F12 wide frnt end

Hey folks,
I've searched for something on this but hadn't found anything, so I figured I would post my quetion
I've been working on my F12 1936 wide frnt end and have an issue with the Knuckle and upper axel shaft as well as the extension have all been ate up after 75 years of use. it is almost impossible to find any replacements in good shape so my question is has anyone done a build up welding of the shafts and castings? I thought I would just machine it to size for new bushings/bearings. sorry for the long post, I suppose I could go on for hours...
Thanks for any response, Kent

you got the money,
machine shop has the time.

Yep welding and machining and lots of it. I had to do the same for the single front wheel on my F12.

Since finding non-worn parts for such a rare item as an F12 wide front is next to impossible, you will have to build up worn shafts and install bushings to repair worn holes. If you have a cast iron part with a very worn hole that you want to repair and the hole is worn so bad that it would require a very large bushing, then what I would do is to braze up the worn area of the hole. Then bore and install a busing to repair the hole. I did this very thing once to repair a severely egg-shaped hole in cast iron, except I welded it up with nickle rod. That was a mistake! That stuff is harder than the gates of hades! When I went to bore the hole my carbide tooling would not cut it very well, I must of not had the right kind/type of cutter...

Yah Kirk isn't that the truth, sometimes it can be dang near impossible to machine/turn some things down. One time I was trying to turn down a brake pulley for an Allis, had been welded so much just it had hardened and kept braking the knife, so I just mounted a grinder on the table and used that to make it true again.

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Yes, the old parts can be built back up and machined back to specs. And yes, if you don't have the right equipment, the results can be as posted. However, a fully equipped machine shop can do the work. The risk of welding and then machining in your home shop is that unless you have an anealing furnace, and some idea of what the iron/carbon/alloy content of the pieces you are refurbing are, you run the risk of hardness beyond what your tooling can handle.

There are many ways to build-up with weld. Spray-gas weld being one of them. Nickel rod/wire is the correct electric weld solution for cast, but there is a very specific process, de-stress, and anealing that needs to occur to remove the brittle/hardness of the weld. You also get an alloy at the weld juncture that may surprise you as to how hard it is.

this is NOT a shot at those of us who can weld and run a lathe/milling machine. Where we fall short is the anealing furnace to properly heat treat and anneal the end result. I have done my own "build up and machine down" work, but I also recognize the limitations of my shop. I have no issues sourcing out work that I know is beyond my skills and equipment. No one here would "stroke" their own crank shaft, but that is exactly what the stroking process is. Build it up, machine it down, heat treat, and finish grind/polish.

Long winded, but it boils down to "if you wanna play, you gotta pay".

One last thing. You might be surprised at some of the cost estimates. Some will give you coronary arrest, others will be a pleasant surprise. You are best to find a good, reputable machine shop, take the parts to them, and get a quote. I am blessed to be in an area where there are many smaller family run shops that have some very compentant machinists. some of these places love to restore these old parts...........some scoff at you and won't give you the time of day.

Be thorough and patient. Once you get hooked up with a good shop, treat them well, and they will return the favor.

wow, thanks for all the responses guys, I had a feeling that it was going to be a big job. I did happen to look on fleabay and there was a knuckle with what appeared to be a longer upright shaft from an "A" I think. it look like it might be the right size(?)the knuckle but was wondering if it was or even was close. I guess if I had to press out the shaft and axle spindle I could which would then mean I could build them up without much trouble. Just fishing I guess.