axle length

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axle length

Postby felixx » Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:47 pm

So a 54" (seal to seal) axle will be off a 4' trailer?

Glenn
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Re: axle length

Postby tony.latham » Sun Dec 14, 2014 11:09 pm

felixx wrote:So a 54" (seal to seal) axle will be off a 4' trailer?

Glenn


I built a 4-wide teardrop that we put an axle under it that was 62" from hub face to hub face on. Dunno about the seal to seal.

T
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Re: axle length

Postby felixx » Sun Dec 14, 2014 11:34 pm

thanks boss
Im wondering, if it was a bit short could I cut it and sleeve it to make a longer axle (its real cheap ($5)
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Re: axle length

Postby tony.latham » Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:20 am

felixx wrote:thanks boss
Im wondering, if it was a bit short could I cut it and sleeve it to make a longer axle (its real cheap ($5)


That I don't know. The torsion axles I've bought from Dexter are bent (up) in the center to give them camber. Dunno if spring supported axles have camber?

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Re: axle length

Postby felixx » Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:31 am

They dont appear to have camber

I will be using leaf springs
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Re: axle length

Postby dales133 » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:04 am

You probably could sleeve it but you want thick wall material to sleeve that's A tight fit and plenty of welding pentatonic not to mention keeping it horizontal and straight.
Might be more trouble than its worth.
If it's close throw some wheel spacers on
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Re: axle length

Postby rowerwet » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:07 am

Every axle I've seen has camber, it might be small. Checking with a straight edge will let you know.
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Re: axle length

Postby ctstaas » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:51 pm

Hi felixx, The axle is something to never have fail and splicing sound like a cheap disaster yet to happen. Spend the $200 to make sure its the right size, capacity and the manufacture has liability insurance or deep pockets. I you do splice use "fish plates". A fish plate tapers at each end to the middle of the plate, almost like an arrow. A vertical weld across a tube under stress will cause the tube to break at the weld. Welding on the sides (points) of the fish plate produces diagonal welds covering more surface but more importantly will not transfer stress like a vertical weld will.
If you were shorting the axle you would only have one splice and it could be done with a single full penetration type weld. A full penetration weld will have a root gap equal to the thickness of the base metal and have each side beveled. The root gap will have a backup bar filling the gap and providing material to weld into so each corner of both side's roots can be incorporated into the root weld pass. My explanation of full penetration welding is general but a starting point of what to look for or say to a professional welder.
Enjoy, Chris
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Re: axle length

Postby felixx » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:53 pm

thanks, thats some sound advice
I will bite the bullet and pay for the correct size axle
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