Adding width to existing axle

[Chain Bender]

Buddy of mine gave me an axle, complete with springs, hangers and hubs several months ago. Only problem is the axle is about 12" too narrow to use on a frame I built a month prior to recieveing the free axle.

Axle is a 2X2X.250 box tube. Spindles have been welded all the way around the 2X2, so grinding them out would definitely be a hassle.

Could I just cut the axle in half and add the extra 12" needed by welding the 2X2 back into a long piece of 2X2X.250" angle or would I be better off to buy 2 new spindles/stubs and a full length piece of 2x2X.250" box and make a completely new axle? Spindles are around $30/pair and 2X2X.250" box is about $6.50/foot.

 

[Reg]

Buddy of mine gave me an axle, complete with springs, hangers and hubs several months ago. Only problem is the axle is about 12" too narrow to use on a frame I built a month prior to recieveing the free axle.

Axle is a 2X2X.250 box tube. Spindles have been welded all the way around the 2X2, so grinding them out would definitely be a hassle.

Could I just cut the axle in half and add the extra 12" needed by welding the 2X2 back into a long piece of 2X2X.250" angle or would I be better off to buy 2 new spindles/stubs and a full length piece of 2x2X.250" box and make a completely new axle? Spindles are around $30/pair and 2X2X.250" box is about $6.50/foot.

Depends how good you are - as a welder (-:

"in half" is probably the best place to do it, though 2x2x0.25 angle may not be the right choice.

 

[20 20]

in half IMO would be the only choice

 

[Chain Bender]

Depends how good you are - as a welder (-:

"in half" is probably the best place to do it, though 2x2x2.5 angle may not be the right choice.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks for your recommendations. And question.

What size stock do your recommend? 2.25X2.25 or 2.5X2.5 or 3X3? I'm talking about adding an additional 12" to an existing 48" axle.

I think my welding with a stick is good enough that I would trust it on the highway with a full load

 

[Reg]

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks for your recommendations. And question.

What size stock do your recommend? 2.25X2.25 or 2.5X2.5 or 3X3? I'm talking about adding an additional 12" to an existing 48" axle.

I think my welding with a stick is good enough that I would trust it on the highway with a full load

DISCLAIMER:
I did NOT make a "recommendation".
I merely suggested that the center may be the lowest risk position and that there may be better choices than 2x2x.250

 

[Chain Bender]

DISCLAIMER:
I did NOT make a "recommendation".
I merely suggested that the center may be the lowest risk position and that there may be better choices than 2x2x.250

XXXXXXX


Yeah, I know. That's what I meant. What better choices are there than any of the three I listed above? You indicate that mine are not the best, yet you present no recommendation otherwise.

would my welding skills have changed whether to cut it or build a complete new axle?

 

[jmanatee2]

What about getting a piece of 2.25" x 2.25" inside x 3 feet long, cut your axle in the middle. put each cut end of the axle in 1 foot weld (make careful measurements of course)

The 3' outside piece will give the reinforcement of bending

 

[Snaker]

Buddy of mine gave me an axle, complete with springs, hangers and hubs several months ago. Only problem is the axle is about 12" too narrow to use on a frame I built a month prior to recieveing the free axle.

Axle is a 2X2X.250 box tube. Spindles have been welded all the way around the 2X2, so grinding them out would definitely be a hassle.

Could I just cut the axle in half and add the extra 12" needed by welding the 2X2 back into a long piece of 2X2X.250" angle or would I be better off to buy 2 new spindles/stubs and a full length piece of 2x2X.250" box and make a completely new axle? Spindles are around $30/pair and 2X2X.250" box is about $6.50/foot.

I've done something similar with a round tube axle. I might suggest getting 2' of snug smaller tubing to slip inside to tie all togather. Get extension tube that matches the original, short side of 12", to give a reasonal welding gap on each end. Weld into inner tubing first, then tie outer tubing togather.

 

[Chain Bender]

What about getting a piece of 2.25" x 2.25" inside x 3 feet long, cut your axle in the middle. put each cut end of the axle in 1 foot weld (make careful measurements of course)

The 3' outside piece will give the reinforcement of bending

XXXX

that's pretty close to what I was thinking about doing. 2.25 insde (which is a 2.5 outside) would leave me with 1/4" to weld to. I was thinking about a 4' piece and splitting the distance . Spread the cut axle out to 5' and tacking it and wleding from outside to inside and alternating sides to let the welds cool and preventing as much warpage as possible.

Next question would be, should I weld the angle on facing up or down? Or would it matter, strenght wise?

Got to run, hopefully getting staples out of TKR knee this morning.

CB

 

[Chain Bender]

I've done something similar with a round tube axle. I might suggest getting 2' of snug smaller tubing to slip inside to tie all togather. Get extension tube that matches the original, short side of 12", to give a reasonal welding gap on each end. Weld into inner tubing first, then tie outer tubing togather.

XXXXXXX

what about a 3' or 4' piece of 2.5" box and sliding the two pieces of the cut axle inside. Drill several 1/2" holes in the outside tube and filll the weld tieing the two boxes/tubes together. Circumference weld the ends of the 2.5" box. This is probably the strongest way to do it and certainly a consideration.