12-07-2012, 09:11 AM | #1 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Savannah MO
Posts: 216
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Front end issue
Having issues on the front end. Front tires are angled vertically, top toward apron. Wanting to fish for some ideas before I go buying or building a new front end. Is this the product of warn king pins/bushings etc.? I haven't torn anything down to inspect as of yet, but I was wondering if this is a common problem on older marathons. Wasn't sure if a couple parts would straighten things up, or if a whole new weldment/front end parts are in my future. It may be a little tough to tell from the photos, but looking at it with the naked eye, it's painfully obvious. Thanks for any help!
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12-08-2012, 08:54 AM | #2 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: South central IL
Posts: 287
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Re: Front end issue
Wow- the previous owner was pretty rough on your cart- somewhere on youtube is a video titled "Red EZGO jumps off 15 foot cliff"
That almost looks like a homemade front axle- my 1990 marathon has a C-shaped strap that runs above and below the king pin- so it is supported on the top and bottom while yours has no support on the top. If you are on a tight budget and have some good welding skills, for less than $10, you could grind off the welds holding the old (bent) king pins in place. Weld in some new extra long kingpins (use grade 8 bolts for the king pins) and then weld a piece of angle iron which braces the top of the kingpin to the mostly vertical diagonal brace (maybe a shock mount) that runs right behind the plastic cover on the front. A stock front replacement axle would likely be much stronger than the above repair. |
12-08-2012, 10:23 AM | #3 |
Hammer Down !!!!
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 2,681
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Re: Front end issue
Nope - that's the 88-down stock front end ... And yeah - looks a bit tweaked. Axles show up on Ebay all the time for $50 or less (usually less) so that's an option, otherwise pulling it apart to ensure everything is straight and square will let you know if a rebuild could fix it or if it's just, well, tweaked
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12-09-2012, 09:58 AM | #4 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Front end issue
As Brew said it sure looks like a well used axle.It also looks by the pics it may also be bent back. Think I'd just go for the new axle at this point and cut your loses.
LOU |
12-10-2012, 09:19 AM | #5 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Savannah MO
Posts: 216
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Re: Front end issue
So ive been trying to locate a new axle for the front end. Found plenty of them that look identical to mine, but they are listed for 85-88's. Mine is an 81. I put in a call to one of the suppliers, and he said that it won't fit an 81 because of the way the spindles mount. He said that the spindles on an 81 mount from the bottom, and the 85-88 mount from the top. Didn't really make sense to me. I CANNOT see a difference between this weldment and the one I am currently running. Not really sure what he meant by "mount from the bottom".? I was under the assumption that the spindles slide down onto the exhisting pin from the top. Is this guy correct?
This is the picture from the suppliers site. I see no difference between this one and the one pictured in my initial post. Perhaps someone could shed some light on this issue for me?? Brew stated that this mine was the 88 and down front axle, so I'm hoping the supplier was wrong. Last edited by frodrummer; 12-10-2012 at 09:21 AM.. Reason: typo |
12-10-2012, 03:56 PM | #6 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: spokane,wa
Posts: 974
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80-88 should be the same. I can tell you this: the 76-79 are the same except the king pins and spindle bushings are smaller and they are not reproduced. I ordered the bushings and found out the hard way. I wouldnt be afraid to order it since yours is an 81.
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12-11-2012, 08:22 AM | #7 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Front end issue
That axle is correct for your cart.
LOU |
12-11-2012, 09:28 AM | #8 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Savannah MO
Posts: 216
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Re: Front end issue
Thanks to all! I think I'll order it. Should the new axle not work with my current spindles, I will likely have to heat up and bend my current axle back to square for re-use. Does anyone know if the axle itself is supposed to be flat? My current axle has a very slight "U" bend in it (up and down) which I believe is causing the sagging look on the front. So if I heat it up, am I wanting to bend it back to perfectly flat, say using a concrete surface as a "guide"? Figured I'd just "coax" it until it's straight.
With regards to the aforementioned 85-88 axle, has anyone purchased this specific axle for use on a pre 85 model? It all looks correct, but 3 suppliers have told me it won't work now, so I'm not REALLY sure which way to go. I suppose the worst case scenario is... It doesn't work, and I send it back. But if I have to do that, I will likely meet or exceed the price of the part in just shipping alone. Not to mention it will just be a disappointing pain in the ***. I added a straight line below the axle to illustrate how bent it actually is. I wish I had a close neighbor with a similar cart so I could compare. I'm probably the only person in this small town with a cart. |
12-11-2012, 12:24 PM | #9 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Front end issue
It's supposed to be flat front to rear and top to bottom. I can see no reason for them to tell you it won't work. As Fast said the pre 80's may have had a smaller pin dia. but I have an 84 and a 87 and there is no difference.If you really wanted to be sure order spindle bushings for yours or lets say and 87 and Ill bet they fit then you have your answer and the bushings your going to need to rebuild your spindles.
LOU |
12-11-2012, 01:52 PM | #10 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Savannah MO
Posts: 216
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Re: Front end issue
That's a good idea. Thanks for the knowledge. I laugh when I picture myself rebuilding this cart without this site. I love it.
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