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04-08-2011, 11:29 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1964 26' Overlander
Richmond
, Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 790
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Axles of Evil
If one of the guys on this site says you the axles is a 4 hour job, don't believe it. Maybe if you've done it before, and you have lifted the AS 4 feet off the ground so you can use a 4 foot breaker bar. Or you have a plasma cutting torch and 3 bodybuilder friends.
I am so mad at these stupid axles. To think that being able to remove an axle from a 64 airstream ranks right up there with graduating college or remodeling a whole house....
Couple weeks of soaking with PB, blowtorch and water, air wrench, breaker bar, and finally resorting to cutting off the bolts after breaking 2 cheaper grind wheels, having to go back for a 1/4" dewalt pro-version grinding wheel.
When I finally get the bolts out, it didn't drop. Couple more swings with a sledge hammer and it drops, but then as I try to twist it to get the shocks in a horizontal position to slide out from under the AS, it gets caught on the belly pan, and then as I try to get it back down, it catches some how and POKES A HOLE IN MY BELLYPAN! I couldn't believe it. Then, as I get it out of the hole, the mounting plate swings back one more time and catches my copper gas line.
It's EVIL. Death to the old axle. It broke rivets on the inside skin of my trailer. Good riddance.
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04-08-2011, 12:10 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1970 23' Safari
2005 30' Classic
1986 31' Sovereign
Lorain
, Ohio
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,645
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You need a friend called Larry......
Luckily, mine dropped out fairly easily. But, I can imagine that things can get rusted, torqued, and twisted.
Enjoy your sense of accomplishment! You fought the fight and won!
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04-08-2011, 12:17 PM
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#3
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Wise Elder
2010 30' Classic
Vintage Kin Owner
South of the river
, Minnesota
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,169
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Sorry, sounds frustrating.
Years ago I spent the money to add a cutting torch to my shop. It has made a huge difference in these sorts of jobs. Much safer and easier than the grinder.
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04-08-2011, 01:43 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
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A cutting torch is almost a necessity for this kind of stuff. Just cut the old bolts, or at least heat the nuts so they will come off. The same applies to 30 year old brake backing plates.. If I hadn't owned a torch I would still be out there trying to change those brakes, and I started that job 2 years ago.
While I never tried, I would think it would be possible to rent a torch somewhere.
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles
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04-08-2011, 01:52 PM
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#5
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Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,255
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It's not just you. I paid a shop to do my axle swap, and it took them so long they didn't feel they could charge me for as long as it took them! So I think I got the better end of that deal!
__________________
Stephanie
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04-08-2011, 02:18 PM
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#6
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Restorations done right
Commercial Member
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
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One hour per axle in and out. The wiring takes me the longest. Sorry Rob.
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04-08-2011, 02:36 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1964 26' Overlander
Richmond
, Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 790
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
One hour per axle in and out. The wiring takes me the longest. Sorry Rob.
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Shut up Frank.
(just kidding)
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04-08-2011, 03:06 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Tucson
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,480
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Oh nooooooooooo --- someone that has as many mishaps in a single project as I. Thank you! People think I make this kinda stuff up.
Hope installation of the new axle went in much more smoothly & quickly.
Laura
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04-08-2011, 03:22 PM
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#9
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Restorations done right
Commercial Member
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
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I bet he was cursing the bolt hole alignment. Or I should say, misalignment.
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04-08-2011, 03:50 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1951 21' Flying Cloud
1960 24' Tradewind
Folsom
, California
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 727
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Murphy is alive and well - I think he actually lives in my Trailer.
__________________
Aluminumbskull with Led Balloon in Drag
***
Birch Plywood and Aluminum go together like
Peanut Butter and Chocolate
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04-08-2011, 04:40 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1964 26' Overlander
Richmond
, Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 790
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
I bet he was cursing the bolt hole alignment. Or I should say, misalignment.
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I was actually prepared for that part. Its the bolts that seem to have been secretly welded onto the nuts, and then covered with a layer of rust to hide the evidence that elicit the curses.
Maybe you can talk about it on the VAP and see if Colin matches your 1 hour off and on time.
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04-08-2011, 04:41 PM
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#12
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Addicted
1971 27' Overlander
Currently In: Skowhegan
, ME
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 703
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
One hour per axle in and out. The wiring takes me the longest. Sorry Rob.
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Frank....didn't you just post about axle swaps and how much fun they are on your blog? If you ask me, you're all gluttons for punishment, but at least someone enjoys it.
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04-08-2011, 05:29 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1977 27' Overlander
Trotwood
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,153
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Rob
Sorry ya had so many problems. IF ya had brought it to ME and my neighbor would have changed em in about 3 hrs,depending on the beverage breaks. NO BEER neither of us Drink. I pulled mine up on about 6 inches of lumber on the front axle first. It takes a good air compressor and a really good impact. We had to presuade my axles to fall out also and we did have to encourage the new ones to slide into place(plastic dead blow hammer) Total time with beverage breaks and a rain delay about 3 hrs, give or take a few minutes.
__________________
Roger & MaryLou
___________________
F350 CREWCAB SW LONG BED
7.3 liter Power Stroke Diesel
1977 27ft OVERLANDER
KA8LMQ
AIR # 22336 TAC- OH-7
May your roads be straight and smooth and may you always have a tailwind!
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04-08-2011, 05:44 PM
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#14
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
One hour per axle in and out. The wiring takes me the longest. Sorry Rob.
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It takes me a couple hours per, if I have to drill new holes. I haven't met an axle mounting bolt yet that I couldn't take off or break off with my mondo air gun... About 5 seconds or so each... I usually can cut new bolt holes with the torch faster than I can drill them. And yes, they are round.
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04-08-2011, 06:34 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2003 22' International CCD
Kiln
, Mississippi
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,779
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My time was 4 hours - 2 working and 2 just wondering as I sat on the driveway why I got myself into this mess. Caravel is much happier, me???? yet to be determined how I feel about it..... That was three years ago - the knuckles have just now healed.... the scars remain.
__________________
Michael & Tina with Layla and Preston BZ The family has grown. 2003 22' INTERNATIONAL CCD
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04-08-2011, 07:22 PM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
1974 27' Overlander
Sault ste Marie
, Ontario
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 166
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Mine was an afternoon in my dirt driveway by myself with a borrowed air impact driver. No trouble with bolts, Holes lined up on new axles and the rig tows like a dream. Sorry yours was not fun. Murphy is alive and lives in all our tool boxes...........Phil.
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04-08-2011, 11:43 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,378
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Hi, this story reminds me of a friend that worked next to me at the Lincoln Mercury dealer in the 70's. He was from Canada and was so excited because he told me that in California he could actually unscrew all of the nuts and bolts and reuse them too; Versus in Canada, most all of the bolts either broke, had to be drilled out, or torched.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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04-09-2011, 09:47 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1967 24' Tradewind
Greenville
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,107
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Had my impact wrench ready, but did not need it, just used a 15" breaker bar and the nuts came right off. Our's has been in California it's whole life. (Least there is something good about this state!) Drilling the holes was the hardest part. Both axles by myself in less than 4 hours.
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04-09-2011, 07:20 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1964 26' Overlander
Richmond
, Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 790
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Fortunately, 2nd axle came off in less than an hour. I think the second Evil Axle realized that it was doomed and meekly met its end. They're both at the landfill waiting to be recycled. Probably into some mechanical means of torture - say a IRS auditor's metal desk or something.
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04-09-2011, 08:56 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
1963 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Central
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,919
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I guess its a roll of the dice on how hard it is to remove the axle bolts...
My '63 popped right off...I did use a 3/4" socket set but they probably would have come off just as easy with a 1/2 " standard length rachet.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f109...tml#post966651
Even on my '77 they didn't fight much. I don't drill bolt holes...do it before you hang the axle.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f437...tml#post558524
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