welding

[Bob Roraback]

After calling a couple of the new parts distributors to locate a new head and pittman straps for my mower I decided to repair it myself. I had 5/8" of travel in the socket, which was setting up a nasty vibration in my tractor when mowing. ( Yes, the clamp was closed). I foung that the wear was about 60 /40 with the most wear in the straps.I welded a buildup in the head and the straps with 7024 welding wire at about 75 amps which really laid on a smooth buildup and did a nice job. After some grinding and shaping of the head and straps I have the play in the socket down to nothing. I dont know if I have done any harm as far as overheating of the parts with welding but I am going to mount them tomorrow and try them out. I will post the results if anybody is interested and I would like to hear from anyone who has attempted a similar fix. Bob Roraback

[parts man]

Bob, you couldn't have done any harm, cause they were no good as they were! Put a good dollup of grease on the ball before you close the clamp on it.