Combines N6 spindles

Pete, it sounds like you have a good preventive maintenance program for your N6 which attempts to replace stuff before it causes machine downtime. What would I doIJ I would replace the other one and then make sure the tie rods have some slack so you arent stressing the spindle every time you make a sharp turn. I dont know if that is a problem on an N6 but it sure is on an R60. Happy New Year

Had the same happen to our old N7. It depends on where the break occurred. In our case, the spindle broke where the tie rod mount is welded around the spindle. The tie rod mounting was welded completely around the spindle. Despite the best welding techniques, something that Allis was not renown for, welding creates a zone of stress and some crystallisation around the actual weld. In our case, right around the spindle. This induces cracking and then you have a problem. The correct technique is to have short welds at short intervals to limit crack propagation. The replacement spindle that we got did have 3 short heavy welds to hold the tie rod mount instead of a continous weld. We had no further problems.

Thanks for the insight. I will check the welds to see if they are short welds or one big one. It makes sense what you said about welding changing the molecular structure of the metal in that area. I worked in a steel pipe mill for five years taking coil steel and rolling it into pipe and induction welding the seam. After the pipe was welded we stress relieved the weld by heating the welded area red hot with a high frequency heater. Pete Hinrichsen