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So, this is a long story, so get yourself a refreshment, your reading glasses, and sit back for a long boring story.
There is really four chapters to this story
1) Tire failure
2) Noticing a problem with an axle on the trailer holding the dragster right before the third NDRL race of the season at Gateway Motorsports Park (a two day trip there and another two day trip back).
3) Identifying and purchasing the correct Torflex Dexter axle
4) Installing the new axles on the Red Trailer
- Tire failure. This starts back one year ago when we were returning from the race at Bowling Green and we had three Carlise trailer tries fail on the return trip home. We purchased five new SuperCargo E Load range tires from Camping world in Hamburg NY, at a price of $977.13. On the way from the NDRL race at Memphis to the NHRA HRR in Bowling Green, we had one of those tires (less than a year old) come apart while on the highway. While in Bowling Green, we tried to find someone to warranty the tire. No one would. There is a Camping World there and they told me I had to return the tire to the Camping World in Hamburg NY (500 miles away). Before leaving Bowling green, I purchased 5 new Carlise tires, as I did not trust the remaining Super Cargo tires (The Carlise tires are of a new design which is supposed to eliminate the past problems). This happened back on June 17. It is now September 22 and we are still fighting with Sutong over the warranty on these tires. We have the original receipt, the trailer only requires D load range tires, the trailer is not overloaded (1440 front engine dragster is in the trailer), the trailer tires have tire sensors that sense both temperature and pressure.
This tire was on the right rear position of the trailer. Because of the sensitivity to tires, I noticed the tire in the right front position would lean in when a disproportionate amount of weight was put on that tire.
Special note should be taken: at this point, the tire failure was not on this axle.
This could be repeated easily by lowering the trailer tongue jack, which causes the weight of the trailer to be transferred from an even distribution on both axles to more weight being put on the front axle. When the trailer was setting on level ground, the tires were all straight up and down. Now this should not be possible with a Dexter Torflex axle because of its construction.
- I could tell you for sure if you could tell me the inner and outer bearing numbers stamped in to the bearings. A 7K axle will use inner bearing 25580 or 28580 and outer bearing 14125A, 15123, or 25580. A 6K axle will use inner bearing 25580 or 501349 and outer bearing 14125A, 15123, 506849, or LM67048.
- Dana Spicer Off Highway axles are identified with serial tags, tags that vary generation to generation or by production facility. Below is an illustration showing the common location of the tag on an axle and the typical information data shown on them. If you have trouble finding your serial number please contact the Dana help desk.
- DEXTER D35 TRAILER AXLE 0. Dexter Axle Company (Dexter) is recalling certain D28H, D35, D40, and D44 trailer axles. The inner hub bearings may not have been sufficiently greased, which can cause the bearings to overheat and fail. DEXTER D44 TRAILER AXLE 0. Dexter Axle Company (Dexter) is recalling certain D28H, D35, D40, and D44 trailer axles.
- With access to our current and archival news releases, you can take a closer look at what's happening at Dexter. All Posts 1/22/2021 Dexter Axle Company Acquires Redneck Inc. And Redline Products, LLC.
A Dexter Torflex axle has no springs or shackles. It has a hardened metal square bar inserted inside a hole in a square tube with four rubber strips in each corner. This hardened metal bar is inserted two feet into the square tube. Welded to the end of the hardened square bar is an idler arm and welded to that is the spindle.
None of the other tires would do this, the wheel bearings were tight. The only explanation I could come up with was that either the hardened metal bar or the spindle had a crack in it allowing them to flex when weight was applied.
Dexter Axle Company Overview. Dexter Axle Company filed as a Statement & Designation By Foreign Corporation in the State of California on Thursday, April 29, 1999 and is approximately twenty-one years old, as recorded in documents filed with California Secretary of State.A corporate filing is called a foreign filing when an existing corporate entity files in a state other.
This brings us to chapter two: Noticing a problem with an axle on the trailer holding the dragster right before the third NDRL race of the season at Summit Motorsports Park, in Norwalk Ohio.
I was on the verge of not going to this race because of the fear of the axle failing on the trip.
I have a second trailer that was purchased to haul the Jeep around. It is a 24 foot trailer vs the 28 foot trailer that the dragster is in. I put a message out that I was going to remove the cabinet in the front of the 24 foot trailer to get the dragster to fit, and a friend of mine suggested swapping the axles out from under the Jeep trailer (both trailers had 5,200 pound axles under them (heretofore called the “red trailer”)) and putting them under the trailer holding the dragster (heretofore known as the “white trailer”).
Some careful measurements were taken and although there were several different measurements (which we did not find until the axles were removed), it was thought they would be a direct fit. As these axles are held in by four bolts per axle this was thought to be a simpler solution.
