Bellcrank ball opinions

[Squishymonster]

I removed the bellcrank on my 53 cj3a to install a bushing repair kit. Unfortunately the ball is pretty misshapen.  I am curious about the safety of new replacement "ball up" bellcranks. The one at KW looks like the ball is threaded in or at least not cast with the rest of it.

Does anyone know of any safety concerns with those $80 replacements?

I was considering taking it to a shop to have the ball built up and reshaped.

I will buy a NOS if absolutely necessary for safety but I'll pass on it if I can do so safely.

[oldtime]

I MUCH prefer repairing original parts.
In fact properly repaired it can be superior to the original.
I build them up with hard facing rod.
Then grind them back down to original specifications.

[Rus Curtis]

I installed a replacement...  We'll see how it does.  I kept my old one because: 

https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/steering-bell-crank_topic37442.html?KW=bell+crank+repair

[Squishymonster]

Here's my attempt at a repair. I'm actually somewhat surprised it went so well... I drilled a hole in some 1/8" steel that is the size of the ball amd made sure I could slip it over before attempting to weld fill. Then used my table sander and rotating motions on the primary axis to get it back to circular shape and verified by fitting the steel hole over it repeatedly. Then I started contouring the ball

Next I put it in the vice and started fine tuning with a file.

After my last photos I used finer sandpaper by hand and also pressed it I to the rounded retaining cup and kept attacking it unil there were no crunchy spots left as I rotated the cup around (without sandpaper).

So... I doubt it's perfectly in spec, but it is pretty darned close, and much closer than it was.