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stub axle damaged

Posted: Sun, 27 May 2012, 4:52 pm
by fredzey
The threads on my nearside stub axle on my portafold are stripped badly. Anyone know where I can get a replacement????
Regards
Denis

Re: stub axle damaged

Posted: Mon, 28 May 2012, 8:55 pm
by txfsealord
Hi Denis,

I don't know where another stub-axle could be obtained, sadly. Your axle could be repaired in several ways, none of them straightforward I'm afraid.

If working with the axle still on the caravan, you'd have to hand-file the remains of the old thread away until the axle-end was reasonably cylindrical & something approximating to a threadable diameter. Then you could use a hand-held die to cut another, smaller thread. I think this is how I'd choose to repair it if I had no machinery to help me out. As long as the bearing's nut isn't overtightened, there isn't very much tensile load on the threaded part of the stub-axle during running.

Do you own or have access to a lathe? A much better repair would be to remove the trailing-arm from the axle-tube & press the old stub-axle out of it. Then turn up a new stub, for a good-as-new repair. (Some of the axles had their stubs welded into a counterbore in their trailing-arms, these can be removed by flush-grinding the weld & pressing the stub inwards). It might well be possible to do some half-measure such as turning up a new threaded part, boring this to the (reduced) size of the axle-end, sliding it on & then welding it in place. Any such repair is always going to be 'iffy' though, the best would be the new stub-axle in the old trailing-arm.

Another possibility is dispensing with the Rubery Owen tubular torsion-bar suspension altogether & fitting a pair of Indespension units. These are of uninspiring quality to say the least, compared with Rubery's offering which is quite nice by caravan standards. But it would get you out there for this summer, without having to Get Technical with anything very much. You could then refurbish the proper axle at your leisure.

I'm sorry that I can't see an 'easy fix' for this one. I hope there's a suggestion here you might find helpful. Let us know how you get on, please.

Steve Lord

Re: stub axle damaged

Posted: Tue, 19 Jun 2012, 9:48 pm
by fredzey
At the moment the stub axle has been left with a local engineering firm who hopefully will manufacture a new axle.

Re: stub axle damaged

Posted: Thu, 05 Jul 2012, 9:06 pm
by fredzey
Just got the newly machined stub axle back today. Total cost £95. It will go back on the caravan tomorrow.

Re: stub axle damaged

Posted: Fri, 06 Jul 2012, 4:41 am
by txfsealord
Ouch, I feel for you. But you've chosen the best repair possible, good on you. If everyone took your approach, many more of these caravans would have survived. Thanks for the updates you've posted.

Cheers,

Steve

Re: stub axle damaged

Posted: Tue, 14 Aug 2012, 10:44 am
by fredzey
Just got back from the portafolds maiden voyage. A week in the highlands of scotland. A total of 800 miles on the new stub axle. The first of many outings I think :) :) :)

Re: stub axle damaged

Posted: Tue, 14 Aug 2012, 3:02 pm
by txfsealord
Excellent! I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. The most expensive repair, is often the cheapest in the long run. There's nothing like wondering if a wheel is gonna fall off, to spoil the pleasure of good holiday motoring.

Cheers,

Steve