Backhoe Pins

I asked about bushings in my last post but forgot about pins. In reading I have done on other sites it looks like 4140 cold drawn steel would be a good tough pin. Elsewhere I see a suggestion of 1018 which is not nearly as strong but would machine and weld ok. I don't plan on machining any of it as I plan to find pins and bushings which complement one another. Also it would have to be something that I would be able to cut to length in my shop. My thought is I would rather have the pin wear than have to replace bushings more often so perhaps the 1018 would be sufficient for all the work I will be doing just around the yard etc. certainly no paid work will be done with my little old backhoe.

Your right, the 1018 will probably work just find for your application but I'd also check on the price difference between that and the 4140. It's been several years since I had to make any pins so I don 't know what the going price for either is right now but if the difference isn't that great you'd definately get a longer life out of the 4140. As far as wearing on the bushings if you get the spring steel Connex bushings like I posted about your not going to have to worry about them wearing with either of the pin materials as they are both hard and tough.

I used a 5"+ Connex bushing in the boom pivot joint on a customers rock drill about 8 years ago to bush a worn hole down in size to keep from having to line bore it, and then turned the pin a bit undersized to match. This all because his guys neglected to grease the joint like they should origionally. With everything fresh and the joint getting maybe 1/3 the grease it needed, after me chewing on their a$$es about not greasing it at all, it's still as tight as the day I put it back together after almost daily use.....If that tells you anything about how good the bushings are.

Since you say your wanting to basically match components give Connex a call and tell them what exactly your looking for to match up with the pin you choose and they should be able to get you what you need, or so close to it it isn't funny.

The spring bushings from Connex seem to be just what I'm looking for. I'll have to take some measurements, I'm thinking I will need the thin wall bushings. Are they expensive compared to something like a set screw type shaft collar (about $4.00 a piece for 1 1/2" ID)?

If your looking for a 'standard' size I know I have ordered them from either Mcmaster Carr or MSC in the past. If the ones they carry aren't Connex brand they seem just as good. Can't remember where I got them from last, but I know one or both of them carry them in stock for some of the smaller sizes so you could check the prices for those particular ones through their web sites if they have what you need. If they don't have what you need you can buy directly from Connex so just give them a call and they should be able to give you a quote for what you need over the phone. From what I have gathered in the times I've called they can do custom diameters and lengths, within reason, pretty easily so it shouldn't be hard to get exactly what your looking for. Granted you'll pay more for them than you will for something like a shaft collar but in the end the job will be done right and you shouldn't ever have to mess with it again. Like my Grandpa used to say if you can't afford the money and time to do something right the first time where are you going to find the money and time to do it again the second time.....

I just found them on the McMaster Carr website, I wasn't looking hard enough before.
I will have to pull it apart when I'm done with it this fall and take some better measurements. I have some good ideas now and I will be able to make great improvements without breaking the bank.
Thank you.