Ferret erratic knocking from left hand side front.

[Lynn Eades]

I saw it like David. Clean off the high spots put some lube on the mating components and see how smoothly they move relative to each other When you get it so that it all feels good put it back together.
I would doubt the colouration is serious. You will know when it is a problem,if indeed it becomes a problem. You might get many years out of that Tracta joint. That's why I made the suggestion.
The worlds supply of ferret parts will run out one day.
I may be wrong, but isn't it worth a shot?

[Malcolm Towrie]

I just found these responses. I guess MLU doesn't send an email when people post.

It comes down to a judgement call, doesn't it, and my judgement was the two inner tracta joints and shaft forks in the bevel box were too badly damaged to reuse, and I was lucky enough to have spares so I replaced them.

The bevel box is back together and has been reinstalled in the Ferret.

Malcolm

[Lynn Eades]

Great to hear you have mobile again, Malcolm. As the owner your judgement is tops in my book.
David and I were just offering our advice / opinion, hoping it would help you.

Of course it came with a 100% money back guarantee.

[Malcolm Towrie]

Not quite mobile yet, Lynn, but getting there.

So the inner tracta joint is all new, but just to let you know about the outer tracta joint; the hard chrome plating of the hub shaft fork had some pits (due to fatigue spalling, I think), which had caused some galling on the mating tracta joint "ball" (jeez, the part names are complicated). But this damage had not been causing any running problems prior to the inner tracta joint seizing so I happily stoned off the high spots on the joint "ball" and reused the parts.

Now, knowing I have a money back guarantee makes me feel even more confident.

Malcolm

[Lynn Eades]

We're a helpful lot here Malcolm