks each so i order,well with tax and then i have to get 1/2 rod and thread it,so i start to make them and quickly realize that the ends are to big,they are 1/2 20,the holes in the wheelhorse are 3/8,so i drill the spindle,and realize i cant drill the steering rod shaft plate unless i take off the mid attachmatic,no problem right,well the bolts were the toughest bolts i have ever encountered on a horse,i had to use a lever on the socket,then i broke my die,so i had to get another one,with the 32 nuts,1/2 rod,2 ends,a new die,i could have bought new ones and simply bolted them on,live and learn,on the bright side these look real beafy and will last a long time,i also shimmed the steering and adjusted the wheel shaft so the steering is better than new now,it just took 3 hours instead of 1

[AMC RULES 37,132]

But look at all the fun you had.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,350]

Bummer. But in the end you have a nice tight front end real straight lines on the lawn and some good experience right .

Mike..............

[Wheel Horse Kid 105]

At least it is fixed now!

[squonk 41,166]

For about $50 bucks total I made my own tie rods. I used the correct size spherical ball rod ends not the cheapies you get at TSC ect, a couple of bolts with the same thread and some solid round stock. I cut the round stock and welded the bolts to the ends of the rod and threaded the rod ends on. I made them the same length as stock ones. I made them for my 704. I can drive that tractor on the road at full throttle in 3rd gear and there is now no sawing of the wheel back and forth to go straight. :thumbs:

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

The last tie rods I bought seemed too short.You could only screw the ends on maybe a couple threads at most.Anyone else have this problem or am I missing something.

[KC9KAS 4,741]

can whlvr....I feel your pain! I have had this same thing happen time and time again.

McMaster-Carr sells the tie-rod ends, and you can get them just about any way you want....male thread/female thread...what-ever. And they are reasonable priced.

[Wheel-N-It 2,969]

Hey, you did all that and did not back your Chevy Suburban into the bed of your 2&1/2 ton Chevy Dump Truck a couple of days ago while parking your WheelHorse Hauler like I did!!!

What a week...............................................................................................................................

:no:

[squonk 41,166]

can whlvr....I feel your pain! I have had this same thing happen time and time again.

McMaster-Carr sells the tie-rod ends, and you can get them just about any way you want....male thread/female thread...what-ever. And they are reasonable priced.

That'a where I got my rod ends. :thumbs:

[Shuboxlover 478]

Nothing frustrates me more than when I try to save a few bucks, and it ends up costing me the same OR MORE!!!!!!!!

I feel your pain!!!!!!!

[bowtiebutler956 650]

I've been doing that kind of stuff my whole life! My dad always said it was a character building experience. Maybe thats why I'm such a character!

Matt :flags-texas:

[can whlvr 993]

ya you guys know what im talking about,tsc up here is completely USELESS,I GIVE UP GOING THERE ANYMORE,they want to sell crap that no farmer or person needing real farm type stuff might need,they would rather sell hats and john deere shirts than tie rod ends,i cant even get roller chain there anymore without ordering it,and we have a place called princess auto,they sell mostly chinese garbage but it has some good stuff,i got ends there for 5 bucks,so for 15 bucks a tie rod that was good savings,yes you have to cut and thread the rod as i did the other day,but it was worth it and the ends were the righ size,but the new ones i made are very heavy dutie and will never wear out,the dealer has smaller ones but the big ones suite the horse,beefy and rugged,im gonna try someones suggestion here before to weld up the old ones,nothing to loose by trying it,and ive got 2 spare sets that need fixed