Twisted & Snapped Axles

[Richard D]

I'm pretty new to the Deuce scene. My dad has three deuces, two are bobbed(4 wheels). He is 70 and has limited knowledge/experience with these things. We use them mostly in town for parades, and showing off at charity benefits we do for veterans(we are a 501c charity fundraising organization). They are not off-roaded or abused, in my opinion; really I consider them to be babied.

One of the bobbed deuces, my helpers and I installed power steering. This procedure uses a new steering shaft with u joints, and the new steering box is on the outside of the frame. I had to reverse the larger than stock wheels with 395 tires to clear this box. Works great.

Some time ago, we had a problem with the front axle, and sent it to a heavy truck repair shop(not military truck specialists). One axle had the splines twisted, the other snapped in half. I don't know what it cost to repair, but it was probably in the thousands, If it was up to me we would have just put a complete take off front axle unit under it. But I digress.

The shop said the breakage was caused by someone (I don't know who)driving on the pavement in all wheel drive. We are more particular about who drives them know, also I will be doing a lot more research now as far as maintenance/repairs.

Do you guys agree with the repair shops assessment?

 

[gimpyrobb]

No


I abuse mine often off road and some on road. They are fairly stout on-road. I would have asked for the broken parts to verify. I doubt you will have much trouble with them now that you are paying attention.



Edit, what was the problem you had, that you needed to take it to a shop?

 

[Richard D]

Oh I went to the shop and saw the axles myself. This is a trusted mechanic and friend who we have done business with for decades(though I don't know him to be an expert in military vehicles). Back in 1980 when I was 12, I hung the front wheels of Dad's pickup truck over the bulkhead, almost put her in the drink! They came and pulled it out with a special tow truck with a long crane on it.

So it is safe to use all wheel drive on the pavement?

I was just wondering if the offset wheels may have caused a problem? I believe this a 1969; pretty old, but these things are really tough. I'm still just amazed it broke. I have seen videos of 1000 hp trucks ripping up the mud and trails. Ours are pretty much pampered.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Rather odd the damage occurred with only four wheels, OK, there might be some wind up on a hard road, But the axles are massive units, designed for hard use winding ten wheels around. As mentioned previously, I would have asked to see on ongoing inspection. Then a costing for the then observed damage.

 

[Richard D]

This was when I was fairly new working here, wasn't the manager yet, just a grunt. I took a few weeks off, to come back and find that the truck was in the shop, and expensive parts already ordered(back ordered). Blindly throwing money at the problem, no research. Could have just bolted a used axle under there for less than a thousand bucks(maybe WAY less).

 

[gimpyrobb]

Or could have sourced another axle for the housing.

Anyhoo, its in the past. I doubt you will have the issue again. What size tires? I run 395/85r20 and have yet to blow up an axle. The other thing is, there is like 3 different axles that fit these housings. Maybe it was one of the old style ball and socket instead of the U-joint style.

 

[Richard D]

Yes 395/85R20 I believe. It is over and done now, just don't want it again. Thanks for the replies.

 

[gringeltaube]

Gimpy, I think they are all the same strenght, where the OP said his failed ??

 

[Richard D]

The failure was at the splines; one twisted, one snapped.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Gimpy, I think they are all the same strenght, where the OP said his failed ??

I figured as much, but you never know. Bad parts on a production line or someone beating the truck before the O.P. got it, guess we'll never know.

 

[Richard D]

someone beating the truck before the O.P. got it, guess we'll never know.

My thoughts too.

 

[Scar59]

I figured as much, but you never know. Bad parts on a production line or someone beating the truck before the O.P. got it, guess we'll never know.

If it could be bent, broken, twisted, stripped or flipped, one would think Gimp would have experienced said failure. Just say'in......