Split swivel balls-2a 2B, How common?

[wagoo]

As above. I've seen a few in my career as a Landy mechanic and have reinforced mine to support my portal boxes and large tyres, but how common is it among FC owners that use their vehicles for outback trips or rough work.?
Wagoo.

[123rover50]

I often look at the front , end on, and think are those wheels splayed?
The axle has 2 1/2 tonne on it and they could be.
Can this be measured at home or is it a job for the shop?
How dificult is it reinforcing them?

[fc110]

As above. I've seen a few in my career as a Landy mechanic and have reinforced mine to support my portal boxes and large tyres, but how common is it among FC owners that use their vehicles for outback trips or rough work.?
Wagoo.

I have seen a couple of cracked hsgs, it appears as a very difficult to see crack at the corner between the flange & the cylindrical part, about 2 or 3 inches long. I have never seen a completely broken one. There are at least 4 different types of construction of Series 2/3 hsgs. I don't have any to check , so my order of use may not be right. First is plain no markings (ordinary 2/2a's). Next has a groove turned on the flange rim, to indicate the strengthened FC version. Then later, no groove but a steel grade letter/no (EN????) combination cast on the outer (stub axle side) end face between the swivel pin lugs. The Series 3 hsgs have a round blob cast on one of those outer swivel pin lugs, sometimes but not always with the cast no. as well. I have only ever used the Series 3 type & no problems, although I've always checked them when off. I've seen (& heard) of more problems with the attaching bolts shearing. I've used hi-tensile grade 8, 3/8 UNF bolts with ordinary Nylocks. The factory bolts, while marked with strength grade, are difficult to read, so the modern grooves of UNF bolts are easier to see. Grade 8 bolts I think have 6 slots in the head. I have cringed for those 6 bolts every time I've hit an obstruction way to hard.

[wagoo]

For the portals,I reinforce my swivel balls in 2 ways,either method on its own would be sufficient for a standard FC.and the second method effectively reinforces both inner and outer swivel housings and flange bolts, as well as reducing side loading on the Railko bushing.
Whoever at Rover thought a 3" diameter 40,000lb capacity roller bearing was needed to support the weight of the halfshaft was a moron.Having a 3'' hole in the neck of the ball drastically reduces its wall thickness.
I remove the bearing and replace it with a press fit bronze bushed steel insert that I weld in at the hemisphere side. The insert protrudes from the flange and spiggots into the axle housing after removing the inner seal and grinding the spiggot from the axle housing flange.
The other and easier modification was to make a pair of 5'' long bottom swivel pins, make a short tie rod with a 3/4'' rose joint on one end, a left hand thread eyebolt and bracket on the other which is welded to the axle housing.The eyebolt is made from a scap tie rod end. This is similar, but not identical to how Maxidrive, Marks 4WD and Tibus reinforce Rover swivel assemblies for portals.
Wagoo.

[wrinklearthur]

Hi Wagoo

I will let you off if you have already posted pictures of this on the forum.

Otherwise you are doomed to crawl around under your bus, with your camera!

I know, I Know! where are all my pictures?

Cheers Arthur

[wagoo]

Hi Wagoo

I will let you off if you have already posted pictures of this on the forum.

Otherwise you are doomed to crawl around under your bus, with your camera!

I know, I Know! where are all my pictures?

Cheers Arthur

I suppose I should read up on how to post photos. Anyone know if doing so uses up megabytes/Gigs? We are limited to 3 gig per month on our wireless poverty plan, and my daughter has used most of this months limit up on skype video.
Wagoo.

[isuzutoo-eh]

Posting up photos should only take around 150 kilobytes per image, a megabyte is a thousand kilobytes and a gigabyte a thousand megabytes. So not much!
You will have to edit your photos to make them suitable for the web, photos straight from a decent camera could be too many megabytes. It isn't hard, if you need instructions, I or many others could help.

[wrinklearthur]

Posting up photos should only take around 150 kilobytes per image, a megabyte is a thousand kilobytes and a gigabyte a thousand megabytes. So not much!
You will have to edit your photos to make them suitable for the web, photos straight from a decent camera could be too many megabytes. It isn't hard, if you need instructions, I or many others could help.

Hi Isuzutoo

I too would like to be taken gently by the hand down the picture production path.

I can already resize my photo's using a freebie program called PIXresizer, if that is the way to for a start.

Hey Wagoo, is that 3 Gig limit allowed both for the uploads as well as the download?

The upload allowance may be considerably less.

Cheers Arthur

[isuzurover]

I suppose I should read up on how to post photos. Anyone know if doing so uses up megabytes/Gigs? We are limited to 3 gig per month on our wireless poverty plan, and my daughter has used most of this months limit up on skype video.
Wagoo.

Bill, I take photos on a digi cam, then upload to my photobucket account (free to set up).

photobucket automatically resizes each pic - saves you doing it!

Next to each pic you upload to photobucket there will be an [{IMG}] code link, which you cut and past into a thread on here and it will embed (insert) the image.

If you want to upload them directly to AULRO instead you will need to resize them yourself first.

As a guide, each picture taken using an average resolution digi cam would be ~1MB, so 3000 pics until you have used up your quota.

[123rover50]

Do you think these balls are bent?
Actually its not just the balls I am worried about, its the ****y little swivel bearings. They are smaller than the series ones.
A tutorial on sleeving would be appreciated.

[wagoo]

Do you think these balls are bent?
Actually its not just the balls I am worried about, its the ****y little swivel bearings. They are smaller than the series ones.
A tutorial on sleeving would be appreciated.

