[dataway]

I've got a Woods 7.5' ag backhoe on my tractor ... the pivot pins holes are all sloppy and are going to have to be bushed.

Anyone done this kind of thing?

It's disassembled now, plan is to get the boom and dipper into the milling machine (no easy task) and bore the holes out to 1 1/4" and bush them back down to 1" to fit the pins. Some of the pins will be replaced or I'll turn new ones.

Question are ... what bushing material ... can I get away with high load bronze, or should I used hardened steel like a "drill bushing". Upside to the hardened steel is wear resistances, load capacity and the ability to weld them to the hole if necessary. Down side is I can't turn the OD of the bushing to achieve a great fit in the hole so I'd have probably have to using a boring head rather than a drill bit to enlarge the boom holes.

Upside to Bronze .... it won't rust in place, self lube to some degree, easier to fit them in place.

I was thinking if I used hardened steel and made some pins from 1040, the pins would wear out first and I wouldn't have this problem in the future ... not that I will probably ever use the hoe enough to wear them out anyway.

Any thoughts, advice, ideas, tips, or hints ?

Thanks,
JohnnyB