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Author Topic:   How to go about axle inspection?

jxs226 posted 07-22-2002 07:47 PM ET (US)
Folks,
I want to get a look at my 1978 Holsclaw trailer's axle. The previous owner mentioned something about having replaced it at some point, but I was too focused on the boat itself and was convinced the rest of the trailer was very sound.
The axle housing box is pretty rusted. Is this a big issue? I was planning to clean remove as much rust as possible and apply corrosion protectant metal paint.
Also, the coil springs are pretty well nested in rust. I'd guess they're still functioning at a fairly high % of their max capability. I know we've discussed these recently on here and if I'm convinced I need to, I will go about contacting local spring manufacturers.
Thanks,
Justin
tuna1 posted 07-22-2002 08:59 PM ET (US)
The easy/best way is to take a 12-16 oz. ball pein hammer and with the pein end tap quite firmly to the bottom and sides of the axle to sound the metal. Compare the sound made to the top of the square tube. On a Holsclaw the botton and side rust out first,don't be supprize to knock a few holes in the axle.To repair cut the stub axle plate off the axle tube in back of the brake mounting plate. Then go to a steel supply center and by some new seamless steel tubing and take to a local welding shop to have a axle welded up.Sand blast the coil springs and spring mounting plates and reuse. Also check and if needed replace the main bolt that is the shaft for the tilt tube that connects the trailer tonque tube to the A-frame axel/roller assembly.If that bolt breaks the tonque stays attached to the tow vehicle and the boat/rest of trailer take off on it's own,not a nice sight.I had that bolt break once while backing the empty trailer down a boat ramp and the back end of the trailer took off into the water-only thing that saved me was i had the winch cable hook attached to the rear roller bracket.Other wise the trailer would be underwater in the middle of the harbor.
Cpt Quint posted 07-23-2002 10:08 AM ET (US)
read my post in general forum from yday. mine looked just klike yours. find a local trailer guy and just have him swapp it out.
make certain you get one rated heavy duty enough for your load but this is an area that you do not want to blow off and a new 3000 lb axle is less than $200 i bet.
NoviceWhaler posted 07-23-2002 12:26 PM ET (US)
I had to replace my the axle under my '84 Montauk trailer when I bought is a few years ago. I took my wore-out axle/spring assembly to the local trailer dealer and they hooked me up with a nearly-identical setup (springs, axle, hubs, bearings, buddys, etc) for ~$275. It took 2 hours to install myself.
I'm very satisfied with the price and effort involved in remedying this problem.
jxs226 posted 07-23-2002 01:11 PM ET (US)
Thanks guys. I'll try to get things straightened out per your advice.
Justin

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Author	Topic: How to go about axle inspection?
jxs226	posted 07-22-2002 07:47 PM ET (US) Folks, I want to get a look at my 1978 Holsclaw trailer's axle. The previous owner mentioned something about having replaced it at some point, but I was too focused on the boat itself and was convinced the rest of the trailer was very sound. The axle housing box is pretty rusted. Is this a big issue? I was planning to clean remove as much rust as possible and apply corrosion protectant metal paint. Also, the coil springs are pretty well nested in rust. I'd guess they're still functioning at a fairly high % of their max capability. I know we've discussed these recently on here and if I'm convinced I need to, I will go about contacting local spring manufacturers. Thanks, Justin
tuna1	posted 07-22-2002 08:59 PM ET (US) The easy/best way is to take a 12-16 oz. ball pein hammer and with the pein end tap quite firmly to the bottom and sides of the axle to sound the metal. Compare the sound made to the top of the square tube. On a Holsclaw the botton and side rust out first,don't be supprize to knock a few holes in the axle.To repair cut the stub axle plate off the axle tube in back of the brake mounting plate. Then go to a steel supply center and by some new seamless steel tubing and take to a local welding shop to have a axle welded up.Sand blast the coil springs and spring mounting plates and reuse. Also check and if needed replace the main bolt that is the shaft for the tilt tube that connects the trailer tonque tube to the A-frame axel/roller assembly.If that bolt breaks the tonque stays attached to the tow vehicle and the boat/rest of trailer take off on it's own,not a nice sight.I had that bolt break once while backing the empty trailer down a boat ramp and the back end of the trailer took off into the water-only thing that saved me was i had the winch cable hook attached to the rear roller bracket.Other wise the trailer would be underwater in the middle of the harbor.
Cpt Quint	posted 07-23-2002 10:08 AM ET (US) read my post in general forum from yday. mine looked just klike yours. find a local trailer guy and just have him swapp it out. make certain you get one rated heavy duty enough for your load but this is an area that you do not want to blow off and a new 3000 lb axle is less than $200 i bet.
NoviceWhaler	posted 07-23-2002 12:26 PM ET (US) I had to replace my the axle under my '84 Montauk trailer when I bought is a few years ago. I took my wore-out axle/spring assembly to the local trailer dealer and they hooked me up with a nearly-identical setup (springs, axle, hubs, bearings, buddys, etc) for ~$275. It took 2 hours to install myself. I'm very satisfied with the price and effort involved in remedying this problem.
jxs226	posted 07-23-2002 01:11 PM ET (US) Thanks guys. I'll try to get things straightened out per your advice. Justin