Well, Fellas...... I finally received my new axle pivot pin and finished the re-assembly of the repaired front axle on my crippled 129.
WOW! DOES THAT BABY STEER NICE NOW!
IT'S LIKE HAVING POWER STEERING!
It must of just been due to the cleaning and regreasing of all the spindle joints and axle pivot pin & new tie rod ends that freed up the entire steering linkage. I used dry lubricant (lock graphite) on the tie rod ends and assembled the pivot pin and spindles with never-sieze then once assembled I hit them with a pump or two of red grease.
As was recommended here (THANKS, GUYS!
) a while back, I upgraded all four tie rod ends to the better-design of the heim joint-style tie rod ends from McMaster-Carr. Part #60645K441, and only $6.08 each (roughly 1$ more than the OEM style tie rod end). I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM - THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY A MUCH BETTER unit and look good too!
http://www.mcmaster.com/
I also picked up some new nylon insert, lock nuts from my local hardware to go with the new tie rod ends and flat washers on either side of the linkage arms, just because I could.
Now if I can just keep from hitting something else before this Winter,
then I'll tear it down and see about fixing that bad trunnion bracket on the hydro linkage!
A BIG thanks to everyone for their help, advice and encouragement!
Ryan W
