Sear Garden Tractor Drag Link

Gary from Muleshoe · Nov 14, 2016

Anyone have a good fix for repairing a
draglink the ball popped out. I popped it
back in and wired it to finish mowing. Hate
to spend $75.00 for a new drag link. This is
one solid rod no threads for adjustment,
balls are part of the drag link. Open to all
suggestions. Thanks
Gary

Dieseltech · Nov 14, 2016

Had that happen to an old Sears years ago, made a U shaped thin strap steel that bolted on to hold the end in place.

Jerry Coulter · Nov 14, 2016

For my Sears Suburban, I bought a ball joint and a cap screw that fit into it. I cut off the end of the drag link and welded the cap screw to it with head butted to the drag link. The ball joints are available at auto parts stores and places like McMaster-Carr.

T.R.K. · Nov 14, 2016

What we do at work is cut off the bad end of the drag link and weld on the ball stud that poped out, it usually has 3/8 inch fine thread and a universal tie rod end with 3/8 female fine thread will screw right onto it. Then you only need to come up with a 3/8 fine thread nut to lock the tie rod end so it can't pivot or wear out the threads.

Janicholson · Nov 14, 2016

Fastenal has rod ends that will do what you want. Thread the existing rod and screw this on with a jamb nut.
CFHD6 RodEnd Bearing
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RBC BEARINGS
CFHD6 3/8" Bore Heim? Female Self-Lubricating Rod End Bearing
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guido · Nov 14, 2016

Hello Gary from Muleshoe,

If you have some metal left once the ball is in the drag link, then use a center punch and see if you can get some metal stretched to keep the ball in,

Guido.

JD Seller · Nov 14, 2016

IF you have a welder then just buy a replacement ball joint. The most common for a lawn mower is 3/8 fine thread ( $4.99 at Agri supply) or 1/2 ( $8.99 at Agri Supply) fine thread. Cut the old joint and weld a bolt on your drag link. The you can thread the replacement ball on it. Then in the future you can just replace the end when it wears out.

Brian G. NY · Nov 14, 2016

If you hammer the socket back around the ball and force some grease in there you'll be surprised how long it will last.

Mark - IN. · Nov 14, 2016

Sears Suburban? Wow, that really truly was a tractor, pound for pound, one of the best ever. My family or myself never had one, but back in the '60's a neighbor did and used it to till about 2 acres, maybe 3 acres, annually. That's a lot for a garden tractor. And that's not all they did with it. That thing was a miniature farm tractor. Whether Sears blue or yellow, or Roper red well worth every pound. I know where a blue one has been setting for years, the poor abused thing.

Next time someone here posts asking what the all time best tractor was, toss your hat into the ring. Pound for pound, they deserve a mention.

Mark
Sears Suburban Attachments

Gary from Muleshoe · Nov 15, 2016

Thanks for all the replies, believe I will try to find one to weld to the end.Either with or without threads. All are great ideas to consider.

Sear Garden Tractor Drag Link

Gary from Muleshoe

Well-known Member

Dieseltech

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Jerry Coulter

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T.R.K.

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Janicholson

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guido

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JD Seller

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Brian G. NY

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Mark - IN.

Well-known Member

Gary from Muleshoe

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