My take on the Titus axle dropping jig.

lookin' good!

 

It works. Heres a couple of pics of one end of a '40 axle I did. Shallow drop for my first time, this one was a 1.75 inch drop over stock. The jig was solid as a rock, though I'm going to make some changes on it now that I have a working model to screw around with. I'm changing from a Model A spindle to a '37-'41 spindle, whatever I can find cheap, since these are the style I'm going to use on my finished axles. Also going to change the guide stop on the hot end, make it a little more professional than what I have. Should be a winner with a little more tweeking. One is a pic of a stock '40 axle for reference, and the other is of my first dropped axle, which was a '40.

 

I think I have an extra 35-36 spindle that is pretty crusty you can have if you can use it. I'll donate it to the cause (shipping and all).

They are still on a 35/36 axle and they are heavily pitted where the bearing rides. However, they should be fine for making an axle dropping jig....that's why I've hung onto them.....

EDIT:
I have these too:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66861

I never have figured out what they are......they look just like 37-41's but they don't have the depth.....but the rest would be all you would need for a jig....

 

Is this the only place you heated.......or, at least I'm guessing that's where...

 

I like the progress, looks to be strong enough. You may want to try to stretch the axle when you do this to mantain the distance - the king pin to the spring perch. The axle on my coupe is an old dropped unit and it is not stretched, you would be surprised what that does to the turning radious.

Lets go for a bigger drop now!!!

jeff

 

There is a bolt that goes into the perch hole on the "cold" side, that rides against the hoop that accomplishes strechting while the drop is being performed on the "hot" end. The bolt has a large piece of round stock welded to its head, and rides along the outer edges of the loop while it travels vertically. I measured the track width of the dropped one against a stock one and they are the same. Also, the area circled is not the only point heated. I heated it up until the entire area between the perch and kingpin holes was red hot, with the exception of the areas within 3/4 of an inch or so from the perch and kingpin holes. I also stopped 5 times throughout the "bend" to reheat it, as some cooling did occur. I'm pretty happy with the results of my very first attempt at this. I'm going to tweek the jig a bit, and practice some more, but I think I'm on the right track. More updates to come...

 

Well, I am convinced, looks great!!!

what are you waiting for? More drop!!!!!!


jeff

 

Yeah, I want to be there when you heat and drop your first axle, Ben. Gimmee a call and I'll click photos while you work...
Rocky

 

Hey Rocky... In 10 posts you hit 15000!!! Your an "Old School HAMBer" now.
What do you become at 15001?

Yoda? Old School Sensai? Dalai HAMBa!!! Heheheheh...

 

I believe it's called a "HAMB -hog"?

 

Hey Rocky! The axle I posted pictures of above was the first official axle I dropped, but since it wasn't really dropped very much, we won't count it. I'm going to make the changes to the jig over the course of the week, and will probably attempt to drop an A axle next weekend. It will be a 2.5 inch drop. You are of course invited to attend the event, hehe. Hell, any hambers are invited to attend!

 

Oh shit, Ben.....I'll be outa town at a fargin wedding next weekend. Yeah, I'm gonna miss the Fremont swap meet too! Why can't people just stay single?

 

Because deep down we all thrive on pain....


That's cool, I've got piles of old I beams to drop, so maybe next time. Have fun at the wedding!(if that's possible, hehe)

 

Very cool! Nice result, especially for a first try. I'd like to restate an earlier question: What about camber angle? Is the plan to cold bend the axle to establish some positive camber, or just accept zero deg (or slightly negative due to bushing slop)? I'm also curious if your new "hot end guide stop" is going to be a positive stop, or just an indicator. The sliding perch bolt stop to stretch the bend sound elegantly simple, very neat. Thanks for sharing your r&d.