Can't really tell from the photo, but if you are using an axle from a coil sprung vehicle, you should note that they have Zero camber angle,unlike series axles that have 1.5 degrees positive camber.
The neck and flange of coiler swivel balls is stronger than the series balls and probably don't need reinforcing there, but the swivel bearings and the metal surrounding them doesn't fill me with confidence. Best do the 3rd king pin bearing I mentioned earlier.The extended bottom swivel pin on the Maxidrive portal kits were made as a one piece unit rather than the series type press in swivel pin. Wonder if Maxidrives successors have any left over?
Wagoo.

[wagoo]

Hey Wagoo, is that 3 Gig limit allowed both for the uploads as well as the download?

The upload allowance may be considerably less.

Cheers Arthur

I don't know Arthur. Computer speak is all Mongolian to me.:confused: I'll ask my 5 year old grandson, he's sure to know.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/955.jpg
Wagoo.

[isuzutoo-eh]

Bill, Arthur,
Perhaps this thread might help the photo posting?
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/25511-how-post-photos-forum.html
If not i'll write some instructions for using photobucket, which is also my preferred method.
Note, on page 3 is instructions for posting from the AULRO gallery, Jock the Rock has a step by step guide bottom of page 12, and may be more methods later in the thread...

[101RRS]

My biggest regret when I visited Wagoo in April was that I did not crawl all over his portalled 88 and take heaps of pics - I climbed all over it but didn't take pics.

It is a nice piece of work.

Garry

[wagoo]

Some urgent equipment maintenance has kept me away from the Landy for a couple of days. I'll try and dig some clumps of mud from around the front axle tomorrow so the 3rd kingpin is visible enough to take a photo of.
While on the subject.I'm interested to know if any FC owners have had similar experiences to the two other swivel issues I've had over the years due to a heavier than normal front end,My vehicle isn't a FC, but it does have a lot of weight up front, with similar size tyres and wheel offset due to the portals.And it does see a lot of severe wheel wrenching terrain with alot of side loading.
The steering arms working loose and breaking the dowel studs was a persistant one that even after fitting new outer swivel housings, I could only solve by bolting a brace to the flat surface at the front of the outer swivel housing, that reached down and collared the steering arm a couple of inches behind the tierod end. The other issue that caused me to ditch the Railkos and convert to tapered roller swivel bearings at the top was once when the vehicle bellied out on a hummock.While the front wheels were off the ground, the weight of the heavier 9.00x16 Michelin tyre and swivel/hub assembly (no portals back then) caused the Railko pin on one side to punch the steel bottom out of the Railko bush, allowing the swivel/hub assembly to drop offcentre, putting the halfshaft in a bind and destroying a cv joint (Tracta joint).
Wagoo.

[123rover50]

I think my 6x6 would be the heaviest front end around at 2500 kg but I dont do heavy off road stuff just desert sand or mud. The only issue so far is the bottom swivel bearing cup developing ridges.
I did convert to bearings top and bottom but changed back to railco as couldnt control the shimmy. I have had to lift a bit to stop the front shaft hitting the Chev starter so that didnt help. Fitted one offset castor bush but perhaps should have fitted both. The Tyre blokes have trouble balancing the 900,s. I thought it was only the Alliance I had on so went to Michelin in the hope they would balance but not much better.As long as I stay under 100kph its OK.

[wagoo]

I think my 6x6 would be the heaviest front end around at 2500 kg but I dont do heavy off road stuff just desert sand or mud. The only issue so far is the bottom swivel bearing cup developing ridges.
I did convert to bearings top and bottom but changed back to railco as couldnt control the shimmy. I have had to lift a bit to stop the front shaft hitting the Chev starter so that didnt help. Fitted one offset castor bush but perhaps should have fitted both. The Tyre blokes have trouble balancing the 900,s. I thought it was only the Alliance I had on so went to Michelin in the hope they would balance but not much better.As long as I stay under 100kph its OK.

That is an awful lot of weight on just the front end.And its doing a good job holding up just standing still:) I thought the Perentie 6x6 front axle was only uprated to 1500Kgs? I hope you carry at least a spare spindle and hub assembly with you.
Wagoo.

[123rover50]

I dont know why its so heavy in front as the engine and box sit further back than the bonnet control and there is not that much in front of the wheels. All I can think of its that heavy galv steel cab that I moved forward thats done it. No I have not been carrying a spare spindle. As you say, perhaps I will in future.
Didiman

[wagoo]

Ok, try these photos for a practice run. there should be one of the third kingpin among them.The others are for Garry.The truck is a bit more battered than when he saw it I think.

Pictures by wagoo - Photobucket (http://s1139.photobucket.com/albums/n546/wagoo/)

[LowRanger]

Ok, try these photos for a practice run. there should be one of the third kingpin among them.The others are for Garry.The truck is a bit more battered than when he saw it I think.

Pictures by wagoo - Photobucket (http://s1139.photobucket.com/albums/n546/wagoo/)

Love the Photos Bill....now if I can just find where I stored the photos of your 6x6:cool:

Wayne

[isuzutoo-eh]

Bill, success!
To have the photos show in your post, when your mouse hovers over the image in photobucket, it'll have 4 options below, the bottom one says IMG Code, if you click on the the field next to it it'll copy the link that makes the image show in your post, which you then paste into your reply. Voila!

[wagoo]

Love the Photos Bill....now if I can just find where I stored the photos of your 6x6:cool:

Wayne

I was just learning to drive the new camera that Serg (Uninformed) kindly gave me Wayne. When I'm a bit more practiced i'll try and take a fewwith the truck in its element.
Wagoo.