Trailer Mods

[turbinedoctor]

Originally Posted by Airslot

Looks like Turbo stopped for another beer, and your right, I'd a had one with ya.
;D
Airslot

Well, Air theres more work to do and more beer to drink. ;D

[Airslot]

Lookin good Turbo. Time to chuck a wire brush in the grinder and get to work bud. ;D

Airslot

[turbinedoctor]

It took some time but I cleaned up the axle / spring spacers and sprayed with the rust converter. You can see how the rust converter turned black when it reacts to rust.



With both ends cleaned and sprayed, it's time to strip the rust from the axle.



Bought this new wire brush for the grinder with hopes it will do a good job. When I got home I found our the Max RPM's for the brush is 8,000 and the grinder no load RPM's is 11,000. :( Oh well, lets see if it will work. Kids done try this at home, I am a trained Do it Yourselfer and limited on places near by to get the right brush.



This photo does not do justice to how well the brush works. Just to let you know, the brush fans out pretty good at high RPM's and I only had to pull two wires out of my leg. :)



Now with the rust stripped I sprayed it with the Rust Converter.



I will wait 24 hours for that to dry and give it a coat of paint.


Here is a photo that really worried me about the condition of the Springs. :o Look at these nuts, I guess this is what happens when you get old. ;D

[Airslot]

Turbo, you are doing some pretty work there bud. Only issue I have, it's obvious to me that you didn't use any of the never seez that you talked about. ;) If you had used it there would be finger prints everywhere and smudge marks on your pics. We all know you had that can out for show. ;D Heck, there weren't any marks on the can either. I say no way Turbo used it. ;D

Airslot

[turbinedoctor]

Your very right about one thing there Air, a little bit makes a big mess. But from years of experience and lots of hand cleaner I have learned to tame the beast. ;D

Here's a tip for ya, if you have a bolt that is is seized but will move in and out just a little, mix some Never Seez with some WD-40 or equivlent, and apply to bolt and work it back and forth to let it get into the threads. Worked for me in the past. *Lapping compound will work too but most people don't have it around.

Also if you have a nut to remove and have some threads showing, clean the threads and apply Never Seez and then remove the nut. The Never Seez will lube the threads and make it a lot easier.

One more trick I learned is to apply Never Seez to the threads of outdoor light bulbs and those Mercury vapor, High pressure Sodium or any light that gets really hot but lasts a long time. This will make them a lot easier to remove two years down the road. If you have ever tried to remove a Mercury vapor bulb that has been in service for three years, you will appreaciate this tip. I have had several, that where still energized, break in my hand while tring to remove them. Not to mention standing on the top rung of a 12 foot ladder.

Never Seez has a lot of Nickel and copper in it and it help to make a better connection. ;)

There are many uses for it. This stuff Never Seezes to amaze me. ;D

[macojoe]

Your doing a great job!!

But!! see there is always a But!

First off, I have used the rust converter before many times, with mixed results and I will tell you what you did wrong since I have figured it out.
Its made to covert rust, after you wire brush it there is no rust and you are just using it like a primer, and it doesn't do a good job of it!
I found it is best to get the real scale off and not try to get to clean metal.

The other thing is I also use anti seez, But somethings are better off with out it!

Stainless would rust there for you no need it. And with all the banging and vibration from the road them bolts will loosen up faster the a drunken bar made!

All my new trailer hardware (yes I have done all that you are doing twice) was SS with SS lock nuts (the kind with plastic insert) and even after 3 years of salt I was able to remove with out ever using anti seez.

Here is a tip for you guys on rusted bolts. And it works!!

Heat up your rusted bolt, then instead of spraying WD40 or something like that and watch it burn off, use a candle! Thats right a candle, the wax melts and the oil in the candle sinks into the rusted area with out burning off.

And your right!! When people buy a boat the first thing they should get is a grinder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best tool ever!

Keep up the good work!

[turbinedoctor]

MJ: I am glad you think enough of me to honor me with your great and vast knowledge, BUT, there is all ways a but.

1) I did not strip it down to the bare metal, just knocked the rust off the rusty areas. There fore the rust converter is working like it should in the areas it should. The rest still has galvinize on it, with a coat of rust converter and paint. :P

2) I used the Never Seez as per the manufactures instructions. Stainless to Stainless can and most often will gall to itself, usually when tighting. If you get it to tighten then it will most likely come apart. I also have the locking nuts that you talk about and they are properly torqued to 2.5 grunts and three GEEZ's. And if there is one thing my wife has tought me in 16 years, it is to read the instructions.

Stainless would rust there for you no need it.

Its called Never Seez not Never Rust. I now see why they call you wind talker:P *:P

3) If I do like I am suppose to, and I probably wont, I will check bolt tightness after the first trip. :P :P :P

MJ Dont take this reply too harsh, I wasn't born perfect, it took the first two years of my life to acheive. ;D

[Airslot]

Ahhh, but a little shot of Nvr Sze keeps the stainless fastners from galling.

Airslot

[turbinedoctor]

Originally Posted by Airslot

Ahhh, but a little shot of Nvr Sze keeps the stainless fastners from galling.

Airslot

See thats what I'm talking about. Thanks Air ;D

[macojoe]

I am not taking anything harsh!! But were you brushed the axle looked to be all the way to metal, thats why I thought I would say something.

As far as Anti what ever you want to call it ;) I use almost every were!! spark plugs and all!
Just did not know if you were using nuts or locking nuts? I see you know what your doing so I will say no more. :-X

I sorry that I insulted your intelligent's :'( Please forgive me :-[

But one thing I will say is that on the springs you want to get some good grade 8 bolts made of steel!!
SS is nice but it is not as strong as steel and breaks much easier.
There is some big pressure on the spring bolts! ;)