Another Day Another Lowboy Trailer Axle..

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The pics are not in order..Another axle to make good..The bearing surfaces were OK but the seal area was damaged so the owners took it apart and welded the bad area up..They also tried to make it round with a disc grinder..Did'nt work.See pic #2So what we do here is steady rest the inner bearing area and have a look at it..Yup out .080..There was plenty of weld to deal with BUT the spindle was bent also on that side.. So now we weld up where the smaller outside bearing goes and re center it and have at it.Came out perfect!The bearing diameter is 2.250"..The seal area finishes at 3.125"...One more pic post.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Last set of pics..I get all the fun jobs.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Well done, as always! Great sequence of photos. Thanks
Reply:How does one make it round with a grinder? Nice job Zap! "Every choice you make will effect at least one other person"
Reply:Originally Posted by woodironmanHow does one make it round with a grinder? Nice job Zap!
Reply:Nice job zap.
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixit I've done a few of those and they're a lot more work than they look.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterGlad to know someone else does this "Routine" repair..Yes..This ain't no "5 Minute" job.....zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitI've figured out a fairly simple method of building a tool to machine them. It would start with a boring head and then it's simply making a spindle, bearing, and feed assembly. The problem comes from how to mount it straight and rigid enough to the axle. I'm not satisfied with any of the solutions I've come up with yet.
Reply:I had a guy fix a spindle for me on a end dump. He did it on the trailer with some kind of portable lathe. Heck of a lot cheaper than the new axle the repair shop wanted to put on.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Great job, I would be interested in seeing portable repair methods also, never seen anyone perform such a repair on site instead of removing and putting in a lathe
Reply:I know of at least one company that makes a spindle boring tool to bore out the spindle on a front axle, it threads onto the end of the spindle to align with the bore. A guy could possibly find a way to make a similar setup that would thread onto the spindle and run a cutter around the spindle to cut a new surface. You would probably need to power it with a low speed hydraulic motor or some other slow high torque unit. You would only be able to make this work well if the spindle was still straight but I think a guy could come up with something
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireWayne, I have always been fascinated by machining in place. A lot of stuff is simply too large or time consuming to remove. The railway guys are masters of this kind of work and a marvel to watch.I found this web site. It appears they cut off and pin the new axle but they have a machine similar to what you described.http://www.axlerepair.com/services/services.htmThis is from their FAQ:Q: When you replace the spindle, do you weld a new end on?A: No. First we cut off the old spindle.  Then we bore a hole into the housing and sleeve a new tube in place.  By sleeving the spindle into the housing, the repaired axle is stronger than the original.
Reply:Originally Posted by ironmangqI know of at least one company that makes a spindle boring tool to bore out the spindle on a front axle, it threads onto the end of the spindle to align with the bore. A guy could possibly find a way to make a similar setup that would thread onto the spindle and run a cutter around the spindle to cut a new surface. You would probably need to power it with a low speed hydraulic motor or some other slow high torque unit. You would only be able to make this work well if the spindle was still straight but I think a guy could come up with something
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixit  Darn looks like I've high jacked a perfectly good thread here.
Reply:There is a guy out here in the SoCal area called axel al's, I could be wrong on the name but, they do the same thing in place on the vehicle.  I always found that is just about as cost effective to swing in a whole new axel from the local supplier as it did come with brake cans, shoes, read to install.  just middle age thought Im rambling now by.
Reply:They guy I bought my geka ironworker from did this.  Called spindle dinamics.  Had two complete portable spindle repairs dually work vans.  He said its hit and miss.  But paid really well.Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:The guy that did mine only charged I think 300 bucks to repair damaged seal surface.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer