heavy duty front spindles

[htopjimmy26 3]

Hi all, My poor old 79 c160 which I affectionatly call Grumpy ;[ I bought from an old man that left it out side all year every day of it's life.] has managed to slightly bend both its spindles, maybe it had something to do with dozer /snowblower duty. It is my primary work tractor as its a hydro with hyd lift. I would like to upgrade the front spindles with something cool like the hd spindle kit thats NLA , I really like the idea of the little thrust bearings on the top to make it steer easier. My question is am I out of luck as far as finding a heavier spindle, or would changing to the 520 front axle be an option? What would you fellas do? Easier steering would be a big plus.

[Rideawaysenior 25]

There is a heavy duty front end kit that you can get from time to time. From the dealer, it's no longer available but they pop up now and again on ebay. This kit is typically found on machines with loaders. I'm not too certain about this part though but I think the HD front end kit will also require you to upgrade your front rims to something with a 1in. hole with bearings.

[kpinnc 13,728]

Dana,

I don't think you could use the heavy spindles, even if you bored the axle for them to fit. You'd weaken the axle by making the spindle bore walls too thin. The heavy spindles have a 1 inch diameter, and the standard ones are only 3/4.

You could however, replace the entire axle assembly with a 1991 or up (I think?)520 axle, which will fit, but you'd have some additional mods afterward. You wouldn't need the gear reduction steering, but you would need new front wheels and bearings, and longer tie rods as well.

My suggestion would be to "sleeve" the axle with steel or a brass insert, but you'd still need to have the holes bored out probably to about 7/8th. That may defeat the whole purpose, but it's just a thought...

The standard axles show up on Ebay fairly often, so you may just be able to find a replacement there. Tons of models used the same axle, so finding one should be easy.

Good luck!

Kevin

[C-Series14 15]

If you were a collector about 10 years ago, the HD spindle kit was around $160 or so and I bought 3 of them over a time span of a year. It came with everything, yes...even new tires AND wheels. Eventually, Toro caught on to everybody buying them I think and they raised the price severely! They have since been discontinued I believe. The part number was 80493 and you can look at the drawings on the various parts sites...

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[Duff 206]

If you were a collector about 10 years ago, the HD spindle kit was around $160 or so and I bought 3 of them over a time span of a year. It came with everything, yes...even new tires AND wheels. Eventually, Toro caught on to everybody buying them I think and they raised the price severely! They have since been discontinued I believe. The part number was 80493 and you can look at the drawings on the various parts sites...

Now THERE's an original business concept: make a useful part, find out people like it and are buying it, jack the price up to make more money from it, then when the market for it tanks because people won't pay the higher price, discontinue it rather than bring the price back down and be content. :imstupid:

And Toro discontinued Wheel Horse production why?

Don't get me started.......

Duff

(Sorry to go , but this type of thing really irks me!)

[wallfish 17,487]

Here

[TT-(Moderator) 1,147]

Have you actually looked the steering components over on this tractor? The only hard-steering Horses I have encountered are ones that suffer from lack of lubrication. I know that adding a front end loader or carrying a snowthrower/blower in the raised position can make for increased effort at the wheel, but it shouldn't be unbearable.

If you won't be adding a loader to this tractor, it might be wise (cheaper too!) to just heat the spindles at the factory bend and "straighten" them. You could even add a bit more camber than stock - if you prefer. Once you have the spindles straightened, add a small triangular gusset or an "L" shaped factory-style brace (a piece of angle iron with slots cut on each end works fine) to the inside radius of the bend. (Got welder? )

And....... There isn't much of a "pocket" in the front axle bores to hold grease, so if you grind a spiral groove around the upper part of the spindle (where it rides in the axle) it will hold more grease. It is also a good idea to raise the front wheels off the ground when greasing the spindles so the grease can reach the bottom areas above the tie rod attachment arms. (All of this is moot if the axle holes are worn out though.)

