Yesterday on my old Simplicity lawn tractor the drag link for the steering popped apart (socket got worn and the ball joint came out). You have to buy the drag link with the ball joint already attached and it is $82 +shipping.
So I decided to create a fix until I have the opportunity to get a new one. So I tried to figure out what I could do to hold the worn ball joint in the socket. I could split a washer and slide it around the neck of the ball joint and weld the washer to the drag link but I don't have a welder. Next best thing... I made a sleeve. I took apiece of conduit about an inch long and drilled a hole in it, then cut a slot. I put the ball joint in the link and slid the conduit over it until it bottomed out then drilled a hole and tapped it (on the bottom) for a screw to hold it in place. works good, thought maybe this might be helpful if anyone else runs into the same problem. url='http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/photopost/data/500/100_18082.JPG']
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So I decided to create a fix until I have the opportunity to get a new one. So I tried to figure out what I could do to hold the worn ball joint in the socket. I could split a washer and slide it around the neck of the ball joint and weld the washer to the drag link but I don't have a welder. Next best thing... I made a sleeve. I took apiece of conduit about an inch long and drilled a hole in it, then cut a slot. I put the ball joint in the link and slid the conduit over it until it bottomed out then drilled a hole and tapped it (on the bottom) for a screw to hold it in place. works good, thought maybe this might be helpful if anyone else runs into the same problem. url='http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/photopost/data/500/100_18082.JPG']
