Trailer axle lock pin clevis

My bud traded off one of the trailers I had rebuilt a few years ago for a 2009 Aluminum stepdeck.
Attachment 20496
He stopped by today to show me what we now had, upon crawling under it I told him there were a couple issues that needed tending before he leaves
2 of the lock pins were in bad shape and someone had actually tried dirt dauber welding them to make them work.
Attachment 20495
I first wrapped all of the air lines with a few of my pipe marker wraps to protect them from sparks. THe thing about the nylon DOT airbrake lines is if under pressure the least little spark will damage them without pressure in them they are a little less prone to getting a hole melted in them.
Attachment 20497
close up of the clevice
Attachment 20498
I ground off the bad parts
Attachment 20499
Then I made new clevises from 1/4 by 1" flat bar clamped to my 1" thick steel table
Attachment 20500
First bend
Attachment 20501
After making the first bend I turned the bar over placed it on top o fa strip of 1/2" thick bar so it would have support for the second bend
I placed a 1/4" thick strip on top to serve as the clevis separation spacer
Attachment 20503
then made the final fold
Attachment 20504
Hole positioning is not extremely critical this is close enough
Attachment 20505
After the hole was drilled I sawed off the clevis then rounded the edges
Attachment 20506
The holes in the link bars were in bad shape from being welded on so I slightly reamed the oversize then cut bushings out of 1/2" 304 SS .035" wall
Attachment 20507
Then welded the clevises to the lock pins and used 2" grade 8 bolts with long enough shoulders to reach through the clevis
the bushings are .270" long and the link bars are .250" thick this allowed me to tighten the bolts using gr( nylock nuts as well
Should last longer than the garbage the factory used I would have liked to have reamed the link bars out enough to press fit a bronze bushing in for the SS bushing to pivot on but sine they will probably only be used one every few weeks the cost could not be justified
Attachment 20508
Attachment 20509

<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks Frank S! We've added your Trailer Axle Clevis to our Trailers and Towing category,
as well as to your builder page: Frank S's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-trailer-axle-clevis"> <img src="/uploads/207033/homemade-trailer-axle-clevis.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-trailer-axle-clevis">Trailer Axle Clevis</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Frank+S">Frank S</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/trailer'>trailer</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->

Dirt Dauber Welding, is that a company name, or a level of expertise lower than Popcorn Welding?
Old shop I knew, full of "fixer's and smithy's" also had a Bubble Gum category... Stuck on, but no penetration, lol.

Dirt dauber is just 1 step above booger snot

About the same as birds**t welding then?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NortonDommi

About the same as birds**t welding then?

---

Pretty much. The thing that got me was not so much the welding but the fact that someone would actually think to do it. I mean if all they were trying to accomplish was to get the locks to release so they could slide the axle the "S" hook of a tarp strap would have sufficed or how hard would it have been to just put in a 3/8" bolt and nut since the pin was missing, but to tack weld 2 parts together when one of them must articulate through about 30° of motion at the pivot REALLY?
Let's forget that at the factory when the trailer was made they used cheap galvanized rod ends welded to the pins in the first place was ludicrous enough. the clevis pins in those things have the hardness and durability lower than a bubble pack grade 2 bolt you might buy at a convenience store and held in place with a 1/16" cotter pin
Rant over, I'm glad my bud decided spread the axles while he was at my place instead of after he had a load on it and then needed to spread them, because it gave me a chance to inspect the underside for cracks and other possible things that may need tending sooner or later. Like the bad air bag that was virtually at the point of rupturing and already had a small air leak in it We replaced it but bought 2 so we could change out both on the same axle, and the next time he passes through we will probably change out the ones on the other axle just so every thing will be matching age they are not cheap at $250.00 each but neither is being put out of service on the side of the road