I spent two weeks getting this inherited Massey Ferguson running in order to dig up the front garden I have (also herited) in order to plant roses for my late mother's memory.

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[–] 68 points 7 months ago (15 children)

Yes, but no, this is insufficiently dull.

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  • [–] [S] 58 points 7 months ago (13 children)

    I can drone on about how the tractor's steering was broken in a ball joint and because it is a power steering model I could not find a part and had to make it instead if you'd like.

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  • [–] 19 points 7 months ago (10 children)

    You make a compelling case… oh hang on…

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  • [–] [S] 41 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (9 children)

    Did you know that this specific ball joint application needs a 7 degree taper? I had to use a lathe and improvise with an 82 degree chamfer tool in the lathe, followed by a 7/8 tap in order to make the part. I knew that I was going to be off by half a degree, but I knew the weight of the tractor would force fit the new joint.

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  • [–] 17 points 7 months ago* (6 children)

    That's pretty neat. I'd have probably modified the knuckle for something current or replaced the entire axle before I'd have even thought of trying to build a ball joint. I've replaced them dozens of times, but I've never cut one apart to see if I could make one.

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  • [–] [S] 20 points 7 months ago (5 children)

    I have a dull past of 20 years as a machinist, so it makes me think that way.

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  • [–] 12 points 7 months ago (4 children)

    So, a question then: why use a set degree chamfer tool instead of the compound slide to taper it? I've built a few specialty things but I can't say I've tried to run off a taper, though I understand the concept, so I may have no clue what I'm talking about.

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  • [–] [S] 14 points 7 months ago (2 children)

    Honestly, it is because I had it on hand and it was fast. 0.5 degrees wasn't going to matter here since it simply needs to fit and the whole weight of the engine will force it in place.

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