Bob K's HINO RB

[bobk]

Thanks Terry, I'm not sure that we will be available to come up there at the nominated time, but if the offer stands to some time in the future I'd appreciate it. Got some rello's coming in the next week or two, up to late April, and then in May, son and I are going to Airlie Beach and will be away till early June, then to the Flinders for the long weekend. And while all this is going on, Lynette is house sitting for 4 weeks at Gawler. It is busy.
Aside from that, I began working on the items the inspectors picked and have nearly completed the chassis strengthening plate issue. While doing this, I noticed the strap around the rear end of the left rear spring pack was dangling at the rear end of the spring. It had broken at the rivet. The rivet is part of the third or fifth leaf ie. apparently heat shrunk in place. Anyway it is right beside one of the strengthening plates and just because they didn't see it at the first inspection doesn't mean the won't see it next time. So it should be fixed, but I'm blowed if I can see how without removing the spring to a spring works. Not insurmountable but a pain to be sure.
BobK

[jon_d]

Bob,

Chassis rivits are desisgned to squeeze out when rivted and make a very good bond.

There are chassis bolts which are a fraction wider in the shank than the thread and do a similiar clamping function.

It might be possible (?) to use one of these with the locking nuts (not nylocks) that never come undone. The bolt is destroyed if they are removed. I'm not sure where you get them from.

[bobk]

Thanks for your interest Jon, cannot use bolts here because one end of the rivet is flush at the surface between two spring leaves. I have this morning been to a spring works at Gawler and been advised that I can weld a new bracket directly to the old rivet head as it will be mild steel, and the bracket also mild steel. He also said that some trailers have only a dimple into a recess to achieve the same end of keeping the spring leaves in line. He said maybe I could make a new "U" bracket, drill it to accept the rivet head, then put something flexible like rubber hose on the top side of spring pack, between the spring pack and the bolt that goes between the two bracket ends. I didn't like that one much. I will probably go for the welding option. It would be nice to have a pit for this activity as grovelling on the ground with about 10 inches of clearance has knobs on it.

[jon_d]

Try this.

Make the bracket with a key hole slot. Slip it into position and then close the slot

[bobk]

Another worthy thought Jon, thank you, I will investigate.
BobK

[BruceS]

What are you like at overhead welding Bob?
I've got an idea!

[Chuck]

G'day Bob, a little bit off topic, but...

In 2nd pic ... it looks as if the spring might be getting a little excited.

[jon_d]

Bob,

Don't forget, that it's not that hard to drop one end of the spring.

You jack up the chassis a little to get the pin with no weight on it. (no up or down force) then undo and remove the pin.
If its in a neutral wieght setting, the pin taps out, if there is weight on it, it wont come out and if forced, thing "clunk and shift" when the pin frees. (read danger)

Then jack up the chassis some more to be able to remove the rivet (mild steel) and fit a bolt. (Even one with a cup head)

The fit the new bracket and lock nut.


When lowering the chassis, some times the spring flattens out. You need to jacks. One at the end to lift the eye into the shackle.

And on between the eye and the axle to press down and create a curve. (thus shortening it a little to help with the alignment of the eye and shackle)

[bobk]

Bruce my overhead welding is woeful. Even my welding in the supine position (is that right) is pretty poor until I've practiced all day and then on the second last weld of the day it could be ok. Chuck, honestly. Dot will talk to you. Jon I will send you a PM if I can work out how. I dropped in to Hancock and Just on Thursday to see if they had come up with a price for doing the work clearing the inspection problems. They were unable to give me a parts price (I don't know why) but said the labour cost would be upwards of $2800. I admit to being shocked, and my missus said 'I expected it would be dearer'. Well it's Monday night and over a week now since they checked out the bus. I will wait another day or two and hopefully they will get back to me. But their silence to me sounds ominous.
BobK

[Dot]

G'day Bob, a little bit off topic, but...

In 2nd pic ... it looks as if the spring might be getting a little excited.

What!! a pointing downward excited spring, now that is something I would like to see..