Trailer axle bent

[pondy]

I'm a member of a cycling group, we use this trailer to move hard-core around the forest for trail building, unfortunately the axle has bent so I need to repair.
It's 1.5" solid steel. I can't remove it from the trailer without alot of work, it's welded to the frame then a u shaped clamp welded over the top. The heat I have here isn't enough so hoping to get some oxy acetylene bottle from work to get some more heat into it then bend in about with the aid of a jack handle that slides over the axle stub nicely, would oxy acetylene have any issues getting it hot enough?

After I hopefully get it back into shape I need to make some sort of gusset or support to give it some extra strength. I have a a similar size tube what could be welded along the length of the axle then onto the frame? Or a better way of doing it. Apart from it going on the road today for a mile trip from the forest to my house the trailer is not used on the road.

 

[Bsmith]

Oxy /a will certainly give you the heat needed to straighten a 1.5" axle, but as you say it needs some reinforcement as it looks very inadequate for that size of trailer. I have used 3" dia pipe for axles for similar trailers.
I straightened a 3" solid square axle on a twin axle 10 tonne trailer by cutting a Vee from the top down about 90% of the way, heating then BFH - ing and filling the vee with lo-hi s, but as said, you will sort that without cutting.

 

[chris pruteanu]

Oxyacetilene will get that stub axle hot no problem, get it cherry red and bend it with your jack handle as you intended!

 

[KemppiFrog]

Not having O/A at the mo, I would use a big bottle jack and a bit of RSJ , with a couple of stirrups over the bar and the jack working on the bend. Pretty poor bit of engineering IMHO. After getting it straight, weld two braces for & aft and a decent bit of flat bar on edge under it. 60x 12 min.

 

[Bsmith]

After thought. The axle dosn't look too much trouble to remove. I would cut the stub ends off and weld them into the ends of a 3" bsp same length of course. Weld flat plates on the pipe for where it fits to the chassis, drill plates and bolt or weld to chassis.

 

[Ian James]

You should get that straight with plenty of heat when you have I would look at putting some guests in both on top and back and front so they are just clear of the wheel / tyre if you have no intention of removing the axle is the chassis box section or angle ??

 

[KemppiFrog]

Just a point, but if you are using this on a public road, don't you need suspension? Or is agri?

 

[Ian James]

@KemppiFrog it's a small trailer probably disigned for behind a large garden tractor or quad with quad style wheels by the looks of things so will not need suspension

 

[octo0072000]

too much weight no suspension bumpy track something has to give

 

[KemppiFrog]

OK, just not up to speed on what is OK on UK roads now. I, assumed any trailer that was on public roads must have suspension, even if it is that apology called Indespension

 

[bigegg]

@KemppiFrog it's a small trailer probably disigned for behind a large garden tractor or quad with quad style wheels by the looks of things so will not need suspension

legally, perhaps.
but the fact that the axle bent suggests a "need" - at least to me.

if the axle is coming off to straighten it, now might be the ideal time to add an underslung leafspring off an old transit?

 

[pondy]

You should get that straight with plenty of heat when you have I would look at putting some guests in both on top and back and front so they are just clear of the wheel / tyre if you have no intention of removing the axle is the chassis box section or angle ??

It's a box section chassis

 

[pondy]

Just a point, but if you are using this on a public road, don't you need suspension? Or is agri?

It's only been on the road for a mile today to bring it from the forest visitors centre to my house.
It's not a road trailer, I suspect its for a small tractor or quad etc. It's bloody heavy mind and a pain to move on your own

 

[pondy]

too much weight no suspension bumpy track something has to give

Exactly what happened. Its used for moving hard-core around forest on trail build days, to big a load, driving to fast down a pot holed fire road and this

 

[pondy]

legally, perhaps.
but the fact that the axle bent suggests a "need" - at least to me.

if the axle is coming off to straighten it, now might be the ideal time to add an underslung leafspring off an old transit?

Trailer had been ok till it hit pot hole with too much weight on board. Its one of them jobs I wish I didn't take on, just minimum too get it back in the forest. I'm going to straighten it out and sort some gussets Ideally I needs a new axle and suspension.. Its a heavy trailer but axle is way too small imo

 

[Richiew]

Angle iron on the axle would reinforce it a little bit and as an added bonus would show you whether the axle was straight when you offered it up.

 

[Woody.v8]

I would put some heavy leaf springs under it to take some of the pain out.

 

[gt6s]

That axle is far to light for that trailer never mind with a load of rubble in it.

Laurence

 

[steviec_lj]

Take some air out of the tyres while you’re at it. It will give it some bounce, not a lot mind if they’re over filling it.

They look suspiciously like turf tyres too..

 

[brightspark]

put some blocks under the chassis and a scaffy pole on the axle and pull it back down. really wants beefing up with some angle iron or it will happen again . poor design 2 much overhang on axle