Axel Spring Perch Worn

Bill Goddard

Bill Goddard

Well-known member
I have two rear axel spring perches worn to oblong. The shackle bushings are worn right thru into the axel material. Is there a procdure to repair these oblong bores by welding and filing to round and inserting a new bushing? Thanks Bill G
 

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Make a copper form about the correct diameter and insert in the hole.

Weld with MIG or TIG. I was my MIG on a test case to see how well it worked. It did a decent job.

Then it is just matter of reaming or drilling to proper size and pressing in the bushing. Keep in mind you do not have to be perfect. You need to have enough support for the bushing to be held snugly in place.

Remember the seam should be on the opposite side of the wear area.

This idea was suggested a while ago so it is not my idea. I just played with it and found it to work well.
 
Did you guys only weld around the ends of the hole? Did you try (or think of) getting any weld down into the hole? I was thinking of cutting out the worn section and welding in a wedge of a length of tubing. Is this overkill? Or am I just thinking too much? Thanks!
 
Actually the perch can tolerate quite a bit of wear before you need to build it up. THe shackle bushing is thick and strong. I recommend that you press in a new bushing and look at it: you may see that the amount of unsupported circumference is so small that you really don't need to build it up. If you don't like the way it looks and decide to go ahead and build it up, you haven't lost anything. I decided not to build mine up 28 years ago; last time I had it apart (about 6 years ago) the bushing still looked great. I've got quite a few miles on it, too.
 
Bill Goddard said:
Doug, Where do you get carbon rods? Bill G
Click to expand...

I got them from McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com). But a good welding supply store should carry them. They are not very expensive.

I sort of cheated a little: I stuck one in a lathe and turned it down to the correct diameter. You can see the evidence of that on the end of the rod in the photos...

Doug
 
I have pressed the bushing in and heated the immediate area with oxy-acty and filled with brazing. While the bushing is probably strong enough by itself as mentioned or with welding near the ends, brazing can get to the interior wear area. Never had any metallurgical issues.
 
gilitos said:
Actually the perch can tolerate quite a bit of wear before you need to build it up. THe shackle bushing is thick and strong. I recommend that you press in a new bushing and look at it: you may see that the amount of unsupported circumference is so small that you really don't need to build it up. If you don't like the way it looks and decide to go ahead and build it up, you haven't lost anything. I decided not to build mine up 28 years ago; last time I had it apart (about 6 years ago) the bushing still looked great. I've got quite a few miles on it, too.
Click to expand...
Actually I've replaced the bushings in mine and used a little JB Weld to fill any open gaps and they've been there for years and look the same. Lots of wall thickness in those bushings.
 
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