Need advice from a good body/frame person

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by AnneK, May 19, 2014.

  1. AnneK

    AnneK Bobtail Member

    41
    6
    Apr 30, 2014
    0
    One of our trucks is a 1994 International Eagle with a Rogers aluminum dump body. Over the past month, I've found the following:

    Right rear leaf spring broke a leaf and cracked a shackle
    Left rear leaf spring cracked rear and center hanger
    Cracks to the lower dump cylinder mount on both sides about 12" long, not at a weld
    Cracks to the lower dump body in the front near the frame where it has supports that go at 90 degrees to the frame - there are three on each side, all three had a crack clean through not at a weld.
    Dump body sticks when lowering at times as it approaches the frame and either slams the last few feet or once we had to pull the truck forward to wiggle it off whatever was sticking.

    Basically I am starting to think something is twisted in this truck. It also lost the power divider and front carrier assembly, though this may be unrelated. I'm not a body tech at all, though, I strictly do mechanical repairs, but I need to know what advice to give the owner because there has to be some pattern to this. Any body techs or just people that know about this sort of thing have any advice for me or know anyone good in Baltimore? Thanks.
     
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  3. Starting over

    Starting over Bobtail Member

    16
    4
    Apr 16, 2014
    0
    Sounds like old age. The rear body to frame hinges sound like worn out. That will give twist.
    When aluminum gets old or older it gets fatigued, result you get cracks
    from body twisting. You need some serious alumin welding done. Plus
    a trip to a spring shop
     
    AnneK Thanks this.
  4. AnneK

    AnneK Bobtail Member

    41
    6
    Apr 30, 2014
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    Thank you - one of the things I should have mentioned is that the hinges wouldn't take grease and looked a little funny so I measured them and the spacing between the body and frame hinge was irregular, like the body portion of the hinge was angled. I didn't realize it would cause all that, but geometry was not my strongest subject. I called Rogers and they confirmed my measurements are off, and they sell either the body portion with bushings and hinge pin for $250 or all that with the lower frame portion for $400. I'm going to measure the frame portion when the truck comes in tonight to see if that is twisted at all or if it's just the bushings. They didn't feel there was any reason to replace the lower portion unless it is bent - is there anything else I should look for or any reason they may not have told me to replace the lower portion if it measures good?

    I do have a plasma and a welder with a spool gun and aluminum spool already, I've been using it to weld the cracks so far, and can use it to install the hinges. Other than ensuring they are installed at proper 90 deg angle to the body, anything else I need to worry about when replacing them? Thanks again.
     
  5. Starting over

    Starting over Bobtail Member

    16
    4
    Apr 16, 2014
    0
    Check where your scope mounts in top of dog box, pin or bushings may also need replaced.
    also sounds like scope needs air bled from ram, will cause it to drop. Body guides maybe
    worn also. Rogers makes a good trailer I've had several of their lowboys. Weld with straight
    Argon gas and 4043 grade .035 aluminum wire. Clean area to be welded good,if need be
    fish plate crack.
     
  6. Caterpillar Cowboy

    Caterpillar Cowboy Heavy Load Member

    837
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    Nov 11, 2010
    Wyoming
    0
    On your dump body 'sticking' as it lowers, could be that you're just lowering it on uneven ground, mines been known to do that. Also the position of where the ram is mounted on the truck frame could be off a skoche, I pulled my body off when I bought my truck, shortened the frame and re-mounted it, after almost 3 years of running like that If could go back I would have mounted the ram about 2" further back, the angle throught the dump cycle would be a little nicer on the ram, it's gotten pretty leaky and I wonder if it's due to where I mounted it.

    All in all though all of your issues just sound like it's a old dump truck that's seen some use and abuse, as is standard for dump trucks, and it's just due for a whole bunch of maintenance.
     
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