Bulkhead cracks on 1800 Floats
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:33 pm
Now that your all have your floats together.......... I thought I should
share this with you.
When I split the 1500's and stretched them 21", to make them into 1800's
this spring/summer, I found that <ALL> the partial bulkheads in the step
area were cracked in the center right above the float keel area. I thought
maybe this was due to improper construction when the factory first built
them as these were one of, if not, the original set of 1500 amphibs. While
putting Howard's A/C "to bed" for the winter, today, I noticed that his
floats are now showing this cracking as well on all the step area partial
bulkheads.
I have posted a picture of the cracks to the archives files and also how I
tackled repairing the floats that I stretched. If you still haven't closed
your floats, or installed your "stringer" stiffeners, I would be tempted to
put flanges on these gussets and install them on the inner face of the
bulkhead to add some more stiffness. Gusset is basically a half moon of .032
material
Still great, light, floats guys/gals and for those that have followed my
posts about drilling the axles and filling the main wheels with grease for
bearing longevity, be reassured that Howard's chrome plated wheel bearings
have survived a 5th summer on the water. After blocking his floats, so his
gear was off the floor, I have simply pumped a fresh cartridge of synthetic
boat trailer grease through them while rotating the wheel, 'till the water
stopped showing in the expelled stuff and they are ready again for next
spring. This time frame is simply amazing considering that the first set of
chrome plated ones didn't last a month when they were just hand packed per
the assembly manual. Leaving them that way just let the wheel fill with
water, becoming a centrifuge to wash the bearings clean of all grease. I
also figure if we are getting a 6th season out of the bearings I can now
comfortably state it is not worth the time to disassemble the entire
assembly every year to clean and refill. $400 for bearings/6 years = only $6
6.67/year, so far, so why spend countless hours taking them apart and
putting them back together unless you are absolutely bored and have nothing
better to do!!
Cheers,
Wayne G. O'Shea
www.irishfield.on.ca
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share this with you.
When I split the 1500's and stretched them 21", to make them into 1800's
this spring/summer, I found that <ALL> the partial bulkheads in the step
area were cracked in the center right above the float keel area. I thought
maybe this was due to improper construction when the factory first built
them as these were one of, if not, the original set of 1500 amphibs. While
putting Howard's A/C "to bed" for the winter, today, I noticed that his
floats are now showing this cracking as well on all the step area partial
bulkheads.
I have posted a picture of the cracks to the archives files and also how I
tackled repairing the floats that I stretched. If you still haven't closed
your floats, or installed your "stringer" stiffeners, I would be tempted to
put flanges on these gussets and install them on the inner face of the
bulkhead to add some more stiffness. Gusset is basically a half moon of .032
material
Still great, light, floats guys/gals and for those that have followed my
posts about drilling the axles and filling the main wheels with grease for
bearing longevity, be reassured that Howard's chrome plated wheel bearings
have survived a 5th summer on the water. After blocking his floats, so his
gear was off the floor, I have simply pumped a fresh cartridge of synthetic
boat trailer grease through them while rotating the wheel, 'till the water
stopped showing in the expelled stuff and they are ready again for next
spring. This time frame is simply amazing considering that the first set of
chrome plated ones didn't last a month when they were just hand packed per
the assembly manual. Leaving them that way just let the wheel fill with
water, becