Bent Spindle, Can it be fixed without buying a new axel?

[ndemge]

Just towed the boat back from KY to MO.<br /><br />Bent Spindle on the right side had the tire rubbing the trailer the entire way. Not much left of the tire, within miles of falling apart.<br /><br />Here's the question, Can I fix this without paying $150 for a new axel?<br /><br />I'm not afraid of fabrication, from what I can see, all this axel is is a piece of tube steel, with a spindle welded in each side, if this is the case, can I fix, or re-construc from scrach, weld on new spring plates and bolt up?

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Bent Spindle, Can it be fixed without buying a new axel?

It will be cheaper to replace it, and certainly a lot less effort.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Bent Spindle, Can it be fixed without buying a new axel?

Looking at it a bit closer, sure looks like I could make my own axel. <br /><br />I have Tube stock, plates for spring supports, and plates for backing plate, and then weld in new spindle, and attach hubs like usual.....<br /><br />$150 is out of the budget right now, I know it seems low, but that's the way it is.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Bent Spindle, Can it be fixed without buying a new axel?

i made my own axles just got some new spindles and the right size tubing and weld it up. remember to tack it am make sure its sraight also when welding axles heat has a tendancy to pull so dont try to weld all the way around it in 1 shot i usually weld about an inch check for sraightness and switch to the other side and weld an inch there this was u wont have pull from all the heat being on 1 side. also wrap your spindles with tape so u dont get slag from welding stucking to the race surface or threads. let all your welds cool natural dont use water

 

[PDS]

Re: Bent Spindle, Can it be fixed without buying a new axel?

After reading what Wayne34609 said, I have to totally agree. I built a jib hoist from scratch for my business and saved enough from that one project to buy my welder for free(my labor costs are free) Small welds on opposite sides, rotating around, always clean slag from last weld will help you keep new spindle straight and let it air cool. Best of luck, but I know you can do it.

 

[djvan]

Re: Bent Spindle, Can it be fixed without buying a new axel?

If you are using square tubing for an axle, I usually plug weld (in addition to welding around he perimeter) it might be overkill but I'd rather error on the side of overkill.<br /><br />DougV>

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Bent Spindle, Can it be fixed without buying a new axel?

Whiel at the welding supply you can pick up anti splatter. It comes in a spray can. It is used with a mig gun to coat inside of the tip to keep splatter down. No bb's will stick to your race with it on it. Also, air cooling is a good idea, a better idea may be sand. Put some sand in a 5 gallon bucket and then put your part in it. Cover it with additional sand. This will slow the cooling proccess even more which should result in a strongr weld. This is provided that yu can get the axle in the bucket, or the bucket over the axle. If not the air should be fine.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Bent Spindle, Can it be fixed without buying a new axel?

Folks, the last axle I bought cost me $130 delivered to my door. The last time a saw a bin of spindles at Portsmount Trailer in Chesapeake, VA they were selling for just under $20 each. They no longer sell backing plates for the brakes separately so I don't know what a pair of them cost. And then there is the galvanizing. I don't care much for painted axles; just begging for rust at the welds. So I don't think you're really going to save much of anything over just ordering one. That plug the simply fact that I'd trust the jigs at Champion Trailer better than something scabbed together at a local welder's place. At any rate don't forget the mounting tabs or alignment pins for you springs, if your trailer requires them, and the brake backing plates of course.