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RGN down for the count

Shimmy1

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Aug 14, 2014
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North Dakota
When to unload my hoe today, noticed one side of the trailer was sagging down. Discovered the big hinge pin in the neck was broken nearly clean off on one side. Got this far today. 4" diameter pin, the pin bosses are about 6" long, pin is NOT MOVABLE. I don't have a piercing torch so a friend is going to come with an air arc and blow through. I went through almost two tanks of air cutting and heating, trying to get them out myself.
 

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td25c

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Luckily you caught it when you did .

Any other damage ?

Might be a good idea to replace both pins .
 

Oxbow

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Nov 22, 2012
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Idaho
Dang Shimmy, not good, but as TD said at least you caught it when you did!

We had one of the dogs that allows deck height adjustment crack at the weld and that made me panic.
 

Shimmy1

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North Dakota
It's one pin, all the way through. So, there are 3 bosses underneath that have a chunck of pin stuck in them. The pin is 66" long.
 

Shimmy1

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Luckily you caught it when you did .

Any other damage ?

Might be a good idea to replace both pins .
Won't know for sure until we get the new pin and try and install it. The side that broke looks like it might be tweaked a little, but those frame sides can move in and out when they're not held by the pin so......we will see.
 

td25c

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It's one pin, all the way through. So, there are 3 bosses underneath that have a chunck of pin stuck in them. The pin is 66" long.

Yeah got it Shimmy 1 .

Just trying to figure out why the shaft broke .

Any grease fittings on the pin boss ?
 

Shimmy1

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North Dakota
Yeah got it Shimmy 1 .

Just trying to figure out why the shaft broke.

Any grease fittings on the pin boss?
There was a fitting on each end of the pin. They have never taken grease. Tried to get them open with one of those grease busters, but never succeeded. I've only had the trailer for a couple years. It is a '95. Wouldn't think you could twist off a 4" pin but apparently it's possible.
 

Shimmy1

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Haven't got it out yet. It is siezed in the outside as well on the side that broke. It wasn't broke completely off yet, luckily for me. I'll try and describe it though. It was very rusty, for sure it has been broke a while, but still hanging by a thread. It was like a bomb went off in the center of the pin. All kinds of square-ish shards, almost resembling keystock. There were many fractures parallel to the pin, and then the pieces just failed one by one.

Now that I'm describing it, I'll bet it was caused by the pin seizing in the pin boss, and many twists back and forth. Grease fitting are put in things for a reason.
 

lantraxco

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Elsewhen
It is hard to tell, but looks to me like a torque failure, not what you would expect if it just sheared?
 

td25c

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indiana
Haven't got it out yet. It is siezed in the outside as well on the side that broke.

Now that I'm describing it, I'll bet it was caused by the pin seizing in the pin boss, and many twists back and forth. Grease fitting are put in things for a reason.

That's why she broke Shimmy1 . :yup

Have seen scissor hoist on dump trucks fail in the same way . Pins & bosses tight & lack of grease , something has to give .

I was going to suggest installing grease fittings in the neck boss .

Can you get a new shaft from the dealer ?

Smack on the old one with hammer & center punch to see how hard it is . I bet it's just a 4" diameter piece of cold roll shaft ?
 

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grandpa

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Oct 15, 2009
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northern minnesota
Well Shimmy,,, that's too bad. That's one of the results of living in cold country when they salt the roads all the time. I bought an end dump that had the frame bent because the hinge pins seized up. Best advice would be to throw your truck keys in a pale of water at night. When the day comes they become froze in, leave the truck and trailer set there til spring when you can reach in and take the keys out of the water. (wish I could practice what I preach.)
 
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Shimmy1

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North Dakota
Can you get a new shaft from the dealer ?
Yeah, in three weeks. It took XL 8 hrs. to get a blueprint to the dealer so we knew for sure what size it should be. 3 15/16". What an oddball. So, my machine shop is building one. Whatever they're using it comes oversize and they will turn it down to proper size. Drill the bolt holes in the ends for the lock collars. $850. Thought that is pretty reasonable. It's 64" long. And yes, I will be installing grease fittings in the pin bosses.
 

Shimmy1

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Aug 14, 2014
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Location
North Dakota
Well Shimmy,,, that's too bad. That's one of the results of living in cold country when they salt the roads all the time. I bought an end dump that had the frame bent because the hinge pins seized up. Best advice would be to through your truck keys in a pale of water at night. When the day comes they become froze in, leave the truck and trailer set there til spring when you can reach in and take the keys out of the water. (wish I could practice what I preach.)

Yeah, the trailer is 20 yrs old. I would be nice if guys knew what the hell a grease gun is for. I tried to get the pin to take grease when we got it. Wasn't happening. Never thought it would come to this though.
 
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