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NAA Radius rods bent

C

charlieLCDR

Member
My son dropped the tractor off the side of trailer and bent the radius rods which are the heavy duty rods that go from the front axle back to the ball joint attached to the transmission.
Has anyone ever attempted to straighten these?
If so, how did you do it? Mine are both bent up in the middle about 4 inches.

Thanks guys for any info.
 
I've never had to straighten them on an NAA, but I straightened one on
my 8N by heating it, laying it on a concrete floor and rapping it with a mall.
It was no where near 4 inches off though.
Are you sure that was all that got damaged?
 
If it were mine, I would find some at the tractor bone yard and replace them. Should not take long; but I would also check the axle to see if it needs straightened if the replacement rods don't fit and if the front wheels are out of alignment after rods are changed.
 
Here is a quick EZ way to straighten the radius rods with out taking them off using a couple pieces of angle iron, chains and a bottle jack. A pictures worth a thousand words so I have posted three photos. Of course you can also take them off and straighten out in a press.
This method may not totally solve your problem which may need an axle pin/bushing replacement and axle/axle carrier repair.
Kirk
101_0111.jpg
 
my 2N had both radius rod bent bad and I straightened them in a press I also had to havee the axle support bored and sleeves welded in and replace the oil pan, one side bracket was broke, it trackes good and looks good now
 
yep.. that chain and jack rig..or some similar setup of it will work good.

backup the rod to prevent crushing it.
 
Straightening them is relatively quick and simple once you have the tools. I use a set-up similar to Kirk's, but I take my rods off the tractor and use a 6"x4" oak timber as my platform for the jack.

Colin, MN
 
The easiest repair is replacement from a salvage yard as used radius arms are inexpensive.

That said, I have straightened several as follows:

1. Remove the arms and reinstall in the inverted position such that the bow is downward.

2. Secure a length of chain to the rear of the arm at the socket and to the front axle at the arm attachment point. The chain should lay on the floor sufficiently to place a block of wood on top of the chain.

3. Place a suitably sized bottle jack on top of the block of wood beneath the downward facing bow in the radius arm. If the arms are badly bowed, a suitably sized length of angle iron cupped around the arm is helpful. Note: the arms are hollow.

4. Slowly extend the jack until the bow is slightly upward.

5. Strike the arm from above with a 2-4 lb. hammer a couple of times before releasing the jack.

6. Release the jack, remove the chain and reinvert the arms.

Dean
 
Question for you Royse. When you take the radius rods off, don't you loose your tranny fluid? Also,is there a gasket under the knuckel where it attaches to the tranny? The reason I asked is that mine is leaking there and wanted to replace the gasket if need be.(see picture)
a106420.jpg
 
Whatever works!

however it is probably worth mentioning that cold straightening is usually preferable to hot on parts like this, when convenient, as is the is the case here due to the fortuitous conjunction of the various parts and the availability of cheap, powerful jacks to provide the umph. Also, it is easy to dent the rods if you hammer on them hot, while cold bending tends to make even, smooth bends.
 
Someone has damaged your transmission by installing too long of a bolt into it.
Those tapped holes should be blind on the inside so no fluid comes out.
I would drain the tranny then clean the threads real well with lacquer thinner. Then I would install a stud with some locktite thread sealant on it.
Simple repair that would last a long time.
 
Used to be I could take them down to the shop where my pal Kenny worked. They had a 600 ton press that made short work of things like that.
Alas, the shop closed and all the equipment was sold off so nowdays I would be reduced to doing it here at home.

100_00801.jpg
 
I want to thank you guys for all the good ideas. After reading and seeing the pictures I am sure I can do it! I have a press but believe the bottle jack and chains would do it better.
I am a retired Seabee. Our moto was Seabees can do the difficult but the impossible takes a little longer.

Thanks again, I love these forums!
 
(quoted from post at 10:38:44 03/12/13) Question for you Royse. When you take the radius rods off, don't you loose your tranny fluid?
Click to expand...
No, you shouldn't.
They should be blind holes that don't go all the way through as UltraDog said.
Is it for sure leaking, or did someone over-grease them and that is coming out?
Kind of hard to tell from here. I hope its nothing serious.
 
Thanks, I'll check and see for sure what the problem is. They may be over greased,or as Ultradog said the previous owner may have put too long of a bolt in there. I'll wait for the weather to warm up and then pull the one that appears to be leaking off.
 
id also look very carefully at the ends of the radius rod ,make sure it isnt cracked or the axle damaged 4 inches is quite a stretch, not to mention the blow from the tractor landing, and its possible that it cracked the ends
 
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