I've seen a lot of pictures here of bent radius rods on N-series tractors and if there's a comment about the cause, it's usually something like "must have hit something really hard". I don't know that I've seen a comment that says for sure the bend was caused by collision ... but then I haven't read every one.
For may years my old tractor has had a loose front end with a worn out bushing & pin, allowing the axle to "rock" to and fro around the tire spin axis when it hits bumps or holes ... if that makes sense. Also, the tractor has a badly bent radius rod.
I'm wondering if one causes the other: does the twisting action of the rocking axle put enough force on the rod to bend it over time? Or did the previous owner smack something good and hard causing the bend?
For may years my old tractor has had a loose front end with a worn out bushing & pin, allowing the axle to "rock" to and fro around the tire spin axis when it hits bumps or holes ... if that makes sense. Also, the tractor has a badly bent radius rod.
I'm wondering if one causes the other: does the twisting action of the rocking axle put enough force on the rod to bend it over time? Or did the previous owner smack something good and hard causing the bend?