Harbor Freight axle doesn't fit...help?!

[bledsoe3]

I'd send it back and ask for a full refund. You gave them two shots at it, now it time to go somewhere else.

Take it back!

[Arne]

Not to be offensive, but this is an axle on a cheap trailer, not a jet engine on an airplane.

I'd mark the axle, redrill the holes freehand, and get over it.. if you want put some jbweld in the bad holes.

There is little real stress on the pins and holes when cinched down with the u-bolts. On my 1800# trailer, the pins (bold heads) were not even that tight in the holes.

[bobhenry]

No one yet has mentioned the BMFH cure. The spring mount ears have weld shrink problems. My 40 x 48 did. When they welded the ears the heat on the outboard side caused the ears to be out of plumb. Tipped out 4-5 degrees. Took a junk socket extention and a big $ $ Hammer and gave the front ears a couple whacks. Who among us has not experienced weld shrink. Check them for plumb with a square and adjust it will not weaken the connection and will function just fine. These are good little trailers for what you pay for them. They just need a little love tap now and again.

[Sam I am]

Could the locating pins on the springs be off center? Maybe swapping the springs left & right would help.

[Dale M.]

One question I have is will tries clear trailer frame/fender brackets when they are put on axle... Maybe axle is 7/8 inch to narrow to start with.....

I see three choices here, return trailer, have welding shop widen axle, or just drill new indexing holes. Last two options are dependant on tire "fit"...

And I wonder how come Doug seems to have so much expertise on the subject of a Johnson stretcher?

Dale

[Dale M.]

Could the locating pins on the springs be off center? Maybe swapping the springs left & right would help.

Wouldn't that just swap problem from one side to other?... Think about it...

Dale

[doug hodder]

I just know about them....Jack knows where to get them...Doug

[madjack]

hey Doug...how long ya been single...don't tell me ya never have used a Johnson strecher on your "axle"
madjack

[apratt]

p.s. he couldn't find it.

[Steve_Cox]

Forget the repartee about Doug's Johnson, that's just not a mentally healthy place to be.
Loosen up all the bolts on that Chinese piece O crap, force it all together, as you tighten the bolts check for square. Then decide if you want to send it back...... Some of the pin misalignment is due to the bow in the axle that supposedly straightens out under a load.....It does have some bow in the axle, doesn't it? (We don't care or want to know about the bow in Doug's axle MJ. OK?) I heard he was into air bags anyway, you know, inflatables?

[Leon]

10 minutes with a drill and a few drill bits would fix it. Start with a small bit and work up so when you get close to breaking into the old dimple the drill has something to center on. It can be done with a hand drill, and the old one doesn't need to be welded up. It's a locating hole, and once the u-bolts are fastened there isn't any pressure on it.

[madjack]

Forget the repartee about Doug's Johnson, that's just not a mentally healthy place to be.
Loosen up all the bolts on that Chinese piece O crap, force it all together, as you tighten the bolts check for square. Then decide if you want to send it back...... Some of the pin misalignment is due to the bow in the axle that supposedly straightens out under a load.....It does have some bow in the axle, doesn't it? (We don't care or want to know about the bow in Doug's axle MJ. OK?) I heard he was into air bags anyway, you know, inflatables?

Steve, I have absolutely no idea what kinda bow Doug has in his axle(and I don't wanna know...TMI)...heck, I don't even know if he is left or right handed
madjack

[doug hodder]

I heard he was into air bags anyway, you know, inflatables?

A word to the wise...don't use a "hot patch" on an inflatable....and I broke my nose today...my hand slipped off the axle stretcher and hit me in the face... doug

[Miriam C.]

The things ya miss when you don't read everything for a day.

K----so the axle is short. Did you measure it? If it really is too short and not bent why not cut off the Framing and leave it short. It is bolt together right. Will the bolt holes be too messed up to do that?

Course I would make them give me a deep discount if I kept it.

[Gage]

I heard he was into air bags anyway, you know, inflatables?

A word to the wise...don't use a "hot patch" on an inflatable....and I broke my nose today...my hand slipped off the axle stretcher and hit me in the face... doug

Just goes to show you that one shouldn't use the axle stretcher at home.