How to straighten this trailer tailgate?

[DieselBound]

Not sure where to post this...

Slipped on the controls of an excavator while dumping a load into my dump trailer and smacked the tailgate. I hit on the top edge toward the hinge. I haven't measured, but I'm guessing it's 1/4" metal. It's twisted perhaps a couple of inches. One pin got busted, which probably gave a little relief to the overall forces. Local machine shop is swamped and I'd like to get this fixed so I can haul some materials.

I have no welder or shop press, though I've been considering both. Don't have wiring for a welder (not a big deal, but it's time that I really don't have at the moment).

Here's a picture, though it's really hard to see the twist (mostly just wanting to show the overall shape and materials- a "twist" can be amply imagined in one's head):

 

[LouNY]

The twist in the hinge pocket is obvious, a large crescent could tweak that back, as far as the rest,
how about some 4x4 blocks and your excavator bucket as a press?

 

[bcp]

Do both tractors in your profile have loaders? Get some blocks under it, hold down one end with a loader, press the twist out at the other end with the other loader.

Bruce

 

[CobyRupert]

You don't have a welder, but you do have a press that can bend metal.
That big thing with tracks on it and a bucket. It worked once bending it, now you just need to have it work the way you want it to.

The hard part is getting a jig that will hold it correctly, and knowing how much to anti-twist it beyond correct so that it springs back to "correct".
:2cents:

 

[DieselBound]

Thanks for the reply, folks. The excavator was a rental: probably a good thing I don't have one full-time (I'd be smashing up all kinds of stuff! [OK, this was the first and only time I've messed up with an excavator]):laughing: I am, however, looking to bring in another excavator, though a small one. Yes, both my tractors have loaders, but my Kioti is currently in the shop, and I'm not sure that my B7800 would be able to apply enough force. No level, hard surface other than my garage floor- I'd be worried about messing up the concrete. I could kind of see using both tractors on this, one to hold a corner and the other to press out the twist.

I have an old trailer tongue from a manufactured home that might be employable. It's I-beam stuff.

 

[GLyford]

Park a truck/tractor/trailer on the "straight" end, with a block (chunk(s) of 1x, 2x, brick, ...) under one corner on the twisted end. Use either the bucket if you have downpressure, or the tire of another vehicle to "sneak" up on the other corner, pressing down in little bites until it bounces back mostly straight. You might have to get a little creative with more 2x blocking next to the "clamped" end to get the pressure on the frame of the tailgate without bending the heck out of your latch bar trying to drive onto it.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Not all welders work at machine shops. Ask around about welders at a local welding supply store. Steel supply store, local advertising papers or internet. Any fence or gate builders, usually have welders ?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would use large C clamps to clamp it to something solid at one end and clamp a long tube (for leverage) to the other end.

 

[4570Man]

I’d put it back on and put I block in the low corner. Then push against the high corner.

 

[newbury]

Go ask on the welding forum, several of the members post from your general area.