Ball and Socket drag link dust cover?

stevieb49829

Well-known Member
This is for a MH 101 Jr., but they are used on Farmalls and others. Is there supposed to be some kind of boot, or dust cover to keep the grit out of the joint? I'll make one somehow if nothing is available. My parts book shows nothing. steve
cvphoto146307.jpg
 
Steve, I have used a worn-out leather glove, cut and fitted for the particular need and zip tied or hose clamped to protect the problem area. I imagine that it probably is a false sense of security, but I feel that it is better than nothing.
 
I didn't think of the glove, but I have some really flexible plastic tubing that I'm going to try to make one. NDIHC: I'm going to Pull and Save in a few days, so I'll look there, but not likely to have something that old in their junkyard. If I scratch my head long enough, I might remember one lying out in the woods somewhere.
 
I have never seen a boot on a joint like that on a tractor.

That said I have repurposed a cv joint boot to make a cover for something similar.
 
I just snip a little hole in a piece of inner tube then slip it over the tie rod end hole is tight over the bolt so it seals against dirt. if you took the ball out of the socket you could do the same with a piece of old tire or tube then wrap and zip tie or hose clamp whatever you want to fasten it. The rubber will stretch to fit over the ball and then seal on the tie rod. I do suppose though if they lasted the last 60-80 years they would last for the rest of their life like that if greased since they seldom get run in that much dirt anymore.
 
It should have a cover to keep dirt out, even if the factory originally cheapened out and didnt install them (?).

Here's a few choices found in the online catalog from Vintage Power Wagons:
Draglink dust covers
 
Can remember working on some older trucks back in the 80's. They had something like a leather tongue from a boot. Some had a metal version of a zip tie to wrap around the drag link. One other one I remember had eyes in the leather and held together with a shoestring. Steve.
 
Ok. You've given me two answers I was looking for: 1 - Probably didn't have anything, from the factory. 2 - It should have something. I like the idea of a laced-on leather cover. That would appear period correct. But I'm going to try a piece of rubber/plastic hose/tube first. I made one last night out of some plastic tube I had. If it was a bit bigger in diameter, and a bit thinner, it would have worked well, especially getting it over the ball and staying tight enough to seal. And I'm thinking twisted baling wire to keep it on the socket. That would be period correct!!!! I'll post the final solution when I get there. steve
 

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