Simon Wilson wrote:
> I've been poking around the new toy today.
That's never a good thing to do, 'cos you always spot stuff that you
wish you'd spotted /before/ you bought the POS.
>
> I noticed one of the kingpins isn't fully in place:
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/58125090@N00/5422120706/
It certainly isn't in place. The bottom arm is out of line from that
pic too, so it's all going wrong on that one.
>
> Someone's tried to encourage it in the downwards direction because
> the bolt in the top (that just holds a large washer in place as far
> as I can tell) is damaged.
That is evidence of basic ****wittery and lack of understanding of the
kingpin principle. This is Not Good, I'm afraid. As auvache would
say, it bodes, that does.
>
> On the other side, there was a hex head in the middle of the bearing
> that looked might it be some locating pin or other. I just
> ever-so-gently turned it with a spanner and it fell off, couldn't
> really call it shearing:
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/58125090@N00/5421522615/
>
> At least this kingpin is seated:
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/58125090@N00/5421506609/
That caused some head scratching. I can't see the large hex head on
the 'good' side, so let's assume it isn't vital, as hopefully your
hammer-wielding predecessor never 'maintained' that side. <re-reads>
Ah, I getcha. They're both off. And that centre section isn't the
bearing - they are top and bottom, that is the axle, or sleeve within
the axle, that positively locates the kingpin - or not, in the case of
the bad one.
>
> Any ideas on how to get the kingpins out, or at least get it seated
> properly? Is the thing that rusted/sheared off likely to be some kind
> of retainer for the kingpin? It looks like maybe the nut was just a
> lock nut on an allen keyed grub screw - what say the foak - drill out
> with a LH srewdriver? Am I right in thinking they have to be driven
> out from underneath - any tips/ideas how to do that? I couldn't use a
> WUN-like press on it as the whole thing is part of the chassis.
It'll be no good just knocking it down and hoping, Simon. It looks to
me to be misaligned in any case, so you could damage the bottom bush by
belting the kingpin downwards. It will have to come out.
Look here, this is nice and clear, if a bit american:
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/kingpin.pdf
That's the best one I found while head-scratching and memory rattling,
'cos I haven't touched a kingpin in decades and on first thought, all
the memory files revealed were general impressions of sweating and
swearing, heat and hammers.
So, anyway - the kingpin is fixed in the axle beam, and thanks to the
provision of (bronze(?)) bushes top and bottom (which /must/ be kept
greased) allows the steering swivels to, err, swivel. This means that
the pins on the ends are of smaller diameter than the
machined-to-fit-the-axle centre section, which is a close but not
interference fit (yeah, right) in the axle sleeve. The kingpin has to
be retained in the axle or it may rotate and wear the axle sleeve.
First off, you'll have to remove the pin - the bit behind the large hex
head that is missing, IYSWIM. This is the lockpin, shown on the .pdf.
Has it got a hex-head recess in it? If so, it _should_ unscrew. It
has to unscrew, because it is threaded on its back end. Having said
that, it can't be doing much as the kingpin has moved upwards in
relation to said pin, which should not be possible unless something is
****ed.
The lockpin passes through a plain hole in the axle, then a locating
notch in the kingpin and finally screws into a threaded hole in the
axle behind the kingpin. You can't just blast it out. If it goes all
the way through the axle, you may be able to mount an attack from
there, by chopping or Dremelling a slot in it and taking an impact
driver to it - if there's no chance of grabbing it from the front.
If it is inaccessible from the front and threaded into a blind hole to
the rear, then it gets exciting. The lockpin isn't doing its allotted
job, that much is clear from the kingpin dislocation. The lockpin must
be under some stress, however, as the full diameter of the kingpin must
be bearing on it, which shouldn't be possible (hah!) so it isn't going
to come out easily, like.
I'm sort of thinking out loud as I'm typing here, sort of thing, so
bear with me. It is unlikely to go all the way through, as it isn't in
a notch on the side of the kingpin, is it? It goes smack in the
centreline of the kingpin. So it looks like, as you said, a grubscrew.
It can't be doing a lot, so it has probably sheared but it might still
have a bit sticking out which is jammed against the kingpin. If it was
done up with torque applicable to the size of the fallen-off hex head,
it might well be a bit on the tight side. I don't want to recommend
heating the axle itself, either, as that could cause problems.
Before you try a left-hand drill, I'd try slotting the thing and an
impact driver. If that fails, then go for the left hand drill. Once
it comes out, the rest should be plain sailing: stick a bottle jack
under the axle, in line with the kingpin and directly below it. The
kingpin will be recessed within the exle, as it has already slid
upwards by pretty much the depth of the bearing (sleeve, bronze bush,
whatever is in there). If the diameter of the hole in the axle is less
than the top of the bottle jack, find a big bolt taht is a nice fit in
the axle hole and wedge that, head downwards on top of the jack and
bearing on the base of the kingpin.
Pump the jack up and the weight of the vehicle should slide the kingpin
out for you. If it doesn't, hit the axle with a big hammer in a
downward direction - with the jack pumped up - until it does. It may
go with a bang and the vehicle will then fall on you. Be prepared for
this by placing axle stands to catch the thing - increase the height of
the stands as you pump the thing up, or bad things may occur.
Availability of wooden shims for this purpose, placed under the stands
or between stand and axle is mandatory.
You may well need a new kingpin when you've finished, as it may already
be damaged, perhaps by the PO with the hammer or by being driven around
with the pin halfway out. You will obviously need a new grubscrew and
I'd recommend sorting out the other side while you're at it. Then
grease the kingpins until they squeak, and keep greasing them for the
duration of your ownership.
Let's know how you get on - or if I'm off the mark, some more info/pics
may help. Best of luck, old boy.
--
SIRPip: B12
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