If you really have it set in your head to install thrust bearings between the spindles and axle, you can purchase them through most reputable bearing suppliers. You will need two thrust bearings and 4 corresponding races. ("washers") (The old two blade gear-drive decks also used these thrust bearings on the blade spindles.) Since the HD spindle kit featured a longer upper portion to still allow the use of a snap ring to hold the spindle in the axle, you will have to improvise if you install the thrust bearings on a stock (non-HD) spindle. The easiest way would be to center drill the top of the spindle and tap it to accept a 3/8" bolt and flat washer. Naturally, the only time you'd really have to worry about the spindles dropping out would be when jacking up the front of the tractor or doing wheelies.

Adequate and frequent lubrication is the key here - as long as all steering components are in good condition. One last (and simpler) option would be to install a larger diameter steering wheel. My 1986 312A was actually equipped with a 2" larger steering wheel from the factory. (perhaps a "poor man's" easy steer?) :banghead:

[htopjimmy26 3]

Thanks for the link Wallfish, thats a great idea if I end up making something. The tractor really doesn't steer too bad, but always seem to have something hung on the front of it and I think the bent spindles may make it steer worse. The 416 with its bigger wheel and 10 years less abuse does steer much better. I think it would be nice if I can scrounge some parts off Fleabay/ find some new stuff that is available or possibly make something to just improve her a little as I plan on owning it hopefully another 30+ years. Is the only 520 with 1in spindles the one with the swept forward axle? I see that in some of the earlier years [88-89] they show 2 different front axles and front wheel options .

[htopjimmy26 3]

TT thanks for the response you guys are really tops, grease is no prob lots there hard to miss it sometimes . I actually take great care to find all the fittings/pivot points and get some sort of lube in them. I bought this machine with a new steering shaft casting thingus because PO was not so great about a little grease once in a while. You offered some decent ideas too about fabricating something, it wouldn be too hard to machine a little material off an old axle for a thrustbearing set up hmmmmm..... Wallfish, it looks like that spindle might accept the factory front wheel for a 520 with taper bearings if made correctly. Paint it red and make it to fit my axle and I'll buy a set, maybe 2. :banghead:

[Nick 13]

When I put the Lawn Ranger together I used the steering axle from a Groundsmaster mower with the same 1" spindle size as a 520-H. The axle itself is simple steel tube with pipe welded onto the end for the spindles. Ive never given it much thought but I guess you could buy the steel and just make a heavy duty front axle. It might not be original but the project cost shouldnt be to bad. The spindles could be built with the 1" trailer spindles already mentioned. Something like these, Northern Tool Might find a better price than that. Glens surplus in Ohio sells larger spindles from... uh ... cub cadets. I might run up there soon and I'll take a look at what they have.

I found this old picture of the first test fit with the groundsmaster axle. Also before I cut the wheel width down.

[Nick 13]

I had thought the factory heavy duty spindle kit was reinforced 3/4" spindles with better bearings and tires? But my memory tends to be selective at times. :USA:

[kpinnc 13,728]

I had thought the factory heavy duty spindle kit was reinforced 3/4" spindles with better bearings and tires? But my memory tends to be selective at times.

You're probably right Nick. I assumed (I know I shouldn't) that the heavier spindles were factory on the 520. Point being, I never really knew there was a kit compatible with a standard axle and 3/4 shafts.

I do seem to recall though, a picture somewhere of a side-by-side comparison of standard and HD spindles. I don't remember any noticable difference in the spindle diameter though... So I am thinking they were in fact 3/4.

If my previous post was misleading, I apologize.

Kevin

[kj4kicks 154]

Here's the HD spindles:

[htopjimmy26 3]

Looks to me like the hd spindle is 3/4 in but reinforced. Does it also have a little extra length to accomodate the thrust washer? This doesn't appear to necessitate a different wheel I wonder what the reason for that is .

[htopjimmy26 3]

Anyone else see the hub with studs in Wallfishes link? I really like the idea of a hub with a bolt on wheel. No more blowing the hubcap off with grease or watching it drool out the spindle side all over the rim. Also no greasy hub/wheel to cart to the tire man for a tube[i ain't changing this small a tire myself again! they suck . ] This is very interesting. :USA: