Frame Rail Repair

Here is a little Frame Repair trick that works well on an open C Channel frame crack around any spring Hanger be it front or rear.........Of course fully Boxing in the frame would also work.

TYPICAL FRAME CRACK ABOVE THE SPRING HANGER FROM THE HANGER FLEXING.........LEAVE IT ALONE AND IT EVENTUALLY WILL BUST OUT THAT BOTTOM RAIL

CLEAN THE AREA UP AND V OUT THE CRACK AND WELD IT UP

TAKE A PIECE OF 2x3 or 2x4 RECTANGULAR TUBING AND CUT ONE OF THE LONG SIDE RAILS OFF........AT THAT CUT OFF SIDE YOU NEED TO RADIUS THOSE FOUR CORNERS TO FIT THE RADIUS ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME RAIL. A SLOT OR HALF ROUND WEEP HOLE MUST BE CUT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE RAIL TO LET MOISTURE OUT.

POSITION THE NOW MODIFIED TUBE ABOVE THE SPRING HANGER AND TACK IT IN PLACE.

FINISH WELDING IT UP

 

Now you say finish welding, I assume that is all the way around and not just top and bottom?


this is a cool idea though.

 

Doesn't take much to hold it there and do the job.........a short weld 3/4" +/- on the vertical on both sides and also in the top corners is all that's needed. I guess I never shot a picture once finished.

 

Beautiful work! I need a mill!!!

 

that is sweet.

I had to cut out some plate someone put over mine, and there were decent cracks.

I can go all 'old school' and use a rat-tail or half-round mill file to get something similar without having a much wanted mill (and space, and phased power, and time to learn to use it, and a pile of cash to feed my projects, and ...). can use a drum sander on the drill press to edge up some of the mill's short comings (er, mine I suppose).