steering knuckle

[Gidds]

steering knuckle Separated

I was adjusting the tie rods a few weeks ago, and didn't put a wrench on the knuckle, big mistake. When I turned the nut on the tie rod, I ended up separating the tie rod off the knuckle. I popped it back on and everything seemed okay, till today. Now its falling right off.
Is there any way to fix this?!?
Thanks

...its a yerf dog

 

[mckutzy]

No not really, it was crimped on at the factory. Twisting broke the crimp.
I'm thinking you might need to replace it.

The YD guys will chime in as to the source of a replacement.

 

[Gidds]

ball joint

There's got to be some way to rig it till I can get a replacement part.
Someone has to have come up with a patch?!? Maybe?!?

http://www.mfgsupply.com/gomini/goministeering/goministeeringball.html

Any idea what I'm suppose to be measuring to get the right size?

 

[OzFab]

Yep, it's broken, replace it...

http://www.mfgsupply.com/gomini/goministeering/goministeeringball.html

Any idea what I'm suppose to be measuring to get the right size?

Thread size; more than likely, you need a 5/16"

 

[mckutzy]

Things like this aren't the things to jury-rig up. This is one of the critical elements of the viehicle and are needed functioning correctly as designed.

 

[Gidds]

Yep
That's what I didn't want to hear ...but needed to.

This is a 2007 \ 2008 ish kart I just got.
Original belt and chain sill on it :\
Just got their replacements today and Wow was it running good ....for 15 minutes, till the ball join let go

 

[OzFab]

Triple check the thread, being such a late model, there's a chance it may be metric

 

[Gidds]

Crap
How can I tell?

 

[OzFab]

Run a nut down the thread (or vice versa); it helps to know what size the nut is though...

 

[qtband]

Look carefully. Some are RH thread and some are LH thread.

 

[Gidds]

Yep, it's broken, replace it...
Thread size; more than likely, you need a 5/16"

Pulled it off, sure enough you were right!
5/16" - RH thread
It was a worn down, sloppy mess!

Called the lawnmower repair shop, they freeze up without a part number, said they don't have it. Brought it down there, put it in their hands, and they head out back and find one
This one was so bad i'm thinking i should do the other side too.

Do you guys try to grease/lubricate these things?
I was thinking about spraying it with that Moly spray i used on my clutch.

 

[jslider]

May think about going to a hiem joint is stronger and not that much more than tie rod ends normally if going to replace them with heim joints they will last a long long longg time. And they are available at parts stores and ace hardware

 

[Gidds]

So what do you do?
Slide the tie rod through it with a nut on either side?
And if so, wouldn't it just wear away at the threads on the tie rod, making it nonadjustable?

Edit:
I did some more looking, you mean something like this.. see second picture

 

[Poboy kartman]

The first one is a typical heim joint....think of a bolt with just part of it threaded going through from the top.......you then have basically the same as part #2......

Edit and heim joints come male (pic#1) or female. ....and left or right handed thread. .....#2 is pretty much what I would call a ball joint.....

 

[qtband]

Once again, check your other side before you order anything. It might be the opposite thread.

 

[Gidds]

May think about going to a hiem joint is stronger and not that much more than tie rod ends normally if going to replace them with heim joints they will last a long long longg time. And they are available at parts stores and ace hardware

I bet you're right, these things look better suited for the job compared to what I have, and it appears they are easier to get your hands on locally too. When I replace the other side, I'll check the thread direction and use this on at least one side of the cart. Great idea Slider, Thanks!

 

[jslider]

Yes those and they are readily available and very durable, and can be gotten in left or right hand thread easily, i used these on my daughters kart and they work great

 

[Gidds]

Do you use any lubrication on them?

 

[rockman96]

There are two types of Heim joints... Stamped and milled. Don't buy the stamped ones. 3/8" milled Heims are $4-$5 each from Mcmaster, and they are MUCH better. Get the regular Heims, use shoulder bolts and cone washers with them, and your steering system will be really smooth and pretty much bullet proof.

To your Q... You can purchase Heims that have grease zerks, they are more expensive and I'm not sure they are worth it over the standard factory lubed joints.

 

[andrewmacc]

We use rod ends on our wheeling trucks as well. They're strong as heck and they hold up well, although grit tends to destroy the wiper seal and then they get sloppy. If you use heims, I'd recommend safety washers if they're going to be placed in single shear - safety washers prevent the body of the rod end from sliding off the bolt in the case of failure (separating from the bearing). Probably not as much of a concern with little gokart stuff, considering I use 1.25" rod ends on the Jeep, though, but it's good practice.

I'm an overkiller, too, so we're using 3/8" ends. I held the 5/16" ones in my hands and they just seemed too small.