The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Need to replace an axle pivot lug on the front weight of a 1957 Major, Has anyone had experience in welding this part.

Several years ago I welded up the holes in one that was badly wore, clamped it on the mill all nice straight and square, bored the hole to size and bolted it back to the front of the tractor. I then got the axel under it, tried sticking the front pin in and started swearing profusely because the pin wouldn’t go in. The hole in the tombstone is not straight and square, it is angled down in line with the back pin in the oil pan.

The Cast iron in these is pretty good, but I would still use a nickel rod and it doesn’t hurt to preheat and post heat if you have a torch. Grind a good chamfer on the parts so that your weld will penetrate most all the way through, then the void can be filled with a few more passes. I always leave enough of the original break to be able to get it back in the correct position and then a few good tac welds on both side to keep it from moving when you lay the welds in. always weld a little on both sides when starting as well, It can pull hard enough to snap the tac welds if you try to completely weld one side up first. And get it clean before you try to weld it, with a wire brush, grinding pads, etc. sandblasting the area works really slick if you can do so.

A few pictures wouldn’t hurt.

Pat

BearCreek Majors wrote:Several years ago I welded up the holes in one that was badly wore, clamped it on the mill all nice straight and square, bored the hole to size and bolted it back to the front of the tractor. I then got the axel under it, tried sticking the front pin in and started swearing profusely because the pin wouldn’t go in. The hole in the tombstone is not straight and square, it is angled down in line with the back pin in the oil pan. Pat

Sounds like you should have drilled it in place with a slighty under size drill, and then used an expanding reamer to finnish fitting the pin. Dandy Dave!