Warped Radius arms..can they be straightened?

[pbufton]

Found a large crack in the block of my dexta yesterday, so commenced stripping and today dropped off the trunion housing, front axle etc

On removing the radius arms, they are considerably bent? Further inspection revealed no bushes on the trunion pin, and a very badly worn front axle hole and trunion pin due to this. Tractor was bought with a front loader so Im guessing the added pressure of this on an axle which wasnt sitting straight has bent the arms.

My question is, can the arms be heated up with gas and pressed straight again? I.e. they wont stress crack and snap or something, seeing as they're cast items (aren't they?)

thanks

[super6954]

Hi
I seem to remember that the radius arms on a dexta are cast ends welded in, with a hollow tube in the middle like fergie ones.
if they bent cold chances are they should press straight cold.
I'm guessing the bend is probably over a large area like the shape of a banana. so you would have to find the start and finish of the bend and work it back straight, working along the whole length in small stages.
if you heat it im kinda thinking you run a risk of pressing dents into the soft metal and making a mess that won't look so good .
I would think that there are good sets in wrecking yards that could be got for sensible money depending on where you are.
I would try that too depending how bad yours are, and also considering the time it might take to straighten them right .
Regards Robert

[Bensdexta]

My radius arms had a gentle upwards bow.

Got them pressed straight, look good now. As far as I know it was done cold. So have a go!

I think the cause of the bow (always upwards) is excessive weight on the front axle, eg from a loader, combined with crashing into things with the front wheels. Also if the spacers are missing from the front axle pivot pin, that probably doesn't help.

[pbufton]

ahh great! the right hand one resembles a banana, with the bend being over a large area. the left one isnt much really, and seems to be in one place.

Im thinking with a couple of blocks of wood, length of angle iron and a press it should see it as near straight as possible...There was no bush in the front axle at all, so the trunion pin and beam have worn into each other nicely

[Bensdexta]

ahh great! the right hand one resembles a banana, with the bend being over a large area. the left one isnt much really, and seems to be in one place.
Im thinking with a couple of blocks of wood, length of angle iron and a press it should see it as near straight as possible...There was no bush in the front axle at all, so the trunion pin and beam have worn into each other nicely

Should straighten fine with a bit of care. You best get a new trunion pin & bush, and ideally the spacers too although you may have to make these.

[Mervyn Spencer]

Hi Ben

Its a while since those spacers were mentioned on this forum. Can you perhaps kindly give us the dimensions of those spaces if you know them please

Kind regards
Mervyn

[Bensdexta]

Its a while since those spacers were mentioned on this forum. Can you perhaps kindly give us the dimensions of those spaces if you know them please

It's here:
http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/phpbb ... acer#p9970

[Mervyn Spencer]

Thanks Ben, I shall save that info for a rainy day.
Mervyn

[Tubal Cain]

If the holes in the front axle support and the axle itself are worn, then you are wasting you time fitting a new bush and pin as they will not eliminate the wear. Idealy the holes need to be bored out and oversize bushes fitted, bored out to take a new pin!

The geometry of the front axle together with wear in the pivot pin contribute to the radius arms becoming bowed.

Gerald

[pbufton]

I've been on to an engineering company in hereford which are willing to build up the axle and machine it back round, does anyone know the correct size for this? I can give the engineers an exact size to machine to then.

Ordering a nnew bush and pin in the next couple of days

[Tubal Cain]

If you give the engineering firm the new pin and bush they can take measurements and build the axle up accordingly.

Gerald