Repairing very worn cast iron tractor axle. Valtra T203

In this video I repair a worn out axle centre pivot.
The first job is to identify what the axle is made of, this is done by breaking a piece off and inspecting the crystal structure, a grind test to see the colour of the sparks and also by filing a little bit off and checking the filings. The decision was of cast iron.
The weld area was ground down ready to be welded. Super cast ultima rods were chosen as a filler material. The whole area was preheated and then the worn area was built back up again, the burner was left inside the casting as a post heat to cool the axle down slowly.
The axle was then moved over onto the milling machine where the boring head was used to turn the pivot down to 110mm. The top surface was also faced off.
A steel shelve was made in the lathe to be fitted over the pivot to bring the final size back up to the standard 120mm. The shelve was expended with heat and then shrunk on with 0.25mm interference fit. A small chamfer was put onto the new shelve to finish the job off.
Hope you enjoyed the video.
Thanks for watching.

[@lawrencemanning]

The funny look after “farmers are usually good at greasing their machinery” is priceless.

[@josephcooksley3219]

Really 😂😂😂 what do think Agricultural Engineers Do Play Tiddle winks or some thing 😂😂😂

[@ronbuckner8179]

I wondered where all that deck shit went. I wrote “ duck shit”. You tube is protecting all those EUEars

[@pierremarcoux886]

No music no blabla no bulshit just proffssional interesting content, and learning that you can't see everyday. Good work, i'm watching you from Québec Canada 😉

[@beyondmiddleagedman7240]

Only thing I would have done that you didn't would have been a machinist jack on the table at the knuckle end to support and reduce stress on the angle plate. Since nearly every thing I do is out of my comfort zone, I appreciate watching others go there too. It's how we learn to do the cool stuff. Now, if only the operator can find his grease gun.

[@larryskeeper1197]

Must've been a big snake wrapped around that farmer's grease gun!!

[@phil6465]

Your assuming he had one!

[@johnwarwick4105]

Guessing its a livestock tractor 😂. Strange that the other side was ok, wouldn’t be the first person to not realise that there was a bearing on the rear pivot as well as the front.

[@megape95]

The rear pivot is usually lubricated by leaking engine oil so it doesnt wear as much 🤣

[@adamdiaz8442]

😂 highlight of my day these comments

[@billdoodson4232]

Always amazes me how people can let stuff get so bad before they think it might be time to fix it. Said it before, but this channel has now become the UK equivalent of CEE. Excellent work again, lets hope they actually grease it this time.

[@jazko]

shoutout to CEE. Unfortunately his last cast repair job didn't turn out well. But happens to the best of repairmen.

[@billdoodson4232]

@@jazko Yes that was a bit of a shocker, hearing it pinging the way it did.

[@fredscheerle7592]

Was that a dig at Farmers maintenance, obviously had FEL on tractor to get that bad as well. What was the other side wheel like?

[@billdoodson4232]

@@fredscheerle7592 Apologies, but FEL went straight over my head.

[@fredscheerle7592]

@@billdoodson4232 front end loader

[@ringstinga]

Love your honesty when you are doing something that you have not done before ! Also I like the way you think on your feet and come up with solutions to problems ! Keep it up young man you are doing great work and it is refreshing to see !

[@zippo1009]

This channel is THE definition of ingenuity at it´s very, very best!

[@michaellynskey7124]

Snowball engineering is always trying to improve his ability to take on certain jobs which normally wouldn’t entertain, Such the cast welding and the machining with mill to finish up with a nearly perfect finish, Extremely well done for taking on and showing these great engineering videos 🇮🇪

[@marksecret9973]

A very minor point compared to the excellence of the repair but I hope it is helpful. The laser indictor on infrared thermometers makes it look/feel like you are getting the temperature at that exact point at any range. In reality the infrared cone widens quickly - if you would like to truly know the exact temperature of a particular spot you need to test from only a few inches away. (Many IR thermometers do have a graph indicating this on the side, others it is hidden in the instructions.) More content much appreciated by an engineer/machinist who occasionally does a bit of welding and often learns things from watching you. Thank you.

[@snowballengineering]

That is helpful, thanks

[@simontravis7452]

Fabulous repair, so many elements to work on, and adaptions of the milling machine, super job Oliver.

[@edswider9309]

Very smart machinest

[@JRattheranch]

Those cast rods worked really well! Much better than those I used to use, usually unsuccessfully, 50 years ago! Nice job of machining too! That pillar extension worked a treat too! 👌

[@aserta]

Tech has advanced quite a bit from back then. A week ago i fixed my brother's stainless steel water tank in the middle of the field with a stick welder. And they worked perfectly with a cheap little inverter i bought just for this job. :))

[@johnkoury1116]

@@aserta That milling machine is awesome. What is it. I have a burke number 4 but I really need a Bridgeport. That thing can seriously handle larger equipment with ease.

