OP
What Axle Do I Have?
- Thread starter Iplayfarmer
- Start date
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OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
No pics yet, but I test fitted the tongue to the trailer. All of the fretting and fussing to get the tongue square and even paid off. It fit up perfenctly! Now I get to take it back off and fish-plate the joints. I also need a latching machanism. I'm thinking about borrowing an idea from George2615...
What appeals to me about this design is that I can easily adapt it later when I add some kind of fixed deck to the front of the trailer.
I also decided to get what I needed to put grease zerks on the bushings for the tilt mechanism. After the huge headache I went through with every joint on this trailer, it seems anything I can do to keep things moving freely will pay off big.
What appeals to me about this design is that I can easily adapt it later when I add some kind of fixed deck to the front of the trailer.
I also decided to get what I needed to put grease zerks on the bushings for the tilt mechanism. After the huge headache I went through with every joint on this trailer, it seems anything I can do to keep things moving freely will pay off big.
OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Another quick update. I got the seams in the tongue welded (everything was just tacked before). I also got the fish plates all cut out to plate the seams. I'm not going to rely on my amateur welding alone to hold this trailer together.
Next step... I need to grind the seam welds flush and then weld the fish plates in place. I also need to get some different steel to mount the fenders. With the extra drop in the axles and the new slightly larger tires, I'm going to have to mount the fenders a little higher. After that it's paint, wires, and I'm good to haul.
At the current pace I should be done about this time next year.
Next step... I need to grind the seam welds flush and then weld the fish plates in place. I also need to get some different steel to mount the fenders. With the extra drop in the axles and the new slightly larger tires, I'm going to have to mount the fenders a little higher. After that it's paint, wires, and I'm good to haul.
At the current pace I should be done about this time next year.
dcyrilc
Elite Member
Another quick update. I got the seams in the tongue welded (everything was just tacked before). I also got the fish plates all cut out to plate the seams. I'm not going to rely on my amateur welding alone to hold this trailer together.
Next step... I need to grind the seam welds flush and then weld the fish plates in place. I also need to get some different steel to mount the fenders. With the extra drop in the axles and the new slightly larger tires, I'm going to have to mount the fenders a little higher. After that it's paint, wires, and I'm good to haul.
At the current pace I should be done about this time next year.
Soooooo...... are you going to paint it pink to match the tractor for your daughter? Ya can't move a pick tractor on just any color trailer ya know.
OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Soooooo...... are you going to paint it pink to match the tractor for your daughter? Ya can't move a pick tractor on just any color trailer ya know.
It' funny you mention that. Just the other day my daughter was realizing that she didn't have the skills or resources to fix the old Oliver 70 by herself. So, she started bargaining... "If I just help YOU fix the tractor can we maybe paint some of it pink? Maybe the the wheels or something?" I had a good chuckle.
Actually, the Oliver doesn't even fit on this trailer. The trailer is narrower than the tractor. I may be able to slide the wheels in on the Oliver to make it fit.
To answer the question, though, I'm going to paint it black... Boring old black. And, for now I'm only painting the tongue and the wheel wells. Everything else can keep it's old faded paint.
dcyrilc
Elite Member
Sounds fun. Does she actually have the desire to help you with it? Both of our kids would much rather play video games or watch TV than get their hands dirty working on a tractor.
OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Oh, yeah! She loves working on stuff with me. She gets a big thrill when we're tinkering with something and she can hear it run for the first time. All three of my kids like working on stuff like that. My 5-year-old daughter is a pretty good hand with a wrench. I handed her a wrench for the first time a year ago and she knew instinctively which direction to turn it to get a nut off. My 7-year-old son is more into fabricating. He likes the shower of sparks from the chop saw, and he's always scrounging scrap off the floor of the garage when I'm working and putting it together in creative ways.
TheTrailerGuy
Bronze Member
I don't know if it will help, but i did do a video on the removable fenders we sell on our trailers. Go watch it, check the site and see if you can't come up with a plan that will work for you.
BTW... axles look like Dexter 4" drop 3,500lb from this angle.
YouTube - Removable Fender Option... very tough, slick and easy to use.
BTW... axles look like Dexter 4" drop 3,500lb from this angle.
YouTube - Removable Fender Option... very tough, slick and easy to use.
TheTrailerGuy
Bronze Member
That's one my old trailers! 18' Speedloader manual tilt. You would do well to copy that design. I know i have about 40,000 trailers out with those and no complaints.
OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
I stole a little time today and worked on the trailer some more.
I got the reinforcing plates all welded on. I think I did some of my best welds I've done in my life on these fish plates. I know, that's a sad comment about all of the other welds I've done.
I used 7014 rod and turned the welder up as far as it will go. You can see the welder in the background of the last picture. I'm including three pictures. One of the overall tongue, a close up of the fish plates, and an extreme closeup to show my welds that I am so happy with.
I got the reinforcing plates all welded on. I think I did some of my best welds I've done in my life on these fish plates. I know, that's a sad comment about all of the other welds I've done.
I used 7014 rod and turned the welder up as far as it will go. You can see the welder in the background of the last picture. I'm including three pictures. One of the overall tongue, a close up of the fish plates, and an extreme closeup to show my welds that I am so happy with.
