Back to the Kingpins:
You may remember my earlier photos of my Kingpins?
Well I have now got them back together.
The new kit consisted of 2 hardened kingpins, 4 brass bushes, 6 washers, 2 large O rings & 2 metal caps.
With the hubs all sandblasted, etch primed and old bushes removed, a few measurements were carried out and it was found that the outside diameter of the brass bushes were too much of an interference fit to go into the holes of the main upright. The bushes were actually a really nice fit on the actual king pins. So all 4 bushes were turned down in the lathe to a few thousands of inch interference fit. Then with a bolt and a specially made spacer the bushes were pulled into their position until slightly below the flat surface.
The pins were checked, and lucky enough with a fine polishing of the kingpin with some fine wet/dry paper, they were a really good fit in the bushes and therefore no need to use a reamer.
The next step was a dry assembly once it had been determined where the washers go. 2 large ones on top (these are load bearing) and these have the dust seal around them. Then the lower washer had to be ground and sanded flat to reduce the thickness to fit in the bottom. Too tight and you cant get it in, too loose and you have too much up & down play. Just right I think is with a slight movement to allow them to turn without binding & allow the grease to move. This proved rather difficult as it seamed quite tight on a dry fit, but with a little grease more play was felt.
After everything had been checked, they were stripped apart and painted black. Then reassembled with loads of grease. The lower cap was then replaced. In my case it was a screw in one, so I reused the old caps. Usually you would use the ones in the kit where you place them in with the domed face up and then hit them with a large hammer & a drift to cause them to flatten out & therefore remain in place.
Next step was to replace the top bushes, fit the grease nipples & then apply more grease with the grease gun. This was when I realised I hadn't ordered them
Lucky enough Fred is due to send some additional items to me so I have added them to the order.