[@mathewmolk2089]

NiROd is STILL junk today. - Great for camouflage but no good for actual work. ----- 1- Gas weld with real cast iron 2-Tig braze with Si Bronze. 3- Braze 4- if you can't fix it with one of those, Screw it.

[@oldmuppet191]

Snowball - Superb engineering on a Yorkshire budget. To do that with cast iron - well done.

[@garymucher4082]

Very nice rebuild of that huge metal cast iron tractor axle part. It should work for years to come now! Thumbs Up!

[@snowballengineering]

Thanks 👍

[@hl8256]

Your dad looks like a good fellow to have a beer with and listen to interesting stories

[@gbentley8176]

A very good save indeed. Cast material can be notoriously difficult if a job is rushed. Care and prep work is the key and it is very satisfying when you get the result you wanted. Thanks for posting an excellent video.

[@GICK117]

My pop, an english man, was what you would call, a natural engineer. You remind me of him in so many ways.. You have a gift. I am very impressed by your can do attitude.

[@paulcowler4136]

A joy to watch as always Oli, your thought process is second to none. Nice to see the Walhaupter head at work. Keep the content coming. Paul

[@snowballengineering]

Many thanks!

[@edmondmccudden27]

Love the way you overcome tooling problems by quickly designing and creating new tools.. a very versatile approach 👏

[@paulhammond7489]

Nicely done. I've never done it myself, but many of those doing welding to cast iron use a thermal blanket wrap the workpiece in order to extend the cooling period as long as possible to reduce post welding fractures. Was good to see the mill column extension put to use... Enjoying your videos :)

[@snowballengineering]

Unfortunately I don’t have a thermal blanket.

[@michaelminers2612]

When I did my city and guild's we put the cast jobs in the coals in the forge and let them cool together!🤣

[@derekcomer4858]

I enjoyed watching this very much. It looked like one of those jobs that could easily have ended badly. Fabulous result. Hope the customer was suitably impressed 👍

[@onlyme7939]

Sunday morning magic

[@mattt7970]

Another great video. Good to see people going outside their comfort zone and persevering until success

[@Rich-on6fe]

The temperature reading you get with your IR thermometer will vary enormously depending on whether you're pointing it at a fresh shiny surface or a dull dirty one. A clean shiny surface acts as a mirror (a hot mirror) that causes the thermometer to 'see' some other part of your workshop, which is colder than the workpiece itself. Playing around with a thermal imaging camera is a good way of getting a feel for this.

[@aserta]

Yep. That's why i stick to temp sticks when it comes to measuring temps. They're accurate within their spec and can't be fooled by any imperfection.

[@paddynfs6452]

@@asertatemple stick do a electronic version now instead of crayons, essentially you touch the surface and gives readout (think it’s up to 600 degrees C) However like you the crayons are pretty fool proof and easier to keep in your top pocket 👍

[@petegraham1458]

Another nice fix .

[@SLeslie]

And the viewing angle of the infra thermometer should also be taken into account.

[@frank-t6857]

I first thought of him using temp stick. That is what I used back in the 90's when welding on petroleum platforms. I know it sounds old school but it's fail proof.

[@haydenwilliams1750]

I don't remember a farmer greasing anything before those 18v grease guns came along!

[@simonsackett]

A Snowball Engineering video on a Sunday - lovely!

[@timothyosullivan2904]

Oh man I raise my hand to you for being able to think fast outside the box , your ability is second to none , Yes its great to be able bring it back to original status , cause there are some folks out there they do a quick fix job ,and when it comes back to the shop again for further repairs , its beyond reconstruction and possibly scrap it , so I have to compliment you on your abilities , there's no many young guys out there to match you , I hope you are appreciated for your talent

[@russellwall1964]

Well done, mate! I never cease to be amazed at how your repairs turn out. You got skills and patience and that will take you a long ways!

[@passenger6735]

Thats a nice fit Ollie. Cast can be a bitch to weld. I did piss myself laughing at your anxiety when the heated part was cooling on to the boss and you were rushing for the hammer. That is a repair to be well chuffed with. Keep them coming. 36k views and 31k subscribers. Come on you watchers, subscribing is free. Give the guy some support.

[@timtrax918artisan8]

Since i was 12 ive improvised to achieve the outcome ive wanted. I'm 56 now and still do, so happy to see this continue .

[@Christopher-iu6lg]

Thank you very much for an opportunity to learn some very useful new things. Even as an old man (77) I learn from you on almost every video. Keep up the good teaching and learning along with the entertainment value! 👍👍👍😃😃

[@CurtisGurley]

Another real world repair that worked out great. Very few things are harder than cast steel that gets welded.

[@WhatTheTarnation.]

Assess, plan, improvise, and execute. " Ain't nothing to it, except to do it." Nicely done, Sir. Saved someone some $$$ , pray all is well.

[@mfc4591]

As long as the operator greases the fitting, it will last a very long time. Well done. Nice repair

[@SirWhiteRabbit-gr5so]

An excellent repair. That must have really been clattering before.

[@rogercligg4531]

A glory to watch.well done

[@mortenfyhnpetersen6130]

Todays tip: to find your center in the mill on a worn out pin or bushing, you Can machine a ring in the lathe that fit around either id or od. And then edge find it afterwords. If there is a weld in the way, just make the busch longer so you can cut away in the bushing fore the weld. Maybe you can make a video about it. Id like to see that .

[@MattysWorkshop]

Gday, certainly greased regularly, possibly every 2nd Christmas, great job, cheers

[@baldyoldfart5828]

you've done a brilliant job there and saved the farmer a fortune I dare say

[@davetaylor4741]

Great job. Not an easy medium to work with cast iron. Reinforcing with the steel sleeve should give that axle a new lease of life. The only way people can keep running these machines is with the help of skilled engineers to repair and fabricate parts. The old Boys are all retiring or dying. Good to see someone younger taking up the mantle.

[@mongoose388]

I'm impressed. Kurtis at Cutting Edge tried to do cast iron welding (albeit it was a differential case and thinner) and the cracks kept forming when it cooled down.

[@bostedtap8399]

Fairly sure that casting was poorly cast, alot of internal stress.

[@mongoose388]

​@@bostedtap8399I agree. Regardless cast iron is always tough weld.

[@constitutionalUSA]

I knew you'd get it done well. Besides your being very smart, you must have had a good teacher

[@alangraham8926]

I really like your "warts an all" approach makes your vids "human" and very watchable!!!! Damn good job overall.

[@johnclay4811]

Great Job! It is good to see common sense and good engineering skill being used. I know that everything is CNC stuff these days but old manual machines are just as good as you have demonstrated. The job will be better than new as steel is harder than cast. Lets hope he gets the grease gun out this time! Cheers

[@jimg7784]

Any kind of welding etc with cast iron is incredibly hard and sketchy. Much respect, good job👍

[@edswider9309]

Ollie by watching your videos I am learning a lot keep it up I am now 76 yup retired and very active especially in the garage lots of laughts plus CEE is very good as well as topper machine

[@edswider9309]

Do you watch Calvin arc one welding

[@frfrpr]

I love the problem-solving. Great filming, slow motion was enjoyable. Thanks

[@RambozoClown]

Nice job. Always have a hammer handy when doing a shrink fit.

[@carlf8291]

Nice job here in the u.s. that would have been scrapped know one would've even tried to fix it excellent work.

[@mattsan70]

When the farmer comes to pick it up - show him what that grease nipple is for - he will be truly amazed!

[@raygreene73]

Love how precise u work

[@abuubaydullah1]

I enjoy watching your videos as it takes me back to when i was an apprentice back then we did not have CNC machines please keep the video coming .

[@Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Well done, Olly. Top work!

[@tomtd]

Enjoying watching the channel grow, and the videos too. Nothing too slick and some nice workarounds.

[@71Giggles]

But what did you have for tea? Well done for sorting out the top face, I was shouting at the screen!!!

[@mightyfinejonboy]

fantastic work! great video.

[@donalmcgovern7647]

Fair play Ollie, savage repair job there. One of your toughest yet and ya never let it phase ya. Top job

[@dannycrooks8462]

Fantastic repair

[@walterverlaan1286]

As always, great video!

[@jamesriordan3494]

Well done as always lad !

[@DaveImagery]

Amazing work!

[@IanHurford]

Top job as always 👍

[@steve_weinrich]

Very nicely done!

[@jeremyhowes8059]

Ingenuity at work. A job well thought out and completed. Very well done. 👍

[@honeycuttracing]

Excellent repair job!

[@carloskawasaki656]

Thank you for sharing, another great project 👍👍👍👍

[@b.malnit8983]

Great job Oliver!

[@jaymann]

Great job, as always, mate.

[@christopherforster6555]

What a fabulous job you did there thanks.

[@wmweekendwarrior1166]

Awesome repair

[@mikeburton7077]

Good job done ! Really enjoy your nice easy jobs !

[@TonyFromSydney]

Another good job as usual. Always good to watch.

[@jayslife775]

You sir, are the dogs bollocks of agri spec repairs. Im a farmer and welder myself and your bloody good mate

[@waikanaebeach]

Great repair, good work.

[@samherbert1724]

Every Sunday morning I enjoy watching this master machinist do his magic with a nice cuppa.... great video as always 👍

[@snowballengineering]

Glad you enjoy!

[@jayusher576]

Looks like that comfort zone just got a bit bigger nicely done.👍🏻

[@gerryoneill8881]

Great work as usual.

[@andrefrenette4849]

Great work! Love what you do. Real world repair with skills and good old fashion manual work.

[@snowballengineering]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gerryduffy6700]

Great job as always👍🇬🇧

[@robertcrossley9803]

A well presented video , great content throughout. Thanks for taking the time to share

[@snowballengineering]

My pleasure!

[@MadMods4u]

More great content there... Thank you for sharing your work.

[@jamesmcauslan1347]

Nicely done as usual 👍

[@bostedtap8399]

Great repair Oliver, nice winter job. Thanks for sharing.

[@Osgard]

That is pita to grease. You have to get front axle up in the air and swing it when greasing. Or that is what valtra says. And points are under tractor of course.

[@Andrew_Fernie]

Yeah it should have a remote grease piont. If it's too hard to get to it's not going to get done most of the time.

[@jean-robertbourbonnais6279]

Good job Oliver .. your knowledge and thinking about how to go abouts .. on different challenges in your shop is awesome .. keep it up young man !!! 😎👍👊

[@PAINFOOL13]

Nicely Done Oliver 👍🏻

[@markroth9827]

Interesting to watch your work. Thank you for sharing.

[@Mr-Keating]

Nice work mate 👍

[@brandontscheschlog]

Nice work!

[@TheRossi48]

Estamos crescendo, cheguei aqui com 2 mil e hoje somos 31 mil. Parabéns pelo ótimo trabalho e sucesso. Abraços do velho professor Luiz Rossi do Brasil.

[@astravanmk2]

Another excellent repair there.

[@mathewmolk2089]

God bless ya for having the balls to try the best way you knew how. - and successfully getting the job done. If it works it's a good job!!!!! Personally I wold have gas welded it with real cast iron filler. - NI rod is risky business at best. - Most people are afraid of gas welding with cast because of the high (like 1100 degrees+ preheat) so as a second choice I would have used either just brazing it up (even make the sleeve first and "fill 'er up) or even silicon bronze TIG. - And that is how to secure the sleeve if yo feel the shrink fit is too loose. - Braze it in. 1- Make Sleeve oversize OD and correct ID 2- Put on sleeve and tack to "good side" with braze 3- Preheat 4- Fill up "bad side" with brass 5. SLOW COOL. - Very slow 6. Put in machine and turn to size with boring head. 7. Type bill That's how I wold have done it, anyway. ,,,, We have been welding cast here since 1980 and to date, out of or shop we never have used Ni Rod for anything. - Check the work Kieth Ruker does over at Vintage Machinery just for kicks. - Been watching him for 5 years and never have seen a failure yet. He only uses brazing rod. Nirod is for the Bob Villas.

[@tiposxdiesel]

Great work!

[@daveblack5109]

Great job and another bit of kit saved. Thanks for posting.

[@snowballengineering]

Thanks for watching!

[@josejaviersenandebarcia445]

Gracias por responder al comentario.miro tus vídeos desde que empezaste y gusta mucho tu humildad y la forma en cómo te enfrentas al trabajo. Eres muy profesional para ser un muchacho tan joven. Yo me dediqué a la reparación de barcos y también de maquinaria agrícola, sigue así y no te desanimes. Triunfarás en la vida SEGURO. Mucha suerte amigo

[@jamiebuckley1769]

wow what a fantastic job for a young gye you really got your shit together. big thumbs up to you and i really like all of your videos i always learn somthing. keep up the great work.

[@Professional-struggler]

Like to see someone learning as there going and actually showing people, bloody good show that man 🧐👍

[@jimryan5724]

Great job 👏

[@tsheritageengineering]

Not an easy repair but you obviously gave it a lot of though and planning. Last cast Iron weld repair I did was an engine block, couldn't preheat as the white metal bearings were run direct in the block. Ran nickel rods, did 1" run, peened and let it cool for an hour before doing next run. Still going strong 20 years later!

[@jimlong527]

Excellent repair, you have saved lots of money on this project.

[@JohnCook-qz8tq]

So interesting to watch Oliver, he's in-between a blacksmith and a fantastic engineer, can't fault him. The tractor must be off of a dairy farm, they don't know what a grease gun is, my cousin his a prime example.