Those that follow this NG regularly may remember my questions about backhoe repair. After an awful time just getting the hoe separated from the tractor I found the four plates holding the cradle and lower pins all bent and terrible slots where pin holes used to be. I used a rosebud and all my clamps to straighten everything. Then the gas-axe (torch) and die grinder to line bore all four plates. Then welded in four step bushings. I made them real tight - only 5 thou bigger than the 1.5" pin.
Today was final assembly. I put the hoe on the lower cradle then pulled the unit up and put the new top pins and holder in. My plan was to stop there for the day and spend tomorrow reaming and die grinding to make the lower pins fit. But I thought, I'll just try it. So I drove the unit over to the concrete slab. I got under the tractor and both pins slid right in!!!
The hoe is attached better than new. I'm pretty proud of myself right now.
Karl