Tree removal

This was a huge willow tree that threatened ruining my roof on the west side of my house. It had to be removed because the base was not stable and I was afraid it would fall on my home.

New Update

Side view of new tongue

The axle went in great. I used a floor jack to lift into place.

I eliminated the U-bolts holding the axles in and went to a steel plate with grade 8 steel bolts..

The tilt part of the trailer was a challenge. The old bolts had worn an oval shape in the frame. I ended up taking a 1" hole saw and cut a 1" hole where the old bolt had gone. I then took a file and reamed the hole out a little bit, just enough to accommodate a piece of 1" pipe. I pushed the pipe through the frame and welded it in solid on both sides. I then cut the excess pipe off with a sawzall. I dug around my garage and found a couple of bronze bushings with a 1/2" center and installed them on both ends of the 1" pipe. I went to the local hardware store and bought 2 grade 8 steel bolts. The bolts went through the cradle that hinges and also through the 2 bronze bushings I put in the ends of the 1" pipe. I welded the heads of the bolts to the tilting cradle and now they rotate inside the bronze bushings, reducing maintenance on this item in the future.

This is the fender that was mangled. I replaced the whole side of it and added lots of support.

The new tongue welded on.

 The new hitch..

Looking down the front to make sure everything looks straight..

New Axle

Well, I decided that old bent axle was not going to do it. I went and bought a piece of 2"x2" 1/4" thick square tubing and with what I gathered from some scrap Iron and with Louie's help with the welding, we built a new axle with a new design. As you can see, the spindle now bolts to the end of the axle with 4 grade 6 bolts. This makes things easier when it comes to aligning the wheels with the tongue of the trailer. We can now use shims as we need them between the spindle and the axle.. Sorry I didn't take pictures of the construction of the axle but I forgot my camera at home and we built the axle in Bozeman.

The boat and trailer

I thought I bought this boat and trailer for a good price. I paid 1200.00 for this trailer and a 17' river boat with a 85 horse Johnson jet motor. Turns out, it looks like the trailer has had some significant damage some time in the past. These pictures show just what I am up against...

Here is a picture of the trailer minus 8 huge rollers mounted on 1" steel rods..

The tongue turned out to be bent where it connects to the trailer.

Requiring a new piece of 1/4' thick walled 3" square tubing..







Then,,,,, I looked at the axle and seen that it looked like an S curve on a mountain highway.. Also, some nitwit welded the hubs on top of the axle instead of in the axle tubing.





Here is a picture of one of the fender I modified to make it easier for tire removal...

before
after



Stay tuned for updates on this project!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!