Part ID?

[Paulywog0667]

I've looked online, but the search word is eluding. What do I call the unit holding the spindle? Or type of suspension to search parts?

 

[Paulywog0667]

Maybe a better photo.

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, what are you working on?

looks like a variation of a torsion bar axle.

looks old and looks extremely unique (read hard to find and expensive)

and I can say I have not seen something like that in many many many years.

 

[Paulywog0667]

first, what are you working on?

looks like a variation of a torsion bar axle.

looks old and looks extremely unique (read hard to find and expensive)

and I can say I have not seen something like that in many many many years.

It's a light weight boat trailer. Tractor Supply used to sell the part a few years ago, but downsized to just axles, spindles, hubs. It was common inventory under $50, 5 years ago. The spindle is roughly $10, but for $50, was going to bypass grinding old welds. Closest I've found is the hype of axleless sales, but at $800, lol.

 

[ahicks]

Looks like some kind of trailing link set up. Unless there's some reason you want to keep it, as cheap as some of the small trailers can be found, I'd replace the trailer with a used one using a little more conventional axle. That one, even when right, is not going to be up to today's standards.

 

[Paulywog0667]

Looks like some kind of trailing link set up. Unless there's some reason you want to keep it, as cheap as some of the small trailers can be found, I'd replace the trailer with a used one using a little more conventional axle. That one, even when right, is not going to be up to today's standards.

I was looking into converting the suspension to an axle. For now, I ordered a spindle off Amazon and the bearings. I'll post some better pictures with the unit off and grinding out the spindle. The grease fittings are dry anyways. A new grinder, grease gun and marine grease for the project. My buddy does car restoration. He'll do the weld of the spindle back on.

A side note, it's similar in design to newer expensive axleless systems. The trailer is rated at ~2,500#. The boat with outboard is maybe 1,000#.

 

[Paulywog0667]

Spindle would still need replaced whether a conventional axle or axleless. A better view of the $20.00 spindle repair if I didn't have to buy a grinder, grease gun, grease and bearings. lol

I was searching the piece the spindle slides in. Would have probably been $30.00 to not buy a grinder, but less grinding/cleaning.

 

[Paulywog0667]

I couldn't find the entire unit, but have learned about spindles. I upgraded the overall unit to 1" through the threads. Somehow the previous owner didn't put a complete "seal" within the hub. It lost grease through the lug side and caused bearing wear on the spindle. The one photo shows the concept of a plate welded on the spindle. If the weld fails holding the spindle in the cart shoe (lack of independent suspension wording), the spindle would spin until the plate catches ground. I bought a grinder, but dropped the unit off at the metal fabricator's house. A new axle with hubs, leaf springs and U-bolts, around $300. Figured odds of getting fixed is, I buy supplies and $50 or the next update might be a picture of an axle.

 

[Paulywog0667]

Ended up a different product than anticipated, but some 1" stock and threading fix. There was a coupler for the safety plate I thought was a spindle transition. Metal fabricator said it came right out.

 

[Paulywog0667]

The right part showed up. Some standard threads and reassemble. I couldn't find a piece 9 3/4" long, but that entire coupler concoction took up over an inch anyways. I found a 1" * 9" in 1566 steel. It's a Thompson quick shaft. Hence spindles are like bearings on a shaft. I almost bought regular stock steel, but talked to the fabricator. Hopefully Home Depot will thread it, but the fabricator has a threader if not. I might have to re-tac a plate to the spindle, idk. Sort of debating how the hub would stay secure.