Making pivot pins - what kind of steel to use?

[Mysfyt]

Check out McMaster Carr. They have hardened shafts that are annealed at the ends so you can machine them.
SAE 660 bronze is what you want for bushings if you go that route.

 

[jim_wilson]

Check out McMaster Carr. They have hardened shafts that are annealed at the ends so you can machine them.
SAE 660 bronze is what you want for bushings if you go that route.

Bronze? I understand that bronze is not going to rust itself into the bushings (like the lower pins in my BX23 did) - but is bronze a suitable material for pivot pins? I'm not familiar with heavier duty machinery than compact tractors - is bronze used in some applications?

 

[downsizingnow48]

I have made pins like that out of mild steel, drilled for grease.

The BH77 pin is almost totally encased in the side and center bushings, if I recall correctly, it would be difficult to break a 25mm mild steel pin.

But, for that non rotating application, I wonder if the answer might not be, a shot of some kind of high quality penetrating oil every 10 hours when you grease the tractor.

 

[downsizingnow48]

This TBN thread might have some useful information, it is on converting the BH77 to hydraulic operation. I didn't look through the whole thread but the writers must have dealt with the pin/grease question.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...20-bh77-has-anyone-considered-converting.html