shortening an axle

[charkbait]

I bought a 4' axle on ebay, looks great. only problem is that it is 60" with the springs at 48"

I'm thinking about altering it to fit. Good or bad idea, what's the best way to do it? Is it as simple as gutting and getting a new spindle to install or can I cut out a section and weld it back together?

 

[External Combustion]

Re: shortening an axle

Shortening the axel is OK. Take the section out of the center as that is where the stress is least concentrated. Preheat, weld 100%, postheat and you will be good. Leave the bead. If the axle is galvanized then you will have to sand off the zinc first.

I like to use channel iron or angle iron to help align both sides of a tube while tacking them. You will have to use a short section of channel if the tube has been pre-arched. Mark a scribe line on the tube before cutting out the section. This will allow you to keep the spring seats level when you put it back together.

 

[charkbait]

Re: shortening an axle

Thanks, anything special to do for saltwater use due to the weld?

 

[External Combustion]

Re: shortening an axle

Undercoating, a good paint job or spray can galvanizing will slow rust down, but I don't know of anything to stop it. The weld will be as good as the parent metal.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: shortening an axle

You could always put a piece of tube over the axle tube and weld it to the tube. That way you get twice as much weld and if the outer tube is a snug fit, you know it will be straight unless the heat warps it.

 

[guy74]

Re: shortening an axle

You could always put a piece of tube over the axle tube and weld it to the tube. That way you get twice as much weld and if the outer tube is a snug fit, you know it will be straight unless the heat warps it.

I've seen a lot of axles done this way, but quite a few of them break at the end of the larger tube. The larger tube creates a stiff area that consentrates the stress at the ends of the larger tube. I just cut out the section that I need remove, just like noted above, scribe a line down the length of the tube to keep it strait. The I use clamps an a large piece of angle iron to help line the two halves up when I tack it. Then I just weld it back together, I've never had one break where I welded it back together, and believe me I've tested them.

 

[JB]

Re: shortening an axle

Take it back and get an axle that fits.

 

[TAV MAN]

Re: shortening an axle

I'm doing my by a tube over the axle and thoul bolting with grade 8 bolt. Four on each sided. I talk to a engineer Prof. here at MU about it

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: shortening an axle

I would stay away from the oversized tube. Somehow water is going to get in there and start causing trouble that you won't be able to see. I know that someone is going to say that it is watertight but water, especially saltwater has a way of getting into things.