My Strenghtened Tie Rod

AndyMA · May 27, 2009

I know there have been many post here regarding bent tie rods. I used to bend them all the time until I did the following mod with a piece of angle iron. This was done about 20 years ago on my Ford 2120 (New Holland TC 48/55) and has been strong ever since in hard use over many trees and limbs. I also did it on my Ford 1710 before that.

Andy

jinman · May 28, 2009

Looks good Andy. Do you think attaching the angle with u-bolts (3 or 4) instead of welding would have been satisfactory? I'm just thinking that could be a less "permanent" fix; although, I don't really see any problem with the tie-rod being welded.

AndyMA · May 28, 2009

jinman said:
Looks good Andy. Do you think attaching the angle with u-bolts (3 or 4) instead of welding would have been satisfactory? I'm just thinking that could be a less "permanent" fix; although, I don't really see any problem with the tie-rod being welded.

Actually I don't think so. If you had seen the 2 or 3 we bent about 20 years ago while bush hogging 1-3" trees with bucket mashing them down, I think it needs the continuous strength of the weld. My dealer who has been around over 50 years pretty much does it as a standard mod for most serious users who are going to work in the woods or brush.. It also provides some protection from minor stone damage. As you can see it does not get in the way of adjusting the tie rod. All I know is no mod, problem almost every time I mowed. Mod, No problems in 20 plys years

Andy

AndyMA · May 28, 2009

Actually I just thought of it but I think the U bolts would just be something else to hang up, not that I don't have enough of those things already.

Andy

Wis Bang · May 28, 2009

AndyMA said:
I think it needs the continuous strength of the weld. My dealer who has been around over 50 years pretty much does it as a standard mod for most serious users who are going to work in the woods or brush.. It also provides some protection from minor stone damage. As you can see it does not get in the way of adjusting the tie rod. All I know is no mod, problem almost every time I mowed. Mod, No problems in 20 plys years

Andy

I thought they all came that way, I think it is rather comon to do this.

Soundguy · May 28, 2009

Now i see.. where i'm from we call the tube a drag link, and the ends.. tie rod ends.. etc.

sounduy

sen many a draglink fixed that way.. seen many a radius rod fixed that way too.

I've made my own draglinks with pipe and added coupler ends and tie rod ends for adjustment.. did that last with my 1958 ford 951

came out nice.. way nicer than the bent original one that looked like a pretzle!

soundguy

Interlaux · Jan 17, 2011

Know the post is old but its things like this that make TBN priceless:thumbsup:

Bent mine on Saturday last and my neighbor straightened it for me (I helped!).
called deere for a new one - $450 - yes $450 OMG! This was my 1st major FU after 400 hours on the 4610 - my 1st tractor so I've been fretting every since - get robbed for a new one - build one out of DOM - just keep driving.

So now that I've read this and I've already got the angle iron the choice is made ... got to love this forum!

THANKS ANDY!

Before the 20ton press etc.. pic

moship · Jan 17, 2011

Interlaux,

Although yours is fixed it would not take too much effort to make a new one from Chromoly tubing, some thread adapters and reuse the tie-rod ends. Any place that sells race car supplies could help could provide the necessary parts. $450 is crazy!!!

Jeg's is a good source for thread adapters if they can not be purchased locally. They make ones with a hex, but I couldn't find it. Here's a link for smooth ones. QA1 Smooth Tube Adapters - JEGS

Soundguy · Jan 17, 2011

yep.. i would prefer a new fab that a repair as the repair may bend again easier unless reinforced or really reworked.
since this posting I've probably made 2-3 more sets of draglinks for tractors I refurbed.. easy to do with stock ends and heavy wall tube and some thread and or clamping hardware..

soundguy