Farmpro 2430 Ball joints and hydraulics pics

[EE_Bota]

Last weekend, I did a bunch of work on the tractor, and I took pics. I made a slide show, and most of the pics have a description.
Both ball joints have a broken piece in it I will call a "dish." The spring pushes the dish against the pin ball. Are the dishes available separately?
Here is the slideshow (if you click "View as slide show"
Tractorbynet pictures by botaphota - Photobucket


A selected pic from the show. See the broken dish?


It is hard to experiment with good stuff, but experimenting is nearly mandatory for me with broken stuff.



Anyway, both joints are tighter than they were by a long shot, and the one I did the shimming to was tightest of all. I just put the broken dish back in the other one, and decided to come here for help. I can afford to buy all new joints, but would much rather spend my money on new FEL valve and new Backhoe valve.


Some of the pics are so folks can look at the tractor and guess how in the world these joints got ruined with only 50 hours.

I noticed there is too much freedom in the right front wheel, and that will make setting toe-in a joke. I may need to go into that thing and replace that bearing.

 

[greg_g]

It's actually called a "cup", but you were in the right cabinet. I see a lot of blue in that top photo. Blue equates to heat, heat causes premature failure. Heat is typically caused by friction. Causes of friction include lack of grease and over-tightening. I strongly recommend you replace with the correct parts. Then lubricate faithfully, and refrain from over-tightening.

//greg//

 

[EE_Bota]

It's actually called a "cup", but you were in the right cabinet. I see a lot of blue in that top photo. Blue equates to heat, heat causes premature failure. Heat is typically caused by friction. Causes of friction include lack of grease and over-tightening. I strongly recommend you replace with the correct parts. Then lubricate faithfully, and refrain from over-tightening.

//greg//

I think the blue appearance is coming from the fact I was in shade. They were not actually blue.
The two I have been into both had the cup broken. I suspect the other 2 remaining are the same way.
If I could get the cups separately, so far one entire joint needs replacing for sure, but the remaining one examined is in pretty good shape.
I am not sure about the ones on the power steering cylinder yet. I suspect the cups are broken at least.

 

[Rich Waugh]

The ball joints on these tractors are adjustable. If not properly adjusted they will have too much slop and beat themselves to death as yours have. Get new ones and adjust them properly at the start and then grease with good grease and you'll be well ahead.