Jerry

 

Thank you for the complement. From what I understand the camber angle is built in to the spindle. I am relying on this fact, as I've welded the spindle precislely perpendicular to the main beam of the jig. This makes a no-slop condition in the kingpin holes important, however. I will try to use only axles that don't have excessive slop in the kingpin holes. For those that do have slop, I found a hardware store locally here that has some generic bronze bushings that I use to temporarily remove the slop from the kingpin holes. They seem to work really good, and the heat doesn't seem to affect them. I don't plan on attempting to bend an axle cold, as I'm concerned that work-hardening will occur and make the axle brittle. These axles need to be somewhat ductile so they can flex and give a little bit as you go down the road.
The new hot end stop will be just an indicator, same as before, only a little more professional looking than what I did last time. Titus deserves the props here though, as this is just my take on his idea, though I have made a few of my own touches to it along the way. I'll post some better detailed pictures of this thing later in the week, they should answer everyones questions.

 

Anything new? Titus' axle dropping jig is one of the first techs I read and what made me drawn to the HAMB......people DIYing and saving money!

I really want to build one of these....

 

Yes sir, I started to make changes to this old one, and ended up completely redoing it. This new one is the same concept, with the exception of the loop assembly. The new one's is much nicer, and simpler, but more fool proof. It is also MUCH beefier than the first one. The new jig altogether weighs in at 363lbs. It is truely indestructable. I bent an axle cold about 30 degrees, until the cylinder slipped out, as a test for it, and it was solid as a rock. The new one still uses a 30ton porta power, for effortless jacking. Also, instead of using a kingpin in the spindle like the old one, I use a 3/4 inch grade eight bolt tightened to a special preload. I have hard bushings in the spindle and axle kingpin boss to compensate for the 3/4 inch diameter. I have also changed from an A spindle to a round juice brake spindle. This setup is dynamite, works like a charm. I'll be posting pics of it next week sometime.

 

Cool! Sounds like you've got it down pat........cant' wait to see it!

 

Still haven't taken any pics of the improved jig yet, but will soon. I need to clean it up a little bit so it is a little more clear on how it works, I'll get some up of it pretty soon. It'd be nice to have somebody there with me to take pics while I'm dropping one, that would really make it self explanatory. For now, here are some pics of an A axle I did today. Dropped 3" over stock. Turned out pretty good, but remember I'm still in a learning process on this thing. Comments always appreciated...

 

Looks great!

...will be watching!

 

Let me (all of us really) know when you will be ready to start helping other HAMBers get low.

 

Will do. Actually, if any HAMBER would like to come over and give it a try of their own, on my jig, then by all means, come on over and we'll get to droppin'. I'd like to get a few more under my belt before I attempt to drop someone elses axle by myself. Two heads are always better than one, hehe. Keep the comments a comin'!

 

looks good! If I had a free weekend I might just make a roadtrip!

 

You're definitely invited, just let me know...

 

Me and N8inks are trying to work out a weekend to drop some axles in the next few weeks (or monthes), sometime anyways, hehe. I'm just putting the feelers out to see if any other local HAMBers would like to come over hang out with us, maybe do an axle of theirs too, time permitting. Nate has first dibs on jig time though. I could pick up a couple extra bottles of OA from work, we could drop like mad fukers.PM me if interested, and perhaps we can schedule something...

 

I don't know....

If your base decides to give way which when you've got the pressure near what it takes, it'll bow and shoot that cylinder out through you and the wall. Better beef the hell out of that thing. Good luck though

 

Hey, I've got full faith in Ben's calculations and I will be wearing my kevlar gut shield

I'm bringing my sketchbook and some beers, so it will be an axle dropping party!

 

A Jayhawker is crowing on a "Husker"??? God forbid!!!!!( From a relocated"Husker"!) By the way, any of you guys get one of these done?? I got an axle that needs the works done to it.( Straightened, dropped, drilled) I'll pay of course!!! AL

 

Hey Al, I was actually born in Valentine, but the 5 years at KU took care of the little husker in me..

 

keep the pics rolling, gents!

give us any little tips too.......more pics would be great....