Radius Rods again

[Lamont7777]

As you may remember in a previous post I bought some radius rods that were too short. Bought another set that are the SAME LENGTH as the ones that I took off the tractor. They are too long. The long ones are 39 1/4 ins. tip to tip. The short ones are 37 7/8 ins. tip to tip.
With the short ones I pushed the axle all the way back on the center pin and they are too short.
With the long ones I push the axle all the way forward on the center pin and they are too long.
????????
What am I doing wrong.
My friend says the axle must be bent and I might agree except that the old radius rods fit and they are the same length as the long ones I have now.
Please ck posted photos. One photo is of the left radius rod bolted in place, one photo is of the axle all the way forward on the pin, and the last photo is of the right radius rod and where is meets tractor. these are the long radius rods.
Thanks
Monty

 

[Lamont7777]

Sorry, couldn't get the last photo to upload. Still can't get it to upload. It showed, however, the right radius rod being too long by about 1 1/2 inches to fit into the holder.
Monty

 

[old]

Can not tell you what is wrong but I did measure a pair I have. 1 is from a 2N and the other an 8N and both where the same. The 2N I can not say the year but the 8N is a 48 or 49. I did not measure the ones on my 1950 late model 8N or my 841

 

[Mike Groom]

I have sold and changed lots of N series radius rods and never ran into a difference in length,did you have the front end apart and put the axle on backwards on the swivel? Not even sure if thats possible,just brainstorming.

 

[R Geiger]

Were the ones you took off bent? Maybe the axle is bent.

 

[John Smith8N]

You said "the old radius rods fit and they are the same length as the long ones I have now". That statement makes no sense. If the old ones fit and they are the same length as the new ones, the new ones have to fit. Unless the old ones are badly bowed, which would indicate your axle is likely also bent toward the rear. Straight radius rods are going to be a little longer than bent ones.

 

[Greg 2N (TX)]

Long ones attach to the axle halves that are in front of the axle.

Then adjusting the axle halves wider moves the center axle aft on the pin.

HTH,

Greg

 

[Pminyard]

I agree with Mr. Smith: If the old radius rods and the new radius rods are the same length logic dictates that they should fit even if one or more components are bent--since it all fit together before being disassembled it should all fit back together. If nothing else has changed it almost has to be the assembly---I certainly don't want to offend anybody but: At this point I would look to be sure that the axle, radius rods and support bracket are being reassembled in the same order as they were originally.

Another (very distant) possibility is that some component is bent and was under tension--upon dissassembly it returned to its pre-tensioned position and now won't fit....highly unlikely but just problem solving. Best of luck.

 

[L B]

Try this, take and send us photos of the entire front and both sides. I would guess something is reassembled wrong. The two photos dont show much.We need to see as much as you can send. My guess somthing is in the wrong place.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 01:39:54 03/09/12) As you may remember in a previous post I bought some radius rods that were too short. Bought another set that are the SAME LENGTH as the ones that I took off the tractor. They are too long. The long ones are 39 1/4 ins. tip to tip. The short ones are 37 7/8 ins. tip to tip.
With the short ones I pushed the axle all the way back on the center pin and they are too short.
With the long ones I push the axle all the way forward on the center pin and they are too long.
????????
What am I doing wrong.
My friend says the axle must be bent and I might agree except that the old radius rods fit and they are the same length as the long ones I have now.
Please ck posted photos. One photo is of the left radius rod bolted in place, one photo is of the axle all the way forward on the pin, and the last photo is of the right radius rod and where is meets tractor. these are the long radius rods.
Thanks
Monty

Those measurements match the I beam rods on my 9N and the oval rods on my 51 8N. You also have a set of the longer 39-1/4" rods you took off that fit. Why are you replacing them? Lay one of the old rods on the ground alongside one of the new rods. Do the balls on the ends and the pin holes in the yokes line up?

TOH

 

[Charner]

I've had this same problem. What has happened, is the numerous impact for the last 60+ years has caused the main center section of the axle to bent back and must have caused the radius arms to bow downward. That makes them an 1" or so shorter. They can be straightened with a press and regain the proper length. In doing so, you don't line up with the axle. The axle must also be pressed to original position. If it's not so bad out of alignment, you can install the ball in the left or right side and insert the axle pin. Attach a heavy duty come-a-long on the end of the axle (opposite side). Install the axle pin and winch back until you are able to insert ball and tighten nuts.

 

[Lamont7777]

Problem resolved !! Look at picture of radius rods. The red one is one of the original. It is ALMOST as long as the new long one both of which are obviously longer than the other new one. Looks like a combination of three problems. The center axle pin had come loose wallowing out the holes allowing the axle to skew sideways. The radius rods were SLIGHTLY shorter because of the welding repairs and the center section of the axle was bent. All of this allowed them to bolt together. I repaired the wallowed out holes in the bolster, got new center pin and new radius rods but didn't know the center axle was bent. Anyway the repaired bolster holes and new radius rods would not fit with the bent axle.
Got another axle and from a local salvage yard and everything fits. HAY!!
Also what are hat rims worth? Salvage yard has several of them. He said he was junking all of his 9N and 2N parts because there was no demand for them. Although I couldn't see inside them as there was tires on all of them they looked better from the outside than the one I have.

 

[HCooke]

Glad you got it fixed! Things like that can be frustrating. Hat rims are in demand by collectors. Good ones can go for 275 to 300, esp the 32" ones.

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 04:23:10 03/10/12) Problem resolved !! Look at picture of radius rods. The red one is one of the original. It is ALMOST as long as the new long one both of which are obviously longer than the other new one. Looks like a combination of three problems. The center axle pin had come loose wallowing out the holes allowing the axle to skew sideways. The radius rods were SLIGHTLY shorter because of the welding repairs and the center section of the axle was bent. All of this allowed them to bolt together. I repaired the wallowed out holes in the bolster, got new center pin and new radius rods but didn't know the center axle was bent. Anyway the repaired bolster holes and new radius rods would not fit with the bent axle.
Got another axle and from a local salvage yard and everything fits. HAY!!
Also what are hat rims worth? Salvage yard has several of them. He said he was junking all of his 9N and 2N parts because there was no demand for them. Although I couldn't see inside them as there was tires on all of them they looked better from the outside than the one I have.

Hat rims are pot luck mounted on a tire,,, they are only worth what the tire is worth... I have lost dismounting them so sell them with the tire and let the buyer take the gamble... I have 4 nice hat rims I plan to retire off of :lol: but will probably die with them... I don't ever plan to restore/repair another one,,, anyone that say's its EZ, either does not know what they are talking about are don't know how to restore them ... Hat rims are a different animal than a regular loop rim...