John Heywood’s saying “Many hands make light work” is certainly true. Two really good friends helped with this task: Steven Walczak and Bill Gagnier
The first step was to remove the axles from the white trailer. This turned out to be extremly difiicult. The bolts were rusted. We did not have a blue tipped wrench available. We had to put a breaker bar on one side and another on the other side, with a floor jack handle slide down over the handle of the breaker bar and use a 3 ton jack to unscrew each bolt (these were fine threaded bolts with an inch of thread and we could only turn the bolt about a quarter turn each time) This literally took hours. I should also mention this was a really hot day.
The electric brakes on the white trailer were wired in such a way that the wires to the brakes had to be cut.
What a stupid way to run the wires, right through the mounting flange.
The two axles were removed from the white trailer and the first axle was removed from the red trailer.
This is when we noticed that there were actually differences,
- The red trailer axles were ½ inch wider.
- The red trailer had (what we learned later) were “high profile pereches”, the white trailer had “Low Profile Pereches”.
- The idler arm start angle on the red trailer axles was 0 degrees and the white trailer had 10 degree raise.
The result was the white trailer now sits about two inches higher than it did before, which was fine with me. I always had problems with rear clearance. After the trip to Bowling Green, I decided I would order identical axles as the trailer rode better and the ride height was much better.
One thing to remember is all this information presented here is information that I have learned after the fact.
So the red trailer axles were stuck under the white trailer and the tires were bolted on.
After some minor clean up, the trailer was ready for the trip to Norwalk.
Chapter 3: Identifying and purchasing the correct Torflex Dexter axle. This turned out much more difficult than it really had to be. Phone support for Dexter axles really are only interested in one thing, the serial number on the axle. Finding that serial number was not easy. I am going to supply as much of the dimensions requested on the Dexter order form as I can.
These were two crazy people that were out in the sun trying to find that serial number and getting the dimensions to fill in the Dexter order form.
This is the order form
The very first question on the form, I did not know how to answer. The axle looks straight across, but it is not. There is a bend in the center which gives some caster to the axles. All four of the axles have this bend.
This may be the answer to the question Cambered?
Hub Face is another question I was not sure how to answer, I hope the pictures below suffice. The lugs are ½ by 20
Bracket Dimension (I think this is a dumb measurement as it does not interface with anything, that part of the bracket is not straight up and down, so it is kind of a guess as to what it should be) Outside of the bracket measurement as depicted in the diagram is 72 ¾ inches. If you look carefully in the picture below you can see the bottom outside edge is slightly outboard from the top of the bracket, the bottom edge is where the measurement was taken.
Dexter Axle Serial Number Lookup
They did not ask mounting surface to mounting surface which is a tight 67 5/8 inches
Another question not asked but depicted in the diagram below is the Hub Face Dimension which is 93 5/8 to 93 13/16 (93 and 5/8 is preferred)
Bearing Lubrication Easy Lube
Start Angle. Time for a small rant. This order form wants the start angle. What they do not tell you is used axles (ones that have been under a trailer) take a 10 degree set.
What you see here is one degree finder setting on the frame and the second sitting on the idler arm on the axle.
Seeing this you would think that the idler arm has a 10 degree start angle, but that is incorrect because the axle has already taken a 10 degree set. If it was ordered this way you would get the wrong axle (they do not give refunds for any reason).
This axle actually has a 0 degree start angle. I was lucky to discover this before placing my order.
Mounting Brackets? 1” high
Bracket Orientation Standard
I decided to give one last attempt at finding the serial number. Anne and I dragged one of the old axles out from under the red trailer (the red trailer axles are now under the white trailer) and take a wire wheel to the whole back side of the axle.
I did the same thing to the axles under the white trailer as those are the ones we want to duplicate. That way both trailers have the same axles and the ride height is what I was looking for. Inscribed on the axle on the left side is DD 5200 Lbs and just past the center on the curb side is the serial number 121876206. This saved a lot of work and brought to light the error on the start angle.
I did a lot of calling around for prices. The cheapest price I found was from Red Neck Trailer sales at $499.99 and the most expensive I found was for $999.99. I was very lucky and found a friend that as a relative that could get the axles for less than half the price of the cheapest price I found. To be clear, I got two brand new axles for less than the price of the cheapest retail quoted price.
Chapter Four Steven and I made a run to pick them up
I kind of slid by the fact that the red trailer was left up in the air on jack stands with no axles (they are now under the white trailer) I bought the new axles without backing plates, brakes or drums.
So… the old axles from the white trailer had to be pulled out from under their resting place under the red trailer and the drums and backing plates removed (they had just been put on two years ago).
The new axles were reinstalled under the red trailer. The bolts went in easy as someone had purchased all new bolts.
The brakes and backing plates that had been removed from the old axles were installed on the new axles (again someone had provided new hardware, I wonder who that Santa was).
I now have one perfectly good Dexter 5200 pound Torflex azle beam for sale. I even have a set of backing plates and drums to go with it. The second Dexter axle is questionable but you are welcome to it.
Time to install the wiring so the electric brakes work.
The finishing touch to this project, installing the wheels and tires.
Dexter Axle Serial Number Lookup Book
And this project is complete. Now the red trailer is back in action once again after donating it’s axles to a good cause. I believe that operation on the trailer caused it no pain.
FORD EXPLORER 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L or 3.5L GTDI engine. Due to an assembly error, the fuel pressure sensor may leak fuel.
HONDA ODYSSEY 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2018 and 2019 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The latch assemblies for the power sliding doors may stick and not properly latch to the door strikers.
HONDA ODYSSEY 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2018 and 2019 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The latch assemblies for the power sliding doors may stick and not properly latch to the door strikers.
DUCATI SUPERSPORT 2018
Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Ducati Supersport motorcycles. Vibrations may distort the images in the mirrors, reducing the driver's visibility.
DUCATI SUPERSPORT 2019
Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Ducati Supersport motorcycles. Vibrations may distort the images in the mirrors, reducing the driver's visibility.
DUCATI SUPERSPORT 2017
Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Ducati Supersport motorcycles. Vibrations may distort the images in the mirrors, reducing the driver's visibility.
RIDE EAZY DOT SLEEK 0
Silverstone Associates LLC (Silverstone) is recalling certain Ride Eazy DOT Sleek helmets, sizes M and XL. These helmets may not adequately protect the wearer in the event of a head impact during a motorcycle crash, or the helmet may detach from the wearer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 218, Motorcycle Helmets.
JEEP WRANGLER 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Wrangler four-door vehicles. The right rear passenger door latch may not be in the correct location, possibly preventing the door from latching properly.
KIDDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER 0
Kidde Technologies, Inc. (Kidde) is recalling certain Fire Extinguishers, model number 83-133002-500 with part numbers 421220-11 and 421220-12, used in certain fire suppression systems installed in buses and passenger coach vehicles. The actuator of the extinguisher may not function properly, preventing the fire extinguisher from discharging the fire suppression agent.
DEXTER D40 TRAILER AXLE 0
Dexter Axle Company (Dexter) is recalling certain D28H, D35, D40, and D44 trailer axles. The inner hub bearings may not have been sufficiently greased, which can cause the bearings to overheat and fail.
DEXTER D28H TRAILER AXLE 0
Dexter Axle Company (Dexter) is recalling certain D28H, D35, D40, and D44 trailer axles. The inner hub bearings may not have been sufficiently greased, which can cause the bearings to overheat and fail.
DEXTER D35 TRAILER AXLE 0
Dexter Axle Company (Dexter) is recalling certain D28H, D35, D40, and D44 trailer axles. The inner hub bearings may not have been sufficiently greased, which can cause the bearings to overheat and fail.
DEXTER D44 TRAILER AXLE 0
Dexter Axle Company (Dexter) is recalling certain D28H, D35, D40, and D44 trailer axles. The inner hub bearings may not have been sufficiently greased, which can cause the bearings to overheat and fail.
EATON ECA CLUTCH 0
Eaton Corporation (Eaton) is recalling certain ECA heavy-duty truck clutches, part numbers 122002-35, 122002-35A, 122002-42, and 122002-42A, for use in for automated manual transmission vehicles. An internal component in the clutch assembly may fail, possibly resulting in unintended vehicle movement.
LOTUS EVORA 2018
Lotus Cars Limited (Lotus) is recalling certain 2018 Lotus Evora vehicles. Due to an assembly error, in the event of a frontal collision, the steering column may not properly collapse to absorb some of the impact energy.
BLUE BIRD VISION 2019
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Vision school buses with Ford 6.8L Gen IV LPG, Gasoline, or CNG engines. The alternator cables may not be routed correctly and may contact and chafe against the air conditioning support bracket or a firewall reinforcement.
BLUE BIRD VISION 2019
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Vision school buses with Ford 6.8L Gen IV LPG, Gasoline, or CNG engines. The alternator cables may not be routed correctly and may contact and chafe against the air conditioning support bracket or a firewall reinforcement.
BLUE BIRD VISION 2018
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Vision school buses with Ford 6.8L Gen IV LPG, Gasoline, or CNG engines. The alternator cables may not be routed correctly and may contact and chafe against the air conditioning support bracket or a firewall reinforcement.
BLUE BIRD VISION 2018
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Vision school buses with Ford 6.8L Gen IV LPG, Gasoline, or CNG engines. The alternator cables may not be routed correctly and may contact and chafe against the air conditioning support bracket or a firewall reinforcement.
BLUE BIRD VISION 2017
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Vision school buses with Ford 6.8L Gen IV LPG, Gasoline, or CNG engines. The alternator cables may not be routed correctly and may contact and chafe against the air conditioning support bracket or a firewall reinforcement.