Double frame and rust between frame rails

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by ichudov, Aug 7, 2020.

  1. ichudov

    ichudov Heavy Load Member

    736
    639
    Mar 14, 2012
    Berkeley, IL
    0
    I bought this 2008 International 9900 tractor with double frame rails.

    There is rust on the frame on the outside. As far as between frames goes, there is rust between frames, but it is NOT yet pushing the frames apart and it appears to be relatively mild.

    I am not worried about rust on the outside, as I spray all trucks with hydraulic oil every few months and it keeps them from rusting. But what about the inside?

    I am in Chicago and there is salt in winter and I want to nip this problem in the bud. Is there some realistic way to stop this rust from further developing? I read about installing grease fitting and pumping grease in there. Does it really work well? Should I pump grease or hydraulic oil?

    Again this is about BETWEEN double frame rails.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
    Dino soar and SmallPackage Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

    4,524
    13,618
    Dec 20, 2019
    Marion Texas
    0
    I spray ospho or something similar in there. Hydraulic oil may attract and hold moisture in it. And other oils and greases are gonna attract dirt which will hold moisture.
     
    not4hire Thanks this.
  4. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

    4,071
    5,355
    Sep 17, 2012
    0
    This stuff might work. You can get the cans and try spraying it between the frame rails and let soak or work it s way between the rails if you got a couple cans and just. The cans come with the little nozzle like WD-40 and you might be able to spray/ soak it between the rails.

     
    ProfessionalNoticer Thanks this.
  5. ichudov

    ichudov Heavy Load Member

    736
    639
    Mar 14, 2012
    Berkeley, IL
    0
    What about pumping grease in via grease fittings? Maybe slightly dilute grease with gasoline to make it flow better?
     
  6. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

    4,589
    21,825
    Dec 8, 2017
    0
    Do the double frame rails stop behind the cab or do they run all the way up to the engine?

    If they stop up near the back of the cab, the job isn't that bad to pop them off.

    Another option is to take a cutting wheel and cut the outer frame but leave the inner frame and just remove them clean them or replace them if you need to and put them back on. Then weld seam.

    I know that you said they're not bad right now but that rust inside of there once it's there I don't think there's any way for you to ever get rid of that except to remove the frame rails.

    And if it gets bad the rust inside of there will actually eat the inner frame up and then you have a much larger job.

    If it were me and the frame rails were still tight and not swelled, I would take and put heavy duty construction caulk all along that seam where they meet. Make sure that it is 100% completely sealed.

    That way oxygen can't get in there to help the rust form. Water cannot get in there to help the rust form.

    It's kind of like when you have a driveway that has a crack and you see weeds are starting to grow through.

    So if you seal the driveway with tar water can't get down there to feed them and they get no oxygen or sun and that's the end of it.

    Similar idea.
     
  7. ichudov

    ichudov Heavy Load Member

    736
    639
    Mar 14, 2012
    Berkeley, IL
    0
    The double rails stop around the back of the cab, yes.

    I do NOT seek to eliminate rust. I just seek to stop its progression. The way it looks now, is that the integrity of the rails is not yet compromised. But it will be if the rust keeps expanding. So I just want to stop it.

    On the OUTSIDE of rails, I know that spraying or wiping the area with hydraulic oil stops rust completely. But I understand that sandwiched between rails, it is trickier.
     
  8. ichudov

    ichudov Heavy Load Member

    736
    639
    Mar 14, 2012
    Berkeley, IL
    0
    Anyway, here's what I ended up deciding to do.

    I decided to drill holes and install grease fittings on the sides of the double rail.

    I have a high pressure air/hydraulic pump and I made an adapter to pump hydraulic oil into grease fittings. I have a large quantity of really sticky hydraulic oil that loves clinging to metal surfaces. I will pump a lot of that oil into those grease fittings, repeatedly, so it would diffuse between the frame rails and through the rust between frames and kind of fill the area.

    Right now the truck is really dry due to dry hot summer and I want to infuse the double frame with oil repeatedly for a few weeks. I hope that this will fill the frame with oil and greatly slow down the rusting process. Maybe do it once a few months. I will also spray same oil on the outside of the truck frame.

    I am a scrapper and have over a thousand gallons of hydraulic oil that I burn in my winter furnace so there is no real cost to the oil.
     
    ProfessionalNoticer Thanks this.
  9. ETransue

    ETransue Bobtail Member

    1
    0
    Aug 8, 2022
    0
    How did you make the adapter? I have a similar issue with my Mack. It’s not bad yet but will get bad in time
     
  10. special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

    1,515
    3,240
    Dec 27, 2008
    Southern Ontario Canada
    0
    I would suggest not waiting as long as this unless you want the experience of doing this job. IMG_20220808_154030420.jpg IMG_20220808_160542862.jpg
     
    ProfessionalNoticer Thanks this.
  11. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

    27,731
    145,307
    Jul 7, 2015
    Canuckistan
    0
    I've never really seen the need for a double frame when you can get a single rail that's just as strong.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.