Front Wheel Alignment

[jdaugh]

Just changed out all the tie rod ends and drag links on my '47. What's the easiest way to align the front wheels?

Thanks in advance.
James in Abilene

 

[Ultradog MN]

It helps to have a Sherman overdrive for this.
After you get all the tie rods in you align it as per the book.
Then you drive it around at high speed with the sherman OD and and the right wrenches in your pocket. When the wheels get to flapping you stop and make a couple of corrections to the toe in.
Within a mile or two you'll have it working just right.
Dunno what the fellows without Shermans do but it probably isn't as much fun.

 

[Dan]

As interesting and fun as Ultradog's solution sounds - I have a slightly "safer" way...

Set both rear tie rod ends so the steering arms are pointing just slightly in front of the radius rod holders. Jack the front end so both tires are off the ground a tad. Adjust the tie rod ends until both tires are aligned with the rear tires (sight down the tires). Then, adjust the two front tires until there is a 1/2" toe in - meaning if you take a measurement from the front of one tire to the front of the other, then do the same on the backside of the tires - the front side is 1/2" shorter.

This should be perfect if there is no other significant wear in the steering system - but further adjustment may be neccessary if you get going in 4th gear across the pasture and the front wheels shimmy.

HTH,
Dan

 

[jdaugh]

Thanks Dan.

That's along the lines what I was thinking but thought there might be a scientific way of doing it (short of taking it in to Goodyear for a 4-wheel alignment.) LOL

I have the OD transmission but I've yet to take it out on the highway to air her out. I'm not worried as much about high-speed shimmy as I am premature tire wear. Thanks for the help.

James

 

[loweman56]

Have done the same and no-one has answered(new drag links complete).Is it the same for a "51"8N???Thanks

 

[JMOR]

Pretty much. No real farmer ever worried about toe in/out. Like horse shoes, close counts. If you run down the road WFO, then maybe you need to be concerned, but a shimmy is still not toe, it is lose, worn parts.

 

[Dell (WA)]

loweman.......did you know that on the top of yer 8N's spindles are chiseled "witness marks" that when aligned provide the correct 1/4" toe-in??? You doubt? go look, they're there. Still doubt? Read yer I&T FO-4, section 9, adjusting toe-in. Simple, eh? ......Dell

 

[Dell (WA)]

Jim.......did you know that on the top of yer spindles are chiseled "witness marks" that when aligned provide the correct 1/4" toe-in??? You doubt? go look, they're there. Still doubt? Read yer I&T FO-4, section 9, adjusting toe-in. Simple, eh? ......Dell

 

[Brian Jasper co. Ia]

It's interesting that Dan says to sight down the tires. That's exactly how we used to do it before computerized alignment equipment came about. The first job I had they had a John Bean Visuliner. You hung a couple mirrors on the wheels. Each side had a projector to a screen on the wall. You jacked the ft wheels up and turned them watching the amount of movement you had on the screen, set a refrigerator magnet in the center of the circle the dot made and went to work. To get the steering wheel level you had to sight down the tires looking for the same amount of each rear tire.
If jdaugh wants to get a little more accurate on toe, raise the front wheels up and scribe a line on the tire tread with a nail sticking through a board held stationary while spinning the wheel. Then you can measure with a tape measure and adjust until you get between 1/8 and 1/4 inch difference front to rear.