[AT] Not an Update: a New Problem

[STEVE ALLEN]

Gentlemen!
Haven't gotten back on the B yet:  we went to a somewhat-local Tractor/Threshing show last weekend, and Son is off killing Rebs at a Civil War Reenactment this weekend (I couldn't go because I had to preach today).
Anyway, I thought to myself, "Self, you can't let the Boy have all the fun.  Crank up Ol' Reliable and get in a Tractor Day."  Agreeing with myself, I cranked him up and took the '51 A out to pull some irritating stumps along both sides of the creek.  After three or four, I got down as far as I could in the bottom without getting in the creek itself to get at one in the corner between it and the fence.  I started to turn around, and the front wheels must have gotten wedged between some of the rocks (lots of rocks down there, head-sized and bigger).  The wheels wouldn't turn, so I tugged hard.  All of a sudden, the wheel was spinning freely in my hands, and it was sliding toward me.
Eh, . . . oops.
There I am stuck in the lowest part of the creek bottom, jammed in the rocks, and a merrily spinning a broken steering shaft.  "Shucks and other comments."  I tried backing out using the brakes to turn, but the ground was against me.  Back and forth several times, I managed to turn about 30 degrees.  More comments.
So I trudged back up to the shop, got out some tools, and pulled the shaft off Big John, the '49 A.  Loaded up the whole mess along with some extra grease (if needed) into one of the Tahoes, and drove around by road to get back to the tractor.  Swapped out the broken steering shaft for the other one, checking for any broken parts in the gear box or thrashed bearings.  Everything looked good, but I couldn't get a good look because of angle and grease.  The front wheels were up high in the air as was the rear end, but the middle of the tractor was 'way over my head since I was standing in a dip.
Cranked Ol' Reliable  up and, the steering was fine.  Since I had backed out of the hole, I could turn without problem.  I took the road home so that I could test in 4th gear:  no wobble, only about 3" of steering wheel play in either direction (manual calls for 2").
Now we need a permanent fix (Big John wants his shaft back, which I understand perfectly).
The steering shaft is, surprisingly, a tube.  Reasonably--but not especially-- thick-walled.  Talking with a friend at church today, we conceived an idea:  clean up the broken ends so that they mate and find a steel rod whose OD matches the ID of the tube.  Insert rod, put the two halves together, and have them welded (don't have a welder but I know a couple guys who not only do but are pretty proficient).
First time I had ever even *heard* of one of thee shafts breaking.  Before I put the welded one back in, I will clean out all the old grease and make sure the sector gear and other parts in the top end are in good shape.  I will also jack up the front end to feel how the wheels turn by hand.  I *think* I know what caused the break, but now's the time to investigate.   
So, I had a tractor day, but it wasn't all fun and games.  Thank the Lord the parts interchanged, or Old Reliable would still be down in the creek bottom feeling mighty put out, and I would be continuing to make comments.  *sigh*
More news as it breaks (Ouch!  That pun was not intentional), fellows!


The "original" Steve Allen
'47 B   207862 (feeling left out of the party)
'49 A   641033 (feeling exasperated at having been robbed)
'51 A   670397 (feeling odd with a stranger's parts in him)
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