Community Forums

Kramer Boy · 09-01-2015, 09:45 AM

Need info on rebuilding my bell crank on an IFS 1460 s reyco granning front end. I see there site and instructions but being in northern Alberta wondering if I can source bearings locally. Also the dreaded tie rod boot replace. Are they available anywhere?

Ray,IN · 09-02-2015, 07:38 PM

Replacement boots are not available, they are part of the assy. If the Ball joints are worn enough to require replacement(pg 14), I'll wait until then to replace the ball joints. Until that time, I've wrapped the bad boots with shrink-wrap and added chassis grease via a needle-point for my grease gun.

Kramer Boy · 09-03-2015, 08:30 AM

Are you just cleaning up the old boot and area behind and then wrapping?My plan was to remove old torn boot and clean area. Then I saved some old bicycle tire tubes to cut into strips. Do the wrap, on last overlap apply some five minute epoxy, retain with plastic tie wrap. My damaged boots are all on greasable joints. Thinking overgreasing by previous service people may have led to overstretching the poor quality rubber. I do like your shrink wrap idea. Readily available. How do you keep it in place?

Ray,IN · 09-04-2015, 05:24 PM

The ball joints on my1999 Spartan chassis are sealed/no zerk fitting. The OEM boots are virtually gone. I wrapped them with shrink wrap after injecting grease(as much as practical) under the remaining boot. I used plain ole packaging tape to hold the shrink wrap in place. I haven't looked at them since I last greased the chassis, don't know if it's still there.
The service manual for Granning explains how to test the ball joints for wear. When it reaches .040" vertical play in one it's time for replacement.
Is it helping? I don't have a clue, but it can't hurt anything.
My youngest son-in-law is general service manager for a large trucking company. He said to use a pry bar under a wheel( while lifting the front end off the ground with jacks) have another person watch the control arms, and if any movement in the wheel is detected without moving the arms, replace the ball joints.
I'm not there yet, but I know it is in the future. (just over $2,000 to replace all 4)
I have searched for replacement boots for a different front end mfgr. and found a couple, but it's not worth it to remove the old ball joints, install something that may not work properly, and have to replace the joints in a few months anyway due to unknown wear.

Ray,IN · 09-04-2015, 07:43 PM

Oops, I forgot to include the Granning service manual link. http://reycogranning.com/wp-content/...-IM-Manual.pdf

Kramer Boy · 09-05-2015, 08:43 AM

Agree about not taking things apart. Mine aren't worn at all but want to get some years out of them. Got the rebuild kit coming from Spartan for the bell crank so the two ball joints connected here will be the only ones removed. Hoping they pop out ok. Actual bell crank rebearing looks simple enough. Im also thinking that the ball joints are commonly available. If so will replace the ones removed.