Trailer Work

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This is the last of the small jobs during the last few days.  Another heat shrinking projectAn idiot hung a John Deer front end loader on the back of the trailer when he was loading bales last Winter.  It bent the portion of the trailer main pipe from the tandems rearward.  The total bend was around 6" down at the rear of the trailer.I was able to trace the damage to the middle of the tandems.  All bending was done at this single point.  Amazing it bent here, woulda thought it would of bent more to the rear of the set of tandems.A jack was placed under the rear of the trailer, lifting the rear until it was straight, then the single spot was heated in a band across the top of the pipe.  I used a Flame Technologies PNG #10 heating tip.  10psi Propane-45psi Oxygen.  Total heating time to dull red was aproximately 30-45 seconds across the entire area  I'm sold on these large propane heating tips  (Don, I thought I was running at 60psi, but wasn't, saw it when I looked at the gage next time I used the heating rig, it was still set at that pressure)To speed cooling, the area was misted with water.While the area was cooling I beat the daylights out of it with a large precision adjuster  The shrinkage caused a slight raised area due to distortion.  Two fast reheats, and pounding, removed the distortion.I have a rolled piece of 3/16 plate to fishplate the area, but decided to use the trailer without the additional reinforcement to test whether such a repair could survive multiple load cycles without trying to return to the damaged shape, or possibly cracking.  So far the trailer has gone thru 17 full load cycles on rough road without damage.  At the first sign of any movement, I'll go ahead and fishplate the heat affected area (which may be never)While the trailer was in the "shop"() I did one more repair................. Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:The top post on the coupler never had a cap on it since the day I bought the trailer.  It was as good a time as any to put a cap on.I don't do circles too good  Butter up welds to seal the cap Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Who can tell after a good eraser job.  Just you.  Nice round bail hauler.
Reply:1st foto in post 2, that work lead looks very undersized...nice bead, why'd you grind her?
Reply:How far do you haul the bales? A guy I work with hauls his bales 5-10 miles and hauls 10 on a flatbed truck with 12 on a trailer.Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:Just can't get enough of that flux core, eh? So what's that spring setup I see there in about pic #3 where there is a set of leafs on the top side? How's that work?"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbead1st foto in post 2, that work lead looks very undersized...nice bead, why'd you grind her?
Reply:Good save Sam!I hate rude behavior in a man.......Won't tolerate it!                   Woodrow F. Call
Reply:FS, in your forth pic it says on the heating tip "For Acetylene ", but you stated you used propane?MM 251MM 135Lincoln Pro cut 55Bobcat 250Miller Thunderbolt ac/dcolder ac forneyJackson nexgen 3n13-Smith OP setups97 Dodge dieselMakita chopsawJet swivel head bandsawlincoln tig 300/30030a spoolgunpuma port. gas air comp.
Reply:Looks like a extra spring in case of a road side break. Manufacturer must have had issues with springs.Brett B & B Fabrication and Welding Inc.Spalding, MI.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandySo what's that spring setup I see there in about pic #3 where there is a set of leafs on the top side? How's that work?
Reply:It's part of the "side dump" feature of the trailer. The bale rack frame contacts the spring while dumping the bales.
Reply:Originally Posted by ksweldermanFS, in your forth pic it says on the heating tip "For Acetylene ", but you stated you used propane?
Reply:Originally Posted by KGIORMaybe you are looking at the volt sensing lead, the work lead is off of the bottom of the post.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadthanks i see it down there now. ..wtf is a volt sensing lead?
Reply:live and learn, i was not aware of such a device..i dont wirefeed..
Reply:Excellent job, Sam.   I suppose you realize, heat shrinking a pipe, is probably harder than any other structural shape???   I-beams and H-beams are easy in comparision ......