bent front bar on Jinma 204

[rider10099]

I was out plowing snow by the barn, going down an incline - when I looked at my front wheels they were pointing in different directions - don't have to be a mechanic to know this isn't good.
Looks like a bar between the two front wheels is bent - what is it called and is it hard to replace - and is there anything I can do to move the tractor back to the shop without replacing the bar - would rather work on the concrete floor than in 3 feet of snow.
thanks
John

 

[greg_g]

They remove easily. Unscrew each end, and take just the rod inside with you for straightening. Be very careful of the female threaded ends though. Do not use any clamping or gripping force on them at all. Because if they get out-of-round, you'll never get it back on the tractor.

//greg//

 

[rider10099]

thanks Greg,
I will dig out the area tomorrow and try and remove the bar - you make it sound easy - I will let you know - I assume when I pull the bar it will be easy then to turn the wheels with the front end suspended by the bucket?
Cheers
John

 

[greg_g]

I assume when I pull the bar it will be easy then to turn the wheels with the front end suspended by the bucket?

Yes. But don't rely solely on the bucket to hold the front end off the ground. Use jackstands.

//greg//

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

#1 Looks like a bar between the two front wheels is bent - what is it called

#2 and is it hard to replace -

#3 and is there anything I can do to move the tractor back to the shop without replacing the bar - would rather work on the concrete floor than in 3 feet of snow.

thanks
John

#1 Drag Link.

#2 The drag link has a tie rod on each end (book calls it a Pull Rod joint). Remove the castle nut on each tie rod end. They have a press fit and will require breaking loose.

#3 Once they get bent they are considered junk to me and will require replacement. You could take a sledge hammer, pry bar or both to get it straight enough to half way steer it back to the shop.


It's hard to get a drag link straight with a hammer without putting flat spots in it (thats where it will bend next time). The drag link is where you set / adjust the toe end. If the tie rod ends have any play in them ??.... now is the time to replace them. Sometimes the threads are seized where the tie rods screws in the end of the drag link. One end has left hand threads & the other end has right hand. Set / adjust the toe after replacing part/ parts.



Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

 

[psj12]

I have straightened them before, just not on a chinese tractor, and they all worked fine afterwards. I used an acetelene torch to heat them and straighten them. On hollow ones I have then inserted a piece of solid rod to strengthen it.

Because length may change slightly due to the bending it may require putting the tie rod ends in slightly different positions to set toe in. However I don't think you will be going 90 mph on your tractor.

 

[Bob Rooks]

The appropriate sized schedule 160 pipe cut to the right length will make an excellent replacement.
It used to be that the drag link , having ball & socket joints on both ends and made with a taper & drawn up with a nut, went from the sector gear arm to the steering hub & spindle on either side of the vehicle (tractors included). The tie rod, which also has the same type of ball & socket joints on each end, goes between the two front steering hubs, across the front or rear of the axle. Toe-in is adjusted with the tie rod, and probably is less than 7°, depending on the built-in camber.

 

[GuglioLS]

John,

The drag link (tube that connects the two tie rods together) bent on my Jinma 354 similar to yours? does yours look like this:?



As mentioned it is very easy to remove. I was able to straighten mine using the bucket curl of my Back Hoe, you could use some other means to straighten it, be creative such as placing the two ends of the rod on blocks and use the FEL to push down on it in the middle.

After I straighetned mine out, I hammered in a solid rod to prevent it from ever bending again, it works fine just like PSJ12 (Parry) said.

I was able to get the tube bent straight, so it only took a few whacks of the hammer and punch to drive it into the tube, and have it evenly spaced at the ends:




This is an after picture of the drag link which is essentially now a solid rod vs a hollow tube:



Final touches - I got the Toe-in set so that the distance between the front of the tires is 1/2" narrower than the distance between the rear of the front tires. I locked the steering knuckle nuts tight against the tie rod.
All done :



Hope some of this helps...

Larry

 

[rider10099]

Looks pretty similar - getting light enough to go out and take a look - snow is melting except of course where the tractor is because it is in a drift! Isn't that always the rule.
Thanks
John

 

[rider10099]

I got the castle nuts off, along with the two washers - but can't pull the pull rods out - how much force can I use to break them free?