No lathe, but need a smaller diameter pushrod???

Because I'm the dunce that I am, I cut the brake pedal push rod too short for my master cylinder swap...just another in the long list of dumb **** I've done on this project/ truck in general...

Anyway, I got an adjustable universal push rod from So Cal but the length is about 6" too long, and the diameter is about twice what it should be at the length where I'll need to cut it. Having no access to a metal lathe, is there some way I can reduce that diameter of the rod myself so it is relatively straight and true?

Thanks.

 

Put it in a drill and run drill while grinding on a bench grinder. Kind of crude but effective!

 

^^^^^what he said. Run the drill in the opposite direction as the grinder

 

Three on the drill trick.

Another trick I find quite useful is to take a 12 pack and your part to the closest machine shop just before lunch time

 

I was thinking along those lines and chucking it in my drill press while dragging an angle grinder down it...

 

Same here, have done that many times and I have a lathe,sometimes I'll have a project in the lathe and rather than break it down I chuck it up in the drill press and hit it with a grinder.

 

just cut it and sleeve it, or shove something in the center, and weld it back up it's undoubtbly tube right?

 

i'd exchange the so cal adjustable one for a air freshener at the shop you bought it from , then weld the original push rod together and then cut to correct length.

 

I thought about welding it back together but I'm not an engineer, and while I weld, I don't consider myself a welder. I'm not about to trust my skills to weld bridge sections together, so along those lines, I don't want the ability for my vehicle to stop in a panic stop situation (no power booster) before hitting that tree or an 18-wheeler to be dependent on that weld not snapping in the middle. It's not worth $35 to me if I can just whittle this SoCal one down to a size that's close enough and adjust the play out with the screw end, then loc***e for good measure.

 

For some reason beer, lunch, and a machine shop doesn't sound like a good mix to me. Something about losing a finger or two kind of sticks in my mind.

Anyway, I suggest you get a new OEM pushrod, measure twice and cut once.

 

Ever thought of buying another?

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Universal-Master-Cylinder-Pushrod-5-5-8-Sleeve-3-8-Heim,9329.html

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Universal-Master-Cylinder-Pushrod-4-3-4-Inch-Long,8924.html

 

some times calling a job shop they will do it for cheap . as its a simple operation and give it to the apprentice , just make sure you have the correct measurements on hand to have it done . I did something like this years ago and since then I have had them do other work for me the hardest part was supplying the prints or instructions . . or your other option is to go out and buy a 2500 dollar used lathe........

a drill and grinder is a ok way to poor mans machine a part .

 

Doing dumb **** on projects is my finest point. I have piles of dumb **** left overs laying around in case you need some more

 

OK, I'm going to play the part of Devil's Advocate here, you are not comfortable with welding up the original one, but you are considering throwing the part into a drill or drill press and using a grinder to get it close to true and the diameter you want? Either return it for one of the correct size or as mentioned previously, grab a 12 pack and take it to a local machine shop just before lunch. Using a grinder will cause stress risers, sharp points in the metal that will crack and as you pointed out will not be a good thing.

 

Done it that way many times.

 

sounds like an excuse to buy a lathe.

Or go to home depot and pick up a piece of all thread. (Joking)

 

When do you need it? If you want to take a ride to Portland, I can help you out. PM me if interested.

 

Nutmeggers unite!!

 

I bought a long 3/8" stainless bolt, cut it to length and rounded the cut end, using the threaded
end to accept a heim joint with lock nut.

 

I do the angle grinder method to rough it in, then use a mill file to get the last bit down, so it's nice and smooth. I have a metal lathe, and sometimes I still use a hand drill to spin something down a small amount, just because I'm too lazy to go back in the garage and set things up.

 

For those who own a drill press, forget about the grinder. Bolt a vise to the table, and put a tool bit from a lathe in the vise. Feed the workpiece
down into the cutter, and it will work like a lathe. You will have to reposition the cutter for every cut, or buy a cheap HF vise that you can index and move the cutter accordingly.

 

Never heard that before, what does it mean.
I ate a bunch of nutmeg, made me feel weird for hours.

 

Shoot.. I worked in a company that had a few big machine shops in it. There were guys who drank all freakin' day long. Whiskey in cough medicine bottles, one guy walked around selling those little airline sized bottles for $2 each.

I worked in the R&D shop when I was 26, the old guys (around 55-60..) would pour it in their 7 AM coffee. Most of them still had a full set of fingers, lol.

Bob

 

I've done that on a milling machine more than once. Do it 1/2 way, turn the part around in the chuck and do the rest of it.

Bob

 

People from Connecticut are called "nutmeggers". A nickname from back in colonial times when alot of traders were from Connecticut.

 

You're making something hard out of nothing, just go buy another one. And cut it the right length this time. Measure twice and then measure again just to be sure!

 

Thanks for all the advice. Using a combo of both the drill press/angle grinder and bench grinder/hand drill I was able to make it work pretty nicely.

I searched at least 5 different stores and online for other options but wasn't able to find one long enough. This So Cal one works perfectly so far and is adjustable for fine tuning.

 

Cool! Where are the pics of this project anyway?

 

I like this trick

 

Here's the end product. I won't be winning any aesthetics awards, but then again, neither will the rest of the truck!