Track pins

[JTH]

Originally Posted by Perry Kitson

It's a time consuming process, but you could machine up heavier washers with the same profile as the cold headed end, press them on and TIG weld them on the pins. Thats what I did, and they look just like the original pins once they have weathered.

Perry

Could you do the same thing to pins knocked out of an old section of track? I need to add at least two links to each track on my carrier (too short) and replace a piece of steel rod bent at one end used as a temporary link pin.

Jeff

[20387774]

I believe what you want to do with the pins is called "case-hardening". If you get the mild steel pins hot in a forge and then remove them and cover them in bone meal, the steel will take carbon from the meal and harden only the outside of the metal. You could mushroom or peen the ends when the steel was untreated, as well as drill a hole on the other end for a cotter pin. Then put them thru the heat process.

John

[Jon Bradshaw]

Perry, do you mean you actually made a head and welded it on the end of the pin?
I would do that but I don't have a metal lathe.
Ideas on an off the shelf item I could use?
I will look around the hardware store.

[ron]

Case hardening is very easy do do, there are lots of products on the market,there is one called Casenite its just a powder you get the item cherry red roll it in the powder then bring it back to cherry red and the job is done, there are lots of different ones on the market, just ask at any good tool shop, I have used it to harden all kinds of dies and its perfect for the job, just get a tin of it and follow the directions,
Regards Ron

[Perry Kitson]

Jon,

Sorry for the tardy reply. I have attached a couple of photo's of the finished pins. I machined the ends to match the original pin heads. Not to be pessimistic, but I doubt you will find anything commercially that will closely match the original ends.

Perry

[colin jones]

Perry, If you can weld it on the then put in an electric drill and shape it with a flap disc in a small grinder.
Colin.

[Jon Bradshaw]

Thanks Perry they look really good. I like Colins idea as well I don't have a metal lathe. If I welded a thick slug onto the end then I could shape it better to looks, they won't all be the same but once they weather nobody will know.

Jonathan

[Lynn Eades]

If you can buy the centerless ground steel (UCF1 says they are made of nickel chrome steel, dia..437")(7/16") then make them long enough to drill a split pin hole in both ends.