ebinmaine 67,618 #1 Posted June 20, 2021 Yesterday while coming up out the forest the right side spindle arm welds snapped. As one could imagine this causes some fair difficulty steering due to lack of connection to the steering system. Turns out there was barely half a weld there. I'm really surprised it lasted this long. I got it all disassembled and cleaned up intending to get welding this morning. Had some fun lining things up but got it to set ok eventually. Here's post-weld. I'll be needing someone with access to a lathe to drill 3/4" holes into some trailer stubs so I can upgrade to the 4 or 5 lug trailer wheels. @Achto @Wheel Horse 3D @Oldskool Any of you help me out for a small fee? 8 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,236 #2 Posted June 20, 2021 Glad it wasn't something that required shooting the horse! 2 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #3 Posted June 20, 2021 Looks like the original welds were 2 tiny straight lines. Once we get through big show im debating getting an extension for my mini lathe just for that purpose. My other option is an adjustable plate that I can precision align on the drill press with my dial indicator and do it that way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,618 #4 Posted June 20, 2021 1 hour ago, Wheel Horse 3D said: My other option is an adjustable plate that I can precision align on the drill press with my dial indicator and do it that way. I have a full sized stand up drill press of some age and moderate accuracy. I'd like to drill them myself if I could get ahold of the tools to do so. What is it you'd do? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #5 Posted June 20, 2021 Hopefully this helps. The idea is to get the spindle perfectly vertical, by running the indicator up and down the bearing surface with the drill press. Align with a short bit so you have room to run up and down, and the bit can still indicate center of the drill axis. Within .005 top and bottom should be possible, and this measurement should be done on one side, and then the front(90 deg). It will take careful tuning but once lined out should be able to remove one spindle, fasten in the next, do a check of alignment and pretty much go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #6 Posted June 20, 2021 Got my dial indicator and base at HF for i think about 35 all together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,236 #7 Posted June 20, 2021 FWIW, my aged Walker-Turner came FREE from from a machine shop 40 years ago because of worn spindle bearings they deemed not worth fixing. It looks like it has the right vertical motion tolerance until I press sideways on the chuck when it's extended, then the .01" of play becomes apparent. This is completely inconsequential for the way I use it, but, for example it'll let a drill bit skate if I don't do a good job of center punching. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,619 #8 Posted June 20, 2021 (edited) Eric, If this is what you had in mind send me a pm. I can drill the stub axles for you. Edited June 20, 2021 by JAinVA 1 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,618 #9 Posted June 20, 2021 21 minutes ago, JAinVA said: Eric, If this is what you had in mind send me a pm. I can drill the stub axles for you. Jim that's EXACTLY what I was thinking! Awesome. Thanks. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,618 #10 Posted June 20, 2021 24 minutes ago, JAinVA said: send me a pm Pm sent!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,618 #11 Posted June 20, 2021 @Wheel Horse 3D Grey that's about what I had in mind. I can't get anywhere close to that precisenessess with this old drill press. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,618 #12 Posted June 20, 2021 On other news, the lame horse is all healed up and back in the stable resting. 2 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #13 Posted June 20, 2021 1 minute ago, ebinmaine said: @Wheel Horse 3D Grey that's about what I had in mind. I can't get anywhere close to that precisenessess with this old drill press. Nice thong about the lathe is it self centers . 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadapples 6,983 #14 Posted June 20, 2021 I'd put a brace on that bend while you're at it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,618 #15 Posted June 20, 2021 2 minutes ago, roadapples said: I'd put a brace on that bend while you're at it. A good idea... I'll try to remember that when I change to better wheels. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #16 Posted June 21, 2021 2 hours ago, JAinVA said: Eric, If this is what you had in mind send me a pm. I can drill the stub axles for you. Thats exactly like were ALL thinking! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,619 #17 Posted June 21, 2021 (edited) C'mon guys. I did a whole thread on this conversion. Biggest surprise for some was using JB weld to lock the axle to the spindle. If there is interest i can repost the photos. Edited June 21, 2021 by JAinVA 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #18 Posted June 21, 2021 I think were all on the same page as far as upgrading spindles etc. Just getting them bored is awful pricey for most of us who dont have a lathe. Even shipping a set of spindles to and fro is pricey. If someone with a lathe were to come up with a stock of pre bored spindles at a good price theyd sell like hotcakes! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,619 #19 Posted June 21, 2021 (edited) Interesting idea. Pair of blanks are close to $50.00 dollars. Labor for the drilling will be about $75.00. Shipping around $15.00. Minimal cost for the upgrade to the spindles around $140.00. Edited June 21, 2021 by JAinVA 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,912 #20 Posted June 21, 2021 2 hours ago, Wheel Horse 3D said: Nice thong @SylvanLakeWH’s eyes! No! 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,828 #21 Posted June 21, 2021 (edited) I wasn't even thinkin of Sylvia with that typo... good lord my eyes.... be like seeing the Dino in a speedo.... Edited June 21, 2021 by WHX24 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,600 #22 Posted June 21, 2021 1 hour ago, pullstart said: @SylvanLakeWH’s eyes! No! 1 hour ago, WHX24 said: I wasn't even thinkin of Sylvia with that typo... good lord my eyes.... be like seeing the Dino in a speedo.... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,618 #23 Posted June 21, 2021 7 hours ago, JAinVA said: Interesting idea. Pair of blanks are close to $50.00 dollars. Labor for the drilling will be about $75.00. Shipping around $15.00. Minimal cost for the upgrade to the spindles around $140.00. My local cost would vary a touch individually but come out about the same total. The axle stubs can be had around $40/pair but my local machining is certainly higher. Highest part of that is of course, set-up. If one could machine multiples then per piece would obviously be much lower. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites