Have the front axle out to bore and sleeve the damaged front bushing hole then re-bush it and the rear. In the time I've owned the tractor the pivot pin zerk has never taken grease, with it apart I can see why! From the zerk back, the hole is packed so solid a drill bit just would go through. I'm curious where is the grease to the rear bushing comes from? With the front zerk out then poking behind it with a drill bit (down as small as 1/16") I can't find a through hole from the front to the rear and no place for a zerk on the rear - but the rear of the pin and the cavity behind it had grease.
I welcome comment as to my solution for the lack of parts for rebuilding the front axle pivot on the 885. The pin isn't pristine - lets call it polished - but it's usable since a replacement isn't available. The front bushing is the only one of the two bushings still available - for $30+. Is there really enough difference between the front and rear that two front bushings wouldn't work? Instead of spending over $60 for two bushings and one possibly not working, I have ordered two spring eye bushing for $16/pair that fit a Freightliner and Volvo truck. Same dimensions, same bi-metal construction, split steel outer and a dimpled copper (looking) inside friction surface. A friend who has big truck experience thought the spring eye bushing might be a bit cruder than I'd like but he didn't know anything about the requirements of a tractors front axle to say they wouldn't work. Thoughts?
I welcome comment as to my solution for the lack of parts for rebuilding the front axle pivot on the 885. The pin isn't pristine - lets call it polished - but it's usable since a replacement isn't available. The front bushing is the only one of the two bushings still available - for $30+. Is there really enough difference between the front and rear that two front bushings wouldn't work? Instead of spending over $60 for two bushings and one possibly not working, I have ordered two spring eye bushing for $16/pair that fit a Freightliner and Volvo truck. Same dimensions, same bi-metal construction, split steel outer and a dimpled copper (looking) inside friction surface. A friend who has big truck experience thought the spring eye bushing might be a bit cruder than I'd like but he didn't know anything about the requirements of a tractors front axle to say they wouldn't work. Thoughts?
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