shenion
Tool Pack Rat
- Messages
- 7,586
- Location
- Stone Mountain, GA USA
Picked up a 5x8 enclosed trailer. Had 6-bolt wheels and heavy-duty drop axle. Tires are shot and must be real old as one is bias play.
Took apart one spindle and it was bit bit chewed up but still usable. I wanted to replace the spindles and bearings so I can use the 5-bolt wheels I already have. The spindles are real odd, bigger inside bearing that I can get and smaller on the outside. Could not find anything that fit.
So had to replace spindles. They are welded on and would take hours to cut out the welds. I decided a new axle would be faster.
The only drop axle I can find is 62" between spring centers. This was 58. So I needed to cut 4" out of it:
Then beveled edges to guarantee good penetration:
It is 1/4 tube. Set up welder for about 170A with 0.9mm wire and welded together. Had some undercut so did a cap weld:
Should be plenty stroing enough, but I am anal about things so added a 1/8" x 1.5" stiffener:
Probably not needed as the weld is plenty strong, but I figured being mild steel, and the weld being stronger would cause a difference in the flex that might add forces to edge of weld.
Took apart one spindle and it was bit bit chewed up but still usable. I wanted to replace the spindles and bearings so I can use the 5-bolt wheels I already have. The spindles are real odd, bigger inside bearing that I can get and smaller on the outside. Could not find anything that fit.
So had to replace spindles. They are welded on and would take hours to cut out the welds. I decided a new axle would be faster.
The only drop axle I can find is 62" between spring centers. This was 58. So I needed to cut 4" out of it:
Then beveled edges to guarantee good penetration:
It is 1/4 tube. Set up welder for about 170A with 0.9mm wire and welded together. Had some undercut so did a cap weld:
Should be plenty stroing enough, but I am anal about things so added a 1/8" x 1.5" stiffener:
Probably not needed as the weld is plenty strong, but I figured being mild steel, and the weld being stronger would cause a difference in the flex that might add forces to edge of weld.