Old lowboy walking beam suspension questions?

[seyser]

I have been on the browse for an older lowboy trailer. I found an old Wisconsin Trailer Co fixed neck trailer that's in nice shape but needs running gear work. This has a walking beam suspension that doesn't appear to be of a name brand but built by the trailer company. Can these be rebuilt? It has wear on the tires and I can visually see its not running true. I'm sure the pins and bushings are totally wore out. I have no experience with any of this stuff so trying to see what can be done with something like this? 

-Jeremy

 

[Geoff Weeks]

You sure find (and drag home) the weird ones. Never ever, seen a trailer axle where the center was cut out! I'm sure it has bad tire wear from the axles not being held true. All the forces are going through a single pivot point, with the axle cut it is going to tend to bow up under load, without a full axle it is going oscillate back a forth because not tied to the other side

 You could drop the beam out and rebush, may have to make the bushing, but that isn't going to solve all the other problems.

Looks like it was made that way, but begs the question why? 

edit: I confused you with another guy that had a low-boy with axle problems, Sorry. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Geoff Weeks

[seyser]

Geoff - I appreciate the reply! I'm a novice with this stuff and I understand the concern with not having the axles hooked together as I'm sure that would help make it more ridged. I suppose this does allow each tandem oscillate more.

Let me ask the question, Would this design not be common practice for older built equipment trailers? I know there were many more smaller trailer companies around years ago but I haven't been around many to know how they were built?

[Geoff Weeks]

I have never seen it done like that in a semi trailer, unless it was a "trunnion  axle with tires and brakes on both sides of the walking beam for 8 tires across. Cozad trailers are built like that.

[Geoff Weeks]

It may explain why the trailer didn't get used much.

If I had time an money to put into it, there are a couple ways to "fix" it. One would be to cut out the axles and replace. The other would be to weld structural tubing back in where they cut the axle.

Problem is with either method you are going to have a lot of welding that has to be done correctly and the axles have to be in perfect alignment when welded as there is no adjustment possible.

You can't just slide a new axle in unless you get one with no brake spider on it and the weld a spider on.  Lots of making sure everything is correct before welding.

 You can cut out the back of the box beam and install an axle but then have to re-weld in the box for strength. 

You can re-bush the center pivot which would help but not solve all the issues.

Easiest method for a good "pipeline" welder would be to weld tube back where it was cut out.

[mrsmackpaul]

I have never seen a axle ser up like this, however it should be all fixable 

I'm sure that line boring must be common in the U.S. like Australia 

We can get line boring people to come to site, whether it's your back yard or down paddock or on some building site in the middle of a big city

They can weld the pivot bores up and then make them perfectly square with the trailer and then bore the holes out

And then match the walking beams perfectly with the trunions, the bit welded to the trailer

And presto, it's like new again, providing you keep it greased up ot will out last all of us

 

Paul 

[seyser]

I spoke with a local truck/trailer place that does this stuff everyday and they haven't seen one like this.

They expressed the same concerns with not having the axles tied together. They mentioned replacing bushings wouldn't be a problem but didn't think it would ever stay in alignment with the way its designed.

The trailer paint is original and I still see it on the axle stubs so cant tell if it left the builder this way or they were cut later at some point. I cant imagine a reason anyone would ever do that though.

Its a nice straight rust free trailer but I will probably keep looking at this point. I appreciate all the comments and insight on this!

 

[Geoff Weeks]

Other than the axles, that is one of the better looking trailers of that type I have seen. Most a beat all to blazes. That is why, if the prices is right, it might be worth fixing.

 

If the spindles were hollow, you could make a slug to insert into the old tube and cut a new tube to go in between, then when the new tube is in place, push the slug into position where the joint is from each side and weld up. 

 Not possible if the spindle is solid tho. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Geoff Weeks

[seyser]

Yes that would probably be an option to make it right.

I bet the spindle is solid as the outer end is obviously turned down to accept the hub/bearings. Just my guess though?

Its a great trailer for someone who has the talent and equipment to do it. 

[Geoff Weeks]

Many are hollow, like the axle itself. The spindle is made to fit inside the tube then welded to the tube.  Depending on bearings, many spindles are hollow, allows for auto inflation, but more important reduces weight. Often a cup-plug is pressed in from the outside to keep oil from entering the axle tube.

 That is how "axle surgeons" repair axles, the cut the old spindle out and replace with a new one and weld.  

[seyser]

Gothcha, That makes sense!

It would be a proper way to make the repair. 

[Geoff Weeks]

I suppose you could remove one side of the walking beam, clean out the tube on the other side, and press in a tube that just fits the ID of the axle stub, then slid into the other side, when everything is bolted back up and in position weld the smaller inner tube to the outer axle tube on both sides.

 May not be good for 25K on the axle, but would be a whole lot better than how it sits now.

Edited 54 minutes ago by Geoff Weeks