I snapped my front link in half this past weekend. An ugly but effective trail repair got me home. Decided to make some new links.
The link was 2"x.250" DOM. Where it broke was right where there was a HAZ from the upper link weld, a drilled and tapped hole for the limit strap and a small drill and tap for a brake line clamp. 3 things all along a rough circumference of the tube. It had lasted 3 or 4 years like this under pretty good stress. In any case, the old are all gone now.
To do the repair; I had a small stub of 1.5"x.250" DOM that inserted into the 2". Some grinding and filing to get it to fit. Some come along, hammering and front wheel drive only to convince the busted link halves to rejoin. Then a whole bunch of 1/8" 7018 rod. All at 3:30AM - why do I hate night runs
For the new links, I went with a removeable upper. Easier to fab and now I have caster adjustment.
The link was 2"x.250" DOM. Where it broke was right where there was a HAZ from the upper link weld, a drilled and tapped hole for the limit strap and a small drill and tap for a brake line clamp. 3 things all along a rough circumference of the tube. It had lasted 3 or 4 years like this under pretty good stress. In any case, the old are all gone now.
To do the repair; I had a small stub of 1.5"x.250" DOM that inserted into the 2". Some grinding and filing to get it to fit. Some come along, hammering and front wheel drive only to convince the busted link halves to rejoin. Then a whole bunch of 1/8" 7018 rod. All at 3:30AM - why do I hate night runs
For the new links, I went with a removeable upper. Easier to fab and now I have caster adjustment.