[gene_cunningham]

I was greasing the right front spindle and notice a stream of grease coming out the bottom on my 83 318. After I took the tire off I removed the spindle and turned it over he is what I found.

As you can see, it appears the original weld did not go clear around the spindle. I assume this is not the way it is supposed to be. The left side has a weld completely around the shaft. I never noticed this before and have greased this fitting before.

Now, does anyone have a good way of fixing this? I thought I might just try and weld the gap closed, but being a beginning welder, I'm not sure what would happen to the spindle if I got it to hot...

Any suggestions would help. I hope to get the new tires on tomorrow and would like to get this fixed before I install them.

Thanks
Gene

 

[chuckv]

Gene,

JB weld would hold in that type of application if you get everything de-greased enough to make the application. Good luck...

Chuck

 

[gene_cunningham]

Chuck,

Thanks, for the input. I was thinking about JB weld, but I was worried that it would not be a long term fix. I'm hoping to hear from some welders out there before I decide what to do.

Gene

 

[wmgeorge]

So its been Not welded for 30 years and now its a problem? Frankly I would not worry about it. The grease you are using should be filling up the bearing anyway and this is the old greasing leaving.

Or maybe I am not seeing something?

 

[dr_evil]

BILL - I agree 100%. There's a heat effected zone along EVERY weld that is weaker than both the weld and parent metal. Welding that all 360 degrees around will make the spindle weaker.

 

[gene_cunningham]

Bill, Dennis

Yes, after 30 years it is now a problem. There must have been some wear on the bottom plate where the spindle goes through. I have greased this fitting before and grease came out the top and bottom of the shaft. Now, the grease just streams out the small gap. I can't build enough pressure to force the grease to the top of the shaft. It needs to be fixed. The shaft on the left front has a complete 360 weld.

Thanks for the info on making the spindle weaker. I think I am going to try Chuck's suggestion on using JB weld.

Gene

 

[rustyknuckles]

I'm not sure that any form of epoxy (e.g., JB Weld) will be able to hold off the pressure from the grease gun. I think it will just pop off. My advice would be to get another spindle; they come up for sale fairly often on the auction website.

 

[tool58974]

While Dennis is right, finishing the weld will not heat up the spindle to the point of making it weak. You might be looking at a difference of 70,000# tensile strength to 69,500# for example. If Deere thought it would be a problem, they wouldn't have done it to the other one. They heated the other one up way more by welding it completely at the factory than you will welding it that last 1/2 inch on this one.

 

[greenmotorman101]

I agree 100% with what Paul just said.
I also think the JB weld is probably not going to stick adequately. It might because there shouldn't be any pressure there but since it's already off the tractor just go ahead and fix it correctly

IMHO.
Max.

 

[gene_cunningham]

Well, now I guess I'm looking at welding it up. I would hate to use epoxy and then have to take it back off and fix it again.

I am hoping someone out there has a older 318 that could take a quick look and see if this is SUPPOSED to be this way or was it a mistake at the factory. With this 1/2" gap , I can't get the grease to fill the cavity....

Gene

 

[michael l.]

Gene, are you mig welding or stick welding? Mig welding you can weld that without heating the spindle up too much.
From the amount of weld buildup originally, I wouldn't be too concerned about about too much heat.

 

[greenmotorman101]

I just walked out to my shop and looked at 4 spindles. 2 from a 318 and 2 from a 400.
All of them were 100% welded the complete circumference

This has gotten me wondering if the wear point may be up top causing the increase in pressure to cause the grease to find a new path of least resistance. Check for problems before putting it back together. There is a lot of torque on the inside ie. ( closest to tractor) surface at the top of the axle. Maybe it has started to wear and blocked the flow of grease upward

Max

 

[gene_cunningham]

Thank you all for the information.

I am going to mig ( flux core ) the opening. I will try and lay the smallest bead necessary to just close up the gap between the spindle and the mount.

Max.

Thanks for checking the spindles for me. I will do a good check on the shaft and the wheel bearing before I put it back together. I did not notice any excessive ware, but I was looking at problems on the bottom, not the top. I will check it all again.

Will post a picture when I get the weld done. Got to go get my new front tires mounted this morning.

Thanks

Gene

 

[gene_cunningham]

Well, I bit the bullet and tried my hand at welding again and it turned out pretty good.

After a little filling I think it will hold just fine. A little paint and it's back on .

I also picked up my new tires this morning. I had a hole punched in one so I decided to upgrade the fronts to match my All Trails in the back. I think these will look good...

I found these at my local Les Schwab and the look somewhat like the Carlise's I have been looking at. They are called Turf Trac Guard and are 4-ply with a weight capacity of over 600 lbs.... Should work good with the snow blower.....

Gene

 

[akaothermick]

Nice job Gene, looks small enough that the heat didn't do anything, you still got it! Mick.

 

[gene_cunningham]

Thanks Mick, when I check the back for signs of heating, they was just a slight bluing of the surface where the wheel bearings fit.

I got everything put back together. I checked the spindle for any wear and also checked the two bushings and could find very little wear and no apparent problems. I put it to the grease gun test and I got a real nice bead of grease on the bottom plate and more important, I got a nice bead coming out at the top and nothing leaking from underneath.... I think this one is done....

Here is a picture of the new fronts installed.

I think they match up pretty well with the All Trails on the rear.

Gene