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SEARK
05-02-2014, 12:30 PM
Just a friendly reminder to check you axels on your trailer before taking off on a trip. Was taking my boat to have annual service last week (about 2.5 hr. drive) when halfway there axel broke on my trailer and I was forced to have the boat towed back home so we could get it off the trailer for repair. Lucky not to have boat damage. I caught it very quick. Very critical when you have singel axel to check. If I had the tandem axel trailer I could've tied up the broken one and been able to get to help. Not so lucky with the single axel as I was on the side of the road for almost 4 hours before it could be loaded on the towtruck. Now have to wait at least 2 weeks to get new axel and boat is sitting on a friends lift at the wrong end of the lake.

mgswake
05-02-2014, 03:36 PM
Thanks for the reminder. At least your boat did not get damaged. Sorry for the bad luck, but gotta keep things in perspective. 2 weeks and just the axle, is better than major damage to the boat. Hope you get it fixed quickly.

bergermaister
05-02-2014, 03:53 PM
What exactly broke? I have a tandem but broke a leaf spring last year. Didn't notice it until I was dewinterizing...

sivs1
05-02-2014, 04:16 PM
that's insane. I have had tires blow out, but never an axel. What would you even look for? Cracks?

jpetty3023
05-02-2014, 05:11 PM
subscribed..


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boarder3304
05-02-2014, 07:57 PM
that's insane. I have had tires blow out, but never an axel. What would you even look for? Cracks?

Same question...what do you look for?

liquid_acid
05-02-2014, 10:44 PM
Same question...what do you look for?

Same.

I have to change a leaf spring next week. What should I be looking for on the axle?


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Klos
05-05-2014, 08:00 PM
Same question...what do you look for?

+1 what broke

SEARK
05-09-2014, 07:05 AM
What exactly broke? I have a tandem but broke a leaf spring last year. Didn't notice it until I was dewinterizing...

There is a spline (shaft) coming out of the axel for the running gear. Apparently it failed, axel did not break in half, but still have to replace the whole thing. The guy I took it to for repair works on big rig trailers all the time and said the way this boat trailer is set up is a good idea in theory, but will not hold up for a long time with heavier loads. Said lighter loads works great. This trailer does not have leaf springs.
On a good note, got the call yesterday that the trailer is fixed.

sivs1
05-09-2014, 08:33 AM
There is a spline (shaft) coming out of the axel for the running gear. Apparently it failed, axel did not break in half, but still have to replace the whole thing. The guy I took it to for repair works on big rig trailers all the time and said the way this boat trailer is set up is a good idea in theory, but will not hold up for a long time with heavier loads. Said lighter loads works great. This trailer does not have leaf springs.
On a good note, got the call yesterday that the trailer is fixed.

Will have to look at the Tandem trailer to see if it's built the same way, thanks for letting us know what to look for. Did you take pictures of your ordeal?

SEARK
05-09-2014, 11:06 AM
no pics. Wasn't thinking about that when on side of the road. 20/20 hindsight.

bluemobius
05-09-2014, 08:34 PM
My torsion axle broke within my warranty period and had to be replaced. When mine failed I researched and found that it was a common failure for my year. (06 LSV)

sivs1
05-09-2014, 09:52 PM
My torsion axle broke within my warranty period and had to be replaced. When mine failed I researched and found that it was a common failure for my year. (06 LSV)

06 LSV, single or tandem?

23scuba
05-09-2014, 10:14 PM
My 08 single axle broke on me over the weekend... I had just bought mine and it was my first trip out.. Anyway after talking to boatmate who directed me to call the axle manufacturer. Anyway I ended up calling them they are a company named UFP out of Winchester,Tn my axle was out of warranty but they were very nice and told me it was a problem with the people who made the torsion material in the axle and said if I would pay for shipping or come and get one it would be free... There is no fixing the axle once there assembled because of some kind of nitrogen fusion process... They guaranteed me the new axle would never fail! If you want there info I can send it to and you have to do is switch the axle out and put your old assembly on it.. I started tearing mine down today... I'll take pics as I go and put then up on here for everybody...


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Wax
05-12-2014, 09:11 PM
There's nothing wrong with a torsion axle, it's actually a great design IMO.

Mine broke while my boat was stationary last year, thank heavens. 23scuba is right, UFP makes the axle and I also talked to them last year when it broke. They said that they outsourced the sub-assy of the internal rubber/metal spring component to two different suppliers from about 06-08. They said one supplier had high tech x-ray and an automated adhesive process, and did the majority of the axles for them. The other supplier had a guy at a hand spray booth doing the adhesive. They say it only affected.about 0.5% of axles for those years (these axles are used on many other trailers). They said that even though it's out of warranty, since it's a known issue they will provide a new axle free of charge, just pay shipping. Axles come raw unpainted, but they just happen to have a black once laying around, and even though my trailer is orange I had no problem with a black axle! Cost me $65 shipping. My neighbor and I swapped it out with my boat still on the trailer and on grass/mud in about 3 hours.

UFP also did guarantee this one wouldn't fail as scuba mentioned. I hold UFP (and Boatmate) in high regard for how they have handled this situation for everybody affected.

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bcronin
05-19-2014, 07:24 AM
My (single Axle) trailer just did the same thing. Can you send me the contact info of where I should call? I appreciate it. I hope I just have to pay shipping, that would be great.

SEARK
05-19-2014, 02:41 PM
Just heard from Boatmate. They will not cover it since 2007 is too old. I've contacted UFP to see if they will help. Try emailing [email protected]. That is the info I got from Boatmate.

Wax
05-19-2014, 03:04 PM
Boatmate doesn't cover it, they will just give you the info to contact UFP as it looks like you received. UFP will have you fill out a warranty form. Get your trailer VIN and your axle number (bottom of axle) because you'll need it.

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sivs1
05-19-2014, 03:21 PM
Are these all single axel trailers that have had the axel break? I would expect single and tandem are different axels due to weight requirements. I have a tandem. I was under the boat a lot over the weekend and looked over both axels pretty well and didn't see anything of concern.

SEARK
05-19-2014, 04:42 PM
Boatmate doesn't cover it, they will just give you the info to contact UFP as it looks like you received. UFP will have you fill out a warranty form. Get your trailer VIN and your axle number (bottom of axle) because you'll need it.

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thanks, just waiting on them to get back with me.

sivs1: mine is a single axel.

SEARK
05-19-2014, 05:10 PM
Just got off the phone with UFP, looks like they may help out with the cost of the axel. Not a done deal yet, but sounded like it would happen. If so I would only be out cost of repair/shipping which was not bad. :)

23scuba
05-20-2014, 02:59 AM
The # I called was 931-968-9050 and I talked to Dennis... I installed mine myself and it took me about 3hrs to do by myself and that was with the boat on the trailer.. Just remember to measure your side that is still good and hasn't dropped because it can be kindof tricky to get them set back up since they are splined.. I just measured from the top of my frame to the bottom of the torsion with the wheels removed and set both sides up that way...

jmb
05-20-2014, 05:03 AM
I used an angle finder. Worked well.

Wax
05-20-2014, 01:08 PM
Are these all single axel trailers that have had the axel break? I would expect single and tandem are different axels due to weight requirements. I have a tandem. I was under the boat a lot over the weekend and looked over both axels pretty well and didn't see anything of concern.

You wouldn't be able to visually tell that anything was wrong, it's an internal component flaw. Basically when the axle fails the internals will over-rotate and cause your wheels to jam up into the fender. You won't know it's going to happen until it happens. It's possible your axles are a similar design if they're UFP torsion axles but I doubt the same exact axle model; my understanding is the flaw only affected trailers with single axles for a couple years (~06-08 ). I doubt the axles are the same capacity, that would seem like overkill; but if by chance they were then I doubt they'd fail with only approximately half the load on them.


The # I called was 931-968-9050 and I talked to Dennis... I installed mine myself and it took me about 3hrs to do by myself and that was with the boat on the trailer.. Just remember to measure your side that is still good and hasn't dropped because it can be kindof tricky to get them set back up since they are splined.. I just measured from the top of my frame to the bottom of the torsion with the wheels removed and set both sides up that way...

In my case, both sides of my axle failed at the same time. I believe on UFP's website you can download and print installation instructions which also includes a very handy measurement sheet that you write down your trailer and tire measurements on and it will help you calculate what angle to mount your trailing arm on the spline.

After you realize how hard it is to pry the trailing arms off (they'll probably be stuck on pretty good), I strongly suggest cleaning off the new splines thoroughly with a wire brush (I used my wire brush on my drill) to get as much debris off as possible (they are taped over during shipment). I think I put some anti-seize grease on the new splines too. Also a brake bleeder was a helpful tool for the project instead of hand bleeding it at the coupler, and an air compressor with a chisel was excellent for getting the trailing arms off of the splines.