Welding axle tubes???

[Kays Supply]

Is there any reason I shouldn't cut and reweld an axle tube on a trailer? I have a bent axle and have the ability to cut it and reweld it after I correct the slight bend. I just don't want to regret doing it later. I can replace the axle but this would be quicker and cheaper for me.

 

[Shield Arc]

I would make a template to duplicate the camber of the axle. You could do an open root joint weld, or insert a chill ring.

 

[tulenutn2o]

Is there any reason I shouldn't cut and reweld an axle tube on a trailer? I have a bent axle and have the ability to cut it and reweld it after I correct the slight bend. I just don't want to regret doing it later. I can replace the axle but this would be quicker and cheaper for me.

No reason not to. We have built several rear ends for our cars over the years. Try to keep the same camber as mentioned and keep wheels aligned and all should be fine.

 

[rjmack]

a lot of those axles come already bent.

might be worth a second look.

also, heat treatment might be a better solution. if you have a strongback like a w8x40 or something like that, you can weld lugs on the outboard ends to tie it down with chains and then use hydraulic jacks to straigten it out.

 

[Mace Canute]

a lot of those axles come already bent.

might be worth a second look.

also, heat treatment might be a better solution. if you have a strongback like a w8x40 or something like that, you can weld lugs on the outboard ends to tie it down with chains and then use hydraulic jacks to straigten it out.

X 2. I'd say that's a better solution than cutting and welding.

 

[mjncad]

If you do cut and weld it back together, put a sleeve over the axle joint, or a plug, or some sort of reinforcement plates to keep that axle from breaking apart under stress.

 

[tommu56]

a lot of those axles come already bent.

might be worth a second look.

also, heat treatment might be a better solution. if you have a strongback like a w8x40 or something like that, you can weld lugs on the outboard ends to tie it down with chains and then use hydraulic jacks to straigten it out.

I agree also with the second look
Were is the bend?
If its in the middle it might be the chamber built in to it.
If its out near the spindle it makes it harder to correct.

I've cut mobile home axles down for trailer axles (spare me the lectures) and used a bottle jack and chain to to put the camber back in them.

tom

 

[kevinj]

a lot of those axles come already bent.

might be worth a second look.

also, heat treatment might be a better solution. if you have a strongback like a w8x40 or something like that, you can weld lugs on the outboard ends to tie it down with chains and then use hydraulic jacks to straigten it out.

Also any decent frame or trailer shop should be able to align the axle while on the trailer.

 

[Kays Supply]

Thanks for the help. It is bent for sure. A tall curb did that for me. I have it all back together and the toe in and camber is off. I can get that close enough, I just wanted to know of any pitfalls before I went to the trouble.

 

[Craig Clayton]

Alittle late on this suggestion. The trailer is used on the ROAD which falls under the DOT. If you weld the axle perfectly and another curb jumps up and bits your axle ever again and the law just happenes to be present, you might have some explaining to do. You could be completely in the right as somebody T Bones you then the insurance looks underneath and asks for the welding cert on the job.
Use the axle off road, no rules no claims.

Craig Clayton

 

[Gary Fowler]

A little paranoia setting in I suspect. From looking at the welds on trailers and other stuff I truly doubt that any welder that worked on any of them has any welding certs. Likely "yo, you got a welding hood, you want to weld this together "type certs. There is no way an AWS certified structural welder would dawb on the welds that I see on just about anything with a weld on it. No way in **** is an insurance company going to pin the blame on you for a rear end or t-bone into you because you welded your axle together. Unless you are a really poor welder, your welds will likely be as good as what was put on at the factory. If your welding really sucks, maybe you should have gotten it welded by a professional, but I am assuming that you are fairly proficient at it to have attempted it in the first place.

 

[Craig Clayton]

I will give you a few quick stories about commericial trailers. I have friends that move large heavy objects as a family business. The largest load that I drove was 105 Tons across a golf course will I was being towed by a D8 Cat. They have Americian mover friends that do the same work. The Americian movers have had cars pinched as they go around turns and there is no hiding it because they have a hired Police escort. So they contact the owner and say please go down to your local dealer and pick out the same grade of NEW car any colour on the condition the accident never happened.
I talked to a Americian Inspector who had come up from New York to work here in our city. He seen a large excavator back up and the operator thought it was a small pile of gravel. To solve the minor problem, Sir what colour would you like the NEW Cadallic to be in.
Craig Clayton

 

[Mace Canute]

*looks everywhere for an "American mover"...

 

[lostcause]

Alittle late on this suggestion. The trailer is used on the ROAD which falls under the DOT. If you weld the axle perfectly and another curb jumps up and bits your axle ever again and the law just happenes to be present, you might have some explaining to do. You could be completely in the right as somebody T Bones you then the insurance looks underneath and asks for the welding cert on the job.
Use the axle off road, no rules no claims.

Craig Clayton

i can't say that i've read any of the reams of regulations in place, but i can't believe there is anything saying that you are in the wrong for welding something on a trailer, provided you do an adequate job. if you weld something, do a poor job, and it falls off and does damage to someone else, then you're probably going to catch the heat for that, but that shouldn't come as a surprise. i've build a handful of trailers over the years, and for some of them i built the axles out of a tube with two welded on spindles. they make and sell them for exactly that purpose.

i've currently got an insurance rider to cover my homemade equipment trailer. since my tow vehicle (one ton cab & chassis with a dump body) is considered commercial even though i only use it for personal use, i have to have separate coverage for each trailer i tow. they never blinked when i told them it was homemade - they have to know that an amateur did the welding since it isn't commercially titled. there's nothing wrong with doing your own welding on a trailer - be it when building or repairing, just don't half-*** it.

 

[Kays Supply]

Well third time is a charm. Judging the draw from the weld has turned out to be the hardest part. I finally gave it some Kentucky windage and got it as close as I am able to. I had forgotten about insurance. I took out an umbrella policy years ago when I sold used tractors, and have kept it just in case. It basically covers anything not covered by my other liability policys. I will be able to sleep alittle better now.

 

[crazyal]

You may find your tires wear more now than before so keep an eye on them. The last thing you need is a few hundred or thousand miles from now is to get a flat.

 

[rjmack]

You may find your tires wear more now than before so keep an eye on them. The last thing you need is a few hundred or thousand miles from now is to get a flat.

i bought a nice shiny new trailer like this http://www.cummings.ca/trailer/viewOne/id/717

the salesman assured me that all the prep work had been done, including setting up the brakes.

i don't know if it happened by the time i got the thing home (200 miles), or after hauling a load or two, but a short time later i noticed i had huge/deep flat spots on two tires. (separate axles).

took me a couple hours to set the brakes, they were so far out that there is no doubt they had not been done.

live and learn, i guess.

never go buy a new/used trailer without somebody to watch/drive while you do a drag test.

 

[Kays Supply]

Well, it will be hard to tell if the tires are wearing more. The way they scuff when you turn or back up sharp. They were pretty bad before the " mishap". The electric brakes are a high maintenance item. I try to keep them all adjusted.
My real complaint is the spring bushings. I have replaced them 3 times now. I only use this trailer for short local hauls, maybe three time a month. I have put two sets of the nylon and one set of the greasable bronze. The bronze ones are just over a year old and they are getting pretty sloppy. If you guys haven't checked yours, you will be surprised when you do.

 

[Car Doc]

Is there any reason I shouldn't cut and reweld an axle tube on a trailer? I have a bent axle and have the ability to cut it and reweld it after I correct the slight bend. I just don't want to regret doing it later. I can replace the axle but this would be quicker and cheaper for me.

I have done it on my trailer on 4 axles, I installed a inner tubing and an outer sleeve for added strength its been on the ground for many many miles.

I also did one that I simply took a 20 ton bottle jack a piece of heavy angle with a pad welded to the center of it for the jack top to push against and a HT chain and straightened it w/o doing any cutting. fwtw

 

[Car Doc]

If you guys haven't checked yours, you will be surprised when you do.

Shackle bolts too OMG those things wear fast!