Posted by Chris Case [172.70.214.201] on Monday, September 12, 2022 at 21:04:03 :
In Reply to: Re: Additional Infor on Installing Fish Plates posted by Vaughn [172.69.34.70] on Monday, September 12, 2022 at 10:30:29 :
Mine had a similar crack. I suspect many do.The inner layer of the frame ends right there...
I took mine to my BIL, a truck welder. V'd out the cracks, stick welded for maximum cleaning of the old metal, added a foot long strap on top down the length. With a dimple over the rivet. Ends cut at 45, only long sides welded. The off set ends of the welds prevent stress risers. Welded lengthwise, like the factory did.
They don't crack from overloading, they crack from the frame twisting at every curb, gutter, and wallow. Probably because the truck is NOT fully loaded, and the springs don't flex, so the frame does. Plus that stack of leaf springs has been rusted together for at least the last 50 years. It's one of the reasons I do like my Michelin 11x16, at 35 psi.
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