New axle sheared in two. Advice needed.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by letsgo

There is a post out in cyber space that said Andy of Inland RV acquired Henschen for its (proprietary axles) can this be confirmed????

again any input is welcomed

NO, that cannot be confirmed.

Myself or Inland RV Center, never owned any part of Henschen. We were, because of our background and history, appointed the distributor for Henschen axles, for Airstream products only.

Henschen is no longer in business as it was shut down by the owners of GKN who are in England.

However, a duplicate of the Henschen axles, within reason, are now being built by Axis.

Andy

[letsgo]

NO, I said the the torque bar is a solid 1 1/2 square hot rolled steel bar about 18 to 24 inches long it fits inside a OD. 2 5/8 inch square tube.

I have to assume from your comment that I have 3 / 3500 LB axles., I should say DEFFECTIVE AXLES.

THANKS

[reddogfox]

Letsgo
Are there any manufacturer's tags or labels on your replacement axles? If present a picture might provide useful information that would help determine the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the Axles and maybe help find the cause of the failure.

[letsgo]

reddogfox, I have looked for tags and checked my work order from the AIRSTREAM service center and nothing, my work order only shows INSTALL 3 NEW AXLES ON TRAILER. I have requested all pertinent information. I dont think I have been short changed BUT, this information, in retrospect should have been provided. And it will be posted as soon as I receive it. I have pictures that will get posted, but I am a novice at picture posting.

[richinny]

Originally Posted by letsgo

the wheel alignment took 8 hours, as each axle was out of alignment when installed.

you might want to examine the other axles. how were the axles aligned?

[letsgo]

the axles tubes actually look like a snake going through the bush after they were aligned with the hydraulic bender, Just looked at axle tubes between the frame rails to see the location of the hyraulic bends, all bends are in the middle of the tubes, so there is no tube distortion near the torsion bars. The torsion bar sheared 1/2" inside the torsion arm, the torsion arm is 1 9/16" wide, so there is approx. 1" of torsion bar still inside the torsion arm. So you see, there is nothing that can be checked until there is a broken torsion bar.

the installation and alignment done by same company.

thanks

[Mike Leary]

Maybe our Colorado lawyer member would take the case on a pro bono basis?

[r carl]

Most likely you just had a defective torsion bar. Most likely if you put in a new axle you will be good to go.

[letsgo]

these are pictures of the sheared TORSION BAR 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"










When the torsion bar separated the tire and brake assembly were been draged being held by the new shock, at 90 degree to other tires .

I do have1 question, when aligning the trailer wheels do mechanics ever apply hydraulic pressure against the torsion arm, in order to bend the torsion bar, thus causing the torsion bar to crack in the location where my torsion bar has sheared????????????????

again, any input is helpfull

[letsgo]

one more question does this look like a henschen axle???????????

[Mike Leary]

With a triple axle coach I'm not sure, but did you feel it let go right away?

[william Haym]

Letsgo it sure doesn't look good !!! By observing the pattern of the break , it looks like a defective axle.(my opinion)
Alot of rust in the center of the rod, but shiny on the outside.
Sorry your going through this !!! I have a 93 classic triple axle also!!
I hope your problem gets resolved very soon!!!

[letsgo]

just stopping at a traffic light, and checked in my mirrors (12" extention) the tire was stuck in the fender well sticking out at 90 degrees to the other tires, no notification I think the final separation took place when the brakes were applied at the traffic light, that is when the other motorists signalled there was a problem.

I picked up sheet metal from home depot and patched the slight plastic fender well damage (hole 6" x 1") from tire rub (lucky) had to hammer the 6" of the lower side panel, looks good till I get home .

that rust in the center of the torsion has been there since it was hot rolled, definitely a poor quality steel.

drive safe

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by letsgo

one more question does this look like a henschen axle???????????

This is the torsion arm that Hensche always used.

So to answer your question, "it does not look like a Henschen torsion arm".

Andy

[Coloradobus]

letsgo, can you take a small mirror and look on top of your axle to see if the tag specs are there/ Our 2006 Bambi Q/S axle tag is on the topside of the axle and I needed a small mirror to fit in the space between the underside of the trailer's floor and the topside of the axle to read the info on the tag backwards.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by letsgo

that is when the other motorists signalled there was a problem.

All of our worst fears are to have someone point to (name your area of the coach) and gesture in a way you know the're not saying, "nice coach". I'd say you have a guardian angel, can't imagine what would have happened at turnpike speeds.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by letsgo

Attachment 126703

When the torsion bar separated the tire and brake assembly were been draged being held by the new shock, at 90 degree to other tires .

I do have1 question, when aligning the trailer wheels do mechanics ever apply hydraulic pressure against the torsion arm, in order to bend the torsion bar, thus causing the torsion bar to crack in the location where my torsion bar has sheared????????????????

again, any input is helpfull

Proper procedure for alignment is done by bending the square tube.

However, I suppose a beginner that's not familiar with torsion axles, might try to twist the "torsion arm".

Who knows?

Also, Henschen has always, since 1961, welded a metal plate to the axle tube, giving the weight rating and the axle serial number, along with the Henschen name.

That plate is never welded to the top of the axle tube, but always on the side, where it can clearly and easily be seen.

If your axle doesn't have that plate that clearly says those things "it's not their product".

Andy

[letsgo]

I found the label on the axle tube center on the back covered in rust, identification is (henschen, duraflex, 2800 lb, ser.#3051290).

the ID PLAQUE on the side of the trailer is GVW 8900lb , axle 2800lb.

thanks for all the in/put

[4RXLA]

2800 sounds like a low number for a 3 axle trailer. If all 3 are that rating you only have 8400lb capacity on the axles and that is 500lb less than the ID plaque rating.

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by dougsale

2800 sounds like a low number for a 3 axle trailer. If all 3 are that rating you only have 8400lb capacity on the axles and that is 500lb less than the ID plaque rating.

The GVWR of 8,900lbs includes the tongue weight of 500lbs.