Torsion Axels in the Cold

[molethai]

Anyone seen any info on the performace of the torsion axels in the bitter cold? Rubber does weird things up here in Jan & Feb.

mole

[angib]

In this page of a photographic tour of the Henschen torsion axle plant, Deep Freeze, it says the rubber used to make the axle is frozen to 200 degrees below zero to hold its compressed shape while being fitted in the axle tube.



So if your frigid north gets down to 200 below, it looks like your axle will lock up solid.....

Andrew

[SteveH]

So, Andrew, based on that info, what should we expect at a mere 100 below?

[molethai]

Guess that answers my question.

Thanks for the link, very interesting.

Mole

[Chris C]

Leave it to Andrew to always have the answer.

Mike, I think you need to give Andrew the title of Site Guru!!!!! He's always there when we need him, and always has the answer.

[angib]

So, Andrew, based on that info, what should we expect at a mere 100 below?

Truthfully, I don't know - that's why I didn't add any more!!!

The interesting thing is that freezing the rubber to 200 below (I presume that's Fahrenheit, so it's 'only' about 150 Kelvin) doesn't do it any damage - you might think it would become so brittle that it would crack on being handled. So obviously low temps with the trailer static present no worry.

Then comes the question of what temperature risks doing damage if the trailer is towed. A quick Google search suggests that most rubbers have operating ranges down to -50 degF.

Maybe this is a question to ask one of the axle manufacturers?

Andrew

[cracker39]

At -50F, I don't believe I'd be doing anything that required rubbers!!!