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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Gaffers on 21 December 2011, 21:35:06

Title: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 21 December 2011, 21:35:06
I am getting round to sorting the trailer which carries my mistress Jenny and I have acquired an axle which is 33cm too wide.

Now my question is this, do I:

a) Chop and weld with a slightly larger sleeve that goes over the original

b) Weld plates onto existing trailer frame on to which I bolt the axle.

I will post some pics tomorrow to help but thoughts would be appreciated  :y
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Seth on 21 December 2011, 21:40:40
I am getting round to sorting the trailer which carries my mistress Jenny and I have acquired an axle which is 33cm too wide.

Now my question is this, do I:

a) Chop and weld with a slightly larger sleeve that goes over the original

b) Weld plates onto existing trailer frame on to which I bolt the axle.

I will post some pics tomorrow to help but thoughts would be appreciated  :y


Your choice Matt, but if you choose 'option a' you'll obviously need to ensure that each side is perfectly aligned.
Vee blocks are a simple way of ensuring this.

 ;)
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: hotel21 on 21 December 2011, 21:45:44
Not 100% but think new rules are now in force as regards home brew trailers etc.  Worth a rake about.......  ???
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 21 December 2011, 23:18:22
It seems I am exempt from the new rules as the trailer is old and does not exceed the 3500kg mark.
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: hotel21 on 21 December 2011, 23:29:10
It seems I am exempt from the new rules as the trailer is old and does not exceed the 3500kg mark.
Does that include rejigging of an old one?  Accepted that its a bit of a non starter as to proving when work was done but.....  ;)   ;D
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 21 December 2011, 23:37:09
It seems I am exempt from the new rules as the trailer is old and does not exceed the 3500kg mark.
Does that include rejigging of an old one?  Accepted that its a bit of a non starter as to proving when work was done but.....  ;)   ;D

Percisely  :y

Besides it comes into effect in Oct 2012 and as I'll be doing mine soon.....
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Seth on 21 December 2011, 23:45:31
Maximum width is 2.55m (I think!) :-\
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 21 December 2011, 23:47:46
Maximum width is 2.55m (I think!) :-\

Well inside that and I want to reduce the width if anything...
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Kevin Wood on 21 December 2011, 23:50:07
It seems I am exempt from the new rules as the trailer is old and does not exceed the 3500kg mark.

You'd be hard pushed not to improve on the current arrangements as I recall them. :-X

 ;)

A picture would be handy. :y
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 21 December 2011, 23:59:48
You're right Kev, the old axles are a little bit...well...tired.... :D

Piccie inbound tomorrow  :y
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Varche on 22 December 2011, 09:36:20
I am getting round to sorting the trailer which carries my mistress Jenny and I have acquired an axle which is 33cm too wide.

Now my question is this, do I:

a) Chop and weld with a slightly larger sleeve that goes over the original

b) Weld plates onto existing trailer frame on to which I bolt the axle.

I will post some pics tomorrow to help but thoughts would be appreciated  :y

Glad you got that sorted. Doesn't she mind being on a trailer? ;D ;D
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 22 December 2011, 09:46:00
Varche she lives on the trailer, and no she doesn't have any dags ;D

Right some pics:

This is where I want it attaching

 (http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll138/mrgaffney/Snapbucket/87f67a27-orig.jpg)

The axle is upside down right now

 (http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll138/mrgaffney/Snapbucket/da297119-orig.jpg)


Closeup of the fixings which I.suppose I could chop off and move?

 (http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll138/mrgaffney/Snapbucket/e8dcee5b-orig.jpg)
 

Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Kevin Wood on 22 December 2011, 14:24:52
I would have thought it ought to be possible to do a cut and shut on that.

If the welding is done competently it won't be any weaker, and most of the loads are from the mounting points down to the wheels. Axle is just there to keep it all aligned.
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: hoofing it on 22 December 2011, 19:51:03
What I would do is put the axle in place as it is then centre/square it off then mark where it is sitting - take off again then cut axle to desired size.
When welding back on get a peice of 1/8th gauge steel plate and form a plate that sits over the chassis weld it on first then weld on the axle thus giving it a lot more support.
My idea is somthing similar to the backing plates that you get for indespension suspension units.
As for weights unless it's got a plate on the chassis of it your ok. :y
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Martian on 23 December 2011, 00:52:24
I do know a guy who will chop anything to bits to make it fit anything if that's what you want M, but if I were you I'd take option B for this particular scenario (much cheaper, and easily do-able at home).
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 23 December 2011, 07:32:11
Looking at the condition of the rest of the trailer I may have to rebuild it completely.  Some of the cross members are rusted beyond repair. :(
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 23 December 2011, 10:02:37
Nothing some nice steel and electric glue wont fix.
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Martian on 23 December 2011, 10:32:12
Nothing some nice steel and electric glue wont fix.
"No nails" and cable ties work for us when we have a fixing that won't stay put  ;D
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 23 December 2011, 10:32:37
Nothing some nice steel and electric glue wont fix.

I'm too-ing and fro-ing between repair and rebuild :-\

My biggest question would be how to make or acquire the box section to make the cut and shunt for the axle and how long should it be? 50% of the axle length?
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Kevin Wood on 23 December 2011, 10:46:18
Nothing some nice steel and electric glue wont fix.

I'm too-ing and fro-ing between repair and rebuild :-\

My biggest question would be how to make or acquire the box section to make the cut and shunt for the axle and how long should it be? 50% of the axle length?

Would it even need to be sleeved? Just but the ends together and weld? If the weld is done competently it will be OK.
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Martian on 23 December 2011, 10:51:08
I'm too-ing and fro-ing between repair and rebuild :-\

My biggest question would be how to make or acquire the box section to make the cut and shunt for the axle and how long should it be? 50% of the axle length?
Pop round for a chat sometime M, my mate is still at the place that kindly donated the chassis parts for Triketon and can source that for you no problem.
In fact, throw in a crate of kangaroo piss for me and a couple of demijohns of homebrew for him and we'll build it in my garage for you  ;)
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: Gaffers on 23 December 2011, 10:54:46
I'm too-ing and fro-ing between repair and rebuild :-\

My biggest question would be how to make or acquire the box section to make the cut and shunt for the axle and how long should it be? 50% of the axle length?
Pop round for a chat sometime M, my mate is still at the place that kindly donated the chassis parts for Triketon and can source that for you no problem.
In fact, throw in a crate of kangaroo piss for me and a couple of demijohns of homebrew for him and we'll build it in my garage for you  ;)

Thats a kind offer, worthy of more than just a bit of beer.  I will likely take you up on that offer :y
Title: Re: Trailer axle technical question - Not licenses or legality
Post by: bigegg on 24 December 2011, 23:49:30
I'd be tempted [1] to ebay the extra wide axle and use the money to buy an axle of the correct width.

Alternatively - I've made, and over-engineered, a few trailers - some braked, some unbraked -
I always make them LOOK competently made, and never had a problem, either from plod, or from a safety point of view.
And I'd only call myself an amateur "stick" welder.
so my 2nd recommendation is just "go for it"

[1] only just returned to the forum, so may have missed some of the story...