3 point top link remake

[Frank S]

The top link on my 8n ford was damaged when I bought it so Instead of buying another cheap replacement I decided to remake mine
I started out with a length of left over scrap 1 1/4" schedule 80 hydraulic pipe it was probably DOM tubing but the same size as 1 1/4" pipe

I bored the ends to accept the adj nuts from the old top link

If there would be one thing I miss in this throwaway society of today is the way top links used to have a hand wheel for the adjusting handle instead of the cheap looking bar welded through the link so I decided to make mine like I wanted it to look by first making a forming jig to forge the ring around I tack welded a round plate to my table then welded a stop pawl so I could wrap a length of 3/4" hot roll bar around it

this is the ring after forging it around the jig

Finished top link

[DIYer]

Thanks Frank S! We've added your 3 Link Rebuild to our Heavy Equipment category,
as well as to your builder page: Frank S's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

3 Link Rebuild by Frank S

tags: suspension, tractor

[DIYer]

Thanks Frank S! We've added your Forming Jig to our Metalworking category,
as well as to your builder page: Frank S's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Forming Jig by Frank S

tags: jig

[blkadder]

I love how you forged the handwheel for the link. I need to try to do this to make a steering wheel for a pedal car I am restoring.

[Frank S]

Thanks bikadder, I really need to build a ring roller for making things like these but I need rings so infrequently it hardly seems worth the effort just now plus I have enough started projects on my plate that I really didn't want to spend the day or so to round up enough materials then spend the time to make a ring roller, when it was so much quicker and easier to find something to make the jig out of then fire up some heat get the rod nice and hot then bend and hammer it around the jig. THe funny part was the 3/4" hot roll rod I used was already within less than a 1/2" of being the correct length. Once I had it fully wrapped around the jig it was a simple matter to remove it and hammer it enough to close the ends