Greaseless gauge wheel arm assembly

1 . A pivot arm assembly for an agricultural machine, comprising:

a pivot arm having a bushing block on a first end and configured to be coupled to a gauge wheel on a second end;

a lateral positioning member configured to be selectively coupled to the bushing block to provide lateral adjustment of the pivot arm;

a through bolt configured to selectively couple the lateral positioning member to a frame by selectively compressing the lateral positioning member to the frame; and

a friction reducing member positioned between the bushing block and the through bolt;

wherein, the friction reducing member allows pivotal movement of the pivot arm relative to the through bolt without requiring a routine application of grease;

wherein the lateral positioning member does not move substantially in a lateral direction relative to the through bolt when adjusted to provide lateral adjustment of the pivot arm;

wherein the through bolt is configured to selectively compress the lateral positioning member to the frame in all secured positions of the lateral positioning member.

2 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing member comprises a bushing positioned between a radially inner surface of the bushing block and a radially outer surface of the lateral positioning member.

3 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing member comprises a first bushing and a second bushing each positioned between a radially inner surface of the bushing block and a radially outer surface of the lateral positioning member.

4 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a threaded section wherein the bushing block is threadably coupled to the lateral positioning member to provide lateral displacement of the pivot arm, wherein the first bushing is positioned on a first side of the threaded section and the second bushing is positioned on a second side of the threaded section.

5 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 4 , further comprising at least one seal positioned between the bushing block and the lateral positioning member to prevent debris from contacting the first or second bushing.

6 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the through bolt comprises a head that prevents axial movement of the lateral positioning member.

7 . A method of manufacturing a laterally movable pivot arm assembly, comprising:

positioning a lateral positioning member within a bushing block of a pivot arm, the lateral positioning member being laterally repositionable relative to the bushing block;

coupling a friction reducing member to the lateral positioning member, the friction reducing member configured to allow the pivot arm to pivot about a through bolt;

coupling the lateral positioning member and friction reducing member to a frame of an agricultural machine with the through bolt;

adjusting the lateral positioning member so the pivot arm is positioned to align a gauge wheel with an opener disk; and

locking a lateral position of the lateral positioning member relative to the bushing block;

wherein the locking the lateral positioning member step comprises providing sufficient torque to the through bolt to create a clamp load between the lateral positioning member and the frame to substantially prevent rotation of the lateral positioning member relative to the frame by tightening the through bolt to the frame;

wherein, the lateral positioning member does not move substantially in a lateral direction relative to the through bolt when adjusting the lateral positioning member;

wherein the through bolt comprises a head that prevents axial movement of the lateral positioning member.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the friction reducing member comprises a bushing and the bushing is positioned between a radially inner surface of the bushing block and a radially outer surface of the lateral positioning member.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the friction reducing member comprises a first bushing and a second bushing positioned between a radially inner surface of the bushing block and a radially outer surface of the lateral positioning member and the bushing block is threadably coupled to the lateral positioning member at a threaded section;

wherein the coupling the friction reducing member step comprises coupling the first bushing between the bushing block and the lateral positioning member on a first side of the threaded section and coupling the second bushing between the bushing block and the lateral positioning member on a second side, the second side being opposite the threaded section relative to the first side.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the through bolt is configured to selectively compress the lateral positioning member to the frame in all secured positions of the lateral positioning member.

11 . A pivot arm assembly for an agricultural machine, comprising:

a pivot arm having a bushing block on a first end and configured to be coupled to a gauge wheel on a second end;

a lateral positioning member configured to be selectively coupled to the bushing block to provide lateral adjustment of the pivot arm;

a through bolt configured to selectively couple the lateral positioning member to a frame; and

a friction reducing member positioned between the bushing block and the through bolt;

wherein, the friction reducing member allows pivotal movement of the pivot arm relative to the through bolt without requiring a routine application of grease;

wherein the lateral positioning member comprises a bearing carrier threadably coupled to the bushing block, wherein rotation of the bearing carrier relative to the bushing block provides for lateral adjustment of the pivot arm;

wherein the friction reducing member comprises a bearing assembly comprising a plurality of roller balls, the bearing assembly positioned radially between the bearing carrier and the through bolt.

12 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a snap ring selectively fixing an axial position of the bearing assembly within the bearing carrier.

13 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 11 , wherein the bearing carrier defines a coupler receiver at a first end, wherein the coupler receiver extends past the bushing block and is configured to provide a location for a coupling tool to selectively rotate the bearing carrier relative to the bushing block.

14 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 11 , wherein the bushing block comprises a longitudinal gap and a clamping component wherein the clamping component selectively applies a clamping force to the bearing carrier through the bushing block to substantially prevent the bearing carrier from moving relative to the bushing block when the clamping component applies the clamping force.

15 . The pivot arm assembly of claim 11 , wherein the bearing carrier comprises an exposed threaded section configured to extend outside of the bushing block, wherein a jam nut is threadably coupleable to the exposed threaded section to selectively prevent the bearing carrier from moving relative to the bushing block.