One of the problems having a well equipped workshop in a rural area is that farmers bring you things to mend
![:bugeye:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/confused0068.gif)
I don't really mind, but as I am not a commercial shop I always have difficulty in deciding what to do about payment. Much prefer to exchange favours if possible.
A few days back the chap who keeps me supplied with straw for the pigs brought in a broken bit from his plough. I believe it to be an adjusting bolt that sets the height and takes most of the weight of the plough when raised. This one wasn't doing any lifting - sheared off and extremely rusty. Anyone would think it had been left out in a field all year
![:lol:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/kranke_200-1.gif)
Now initially the castellated nut was thoroughly rusted on to the thread and there was little visible thread to measure. A quick trip to the grit blasting chamber cleaned up the nut and a bit of thread nicely. I was able to rescue the nut and measure the thread as M24 x 3mm pitch
Originally it looks to have been turned from the solid - about 35 mm o/d bar to form the shoulder stop / collar that's in the middle. I didn't fancy turning down about a foot of 35 mm bar to 24 mm and threading it - wouldn't be difficult, but time consuming and very wasteful of materials. Ideally rather than mild steel it should be something with a bit more tensile strength.
Googling about I tracked down M24 studding in 8.8 HT steel - an ideal starting point. Then it was just a case of turning an M24 nut down to form the collar, milling the flats and drilling the three holes (third is in the end not visible in pictures) and loctiting the collar in the right place on the thread.
Materials turned up today so get on with it . . . .
Total job about 2.5 hours including computer time, machining and cleaning up afterwards. A metre of HT M24 x 3 mm pitch studding, 5 nuts and washers (as a kit) was £24.99
So what to charge - certainly the materials but I think I'll trade my labour for straw futures
![:ddb:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/dancenana.gif)
The day hadn't started too well. the sound of "Blues and Two's" outside the bedroom window coming from the A21 and then the whirring of a helicopter as the Air Ambulance paid a visit. I never heard any impact and there is no sign of carnage on the road, but some poor soul must have spoiled their day
![:scratch:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/icon_scratch.gif)
Chopper was there for about 25 minutes then flew off in the direction of London - probably to King's College Hospital, that's where they usually take the poor victims.