waltsuz 12 #1 Posted October 18, 2013 I got a 520 setting on a jack with the front tires off the ground and the wheels removed. If I grab a wheel axle I can move the entire front axle assembly back and forth a 1/2 inch maybe a bit more. Before I tear into this and start dealing with making bushings or whatever, what would you consider to be excessive slop in a front end. The tractor steers and does everything just fine but its getting 300lbs of front end loader and I am curious to whats normal...Thanks Walt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,017 #2 Posted October 18, 2013 Ck the axle pivot pin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leeave96 487 #3 Posted October 18, 2013 Wow! 1/2 inch is a lot! I'm thinking about swapping a 520H front axle/steering assy into my 314-8 (another thread), so haven't really looked at the attachment arrangement. I do know that IH Cub Cadets have a clevis that grips the axle and a pin to lets it pivot. That clevis opens over time and the fix is to remove the front axle and put a large bolt through the clevis/pin hole and give it a squeeze. I'm away from my tractors, so just don't know. Good luck, Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltsuz 12 #4 Posted October 18, 2013 Ck the axle pivot pin Well you called that one right. This pin is about as worn as one can get. This tractor is getting a total once over. The farther I dig into it the more I find...Thanks for the advice....Walt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,017 #5 Posted October 18, 2013 I've taken a few out that were in pieces. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don1977 604 #6 Posted October 19, 2013 Here is what I did to my C-120. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SousaKerry 501 #7 Posted October 19, 2013 I would be willing to Bet that the holes in the frame are worn considerably also. A little welding and redrilling may be in order. I think that that area was always a weak point in the tractors. But I'll take that one weak spot any day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MalMac 1,331 #8 Posted October 19, 2013 I agree, that is one weak spot in the tractor. Sometimes it is hard to figure out why Wheel Horse did some of the things they did. When you look at how the tractor was engineered and how well they are built then find something like the way the front pivot is made. They could have used a number of ways to make it not so venerable and weak. If you think about it that small pin is carrying the whole front end weight of the tractor. Especially if it has a front end loader on it. We all have come across other things on the tractor and said wow that sure is a cheap way to make it or found something that could have been engineered different. I am sure it comes down to manufacturing cost. Sometimes it's just surprising considering how well the tractor was made. To me they still out class any other garden tractor. Even with the few quirks I find now and then. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dieselcowboy 210 #9 Posted October 19, 2013 How many hours of use did it take your 520 to wear that pin that much? Must not have been greased all the time in it's early years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltsuz 12 #10 Posted October 19, 2013 This tractor has 1140hr's on it. I just picked up this machine 2 weeks ago. What happened is that the retaining bolt on the rear of the pin was gone. The attachment tab welded on the pin was rotating from the axle pivoting and waller'd up the pin. The front hitch is bad just like what Don1977 showed a good fix for. I have ordered a new pin and found another front hitch off ebay. This is hopefully a $30.00 fix, if not, I will fab something similiar to the previous mentioned repair... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,017 #11 Posted October 19, 2013 (edited) I agree, that is one weak spot in the tractor. Sometimes it is hard to figure out why Wheel Horse did some of the things they did. When you look at how the tractor was engineered and how well they are built then find something like the way the front pivot is made. They could have used a number of ways to make it not so venerable and weak. If you think about it that small pin is carrying the whole front end weight of the tractor. Especially if it has a front end loader on it. We all have come across other things on the tractor and said wow that sure is a cheap way to make it or found something that could have been engineered different. I am sure it comes down to manufacturing cost. Sometimes it's just surprising considering how well the tractor was made. To me they still out class any other garden tractor. Even with the few quirks I find now and then. My big beef is the seats mounted flat on the fender with no springs or adjustment. I feel like a circus bear on a tricycle. This tractor has 1140hr's on it. I just picked up this machine 2 weeks ago. What happened is that the retaining bolt on the rear of the pin was gone. The attachment tab welded on the pin was rotating from the axle pivoting and waller'd up the pin. The front hitch is bad just like what Don1977 showed a good fix for. I have ordered a new pin and found another front hitch off ebay. This is hopefully a $30.00 fix, if not, I will fab something similiar to the previous mentioned repair... I usually find the pin has broken off the tab. 1 of them tore the tab off on 1 side. Edited October 19, 2013 by squonk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
