king pin locking bolt

springerpete

springerpete

Well-known member
I tighten it each Spring before hitting the road. After 800-900 miles I find it can be tightened again. Yes, they do have lock washers.
1. Is this normal for a Model A?
2. I use a 10-12" long box end wrench and pull hard. I'm not a gorilla but just a regular old geezer. Your thoughts ? '29 roadster
 
springerpete said:
I tighten it each Spring before hitting the road. After 800-900 miles I find it can be tightened again. Yes, they do have lock washers.
1. Is this normal for a Model A?
2. I use a 10-12" long box end wrench and pull hard. I'm not a gorilla but just a regular old geezer. Your thoughts ? '29 roadster
Click to expand...

Kingpin loose fit in axle bore causing it to wear on retaining bolt?
Bill
 
bbrocksr said:
Kingpin loose fit in axle bore causing it to wear on retaining bolt?
Bill
Click to expand...

That was my thought. If the king pin is flogging about in the hole, it will get worse and worse as you drive. Retightening the cotter pins won't fix it.
My bother in law has just bought his first Model A. I went along with him to check it over. When I looked at the front of the axle without even getting under the car, I could see that the king pins were loose in the axle. The front end of the cotter pin is usually 8 - 10 mm out of the axle. His were below the axle. I commented on it and when the seller jacked the front end up, I showed him the slack. He had no idea but it explained to me why a steering damper had been fitted.
Once this lockdown finishes, we will get those holes resized and most likely, remove the damper.
 
I just noticed last week that one of my king pin locking pins had fallen out! Checking back in my manuals, I see that the pin should be driven in from the front of the axle and then the nut and lock washer put on the back. The passenger side pin is still there, but I put it in from the back and put the nut on the front. Should I make sure both are in from the front?
 
They are definitely driven in from the front to keep correct alignment to the brake actuator .

John in West Drayton London England .
 
I will also say that the pins are to be driven in before tightening the nut. Also, the king pin should be rotated to align the holes before putting the pin in. See Les Andrews' book "Model A Ford Mechanics Handbook, Vol. I."
 
The long nuts on the backside are a stop for steering linkage, with the long nuts on the front you may get oversteer and lock up the steering.
 
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