Aermotor Pitman arm babbit

[Kenneth]

Per Ron's suggestion i milled out the voids on these 8 ft. arms. Thanks again Ron.

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[CTXmiller]

Looks good.

I’ll share my efforts at pouring pitman arms as it was an experiment for me. I’m accident prone so I tend to avoid liquid molten metal.

I tried to find something in my shop that was fractionally larger than the bull gear pitman boss for an A702. Thumbing around, I found 1/2 drive sockets that were a hair larger. I centered the sockets and then tightened the socket to the pitman arm so the liquid Babbitt would not travel. The pour hole was sat on a bolt head, so I could pour from the opposite side than most people likely pour from. No Babbitt putty needed. I also used a clamp to add height for the Babbitt pour. I heated the pitman arm and the socket too.

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To me, the sockets worked decent as I then used a 1/2” drive ratchet to turn the socket to loosen the socket and then a punch, to tap the socket out. I then used a flap disc (in a ventilated area with a mask on) to smooth out the excess Babbitt. My pour will not win any awards (maybe some laughs ) but it provided for a learning experience.

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[tst]

the babbit does not stick to the socket ?

[CTXmiller]

Tst,

Some to the exterior, but no Babbitt makes it to the interior of the socket. Using a 1/2 drive ratchet, I can turn the socket, to loosen it. Then tap the socket out of the pitman arm with a punch. I’ve only poured 3 pair of pitman arms, so it is trial and error.

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

The last time I poured my 602 pitman's I used a cut off wood dowel held in place with a screw. Works for me !!

[mtblah]

Thanks Ron for that attention to detail , i will do the notch on the A702 that is waiting resurection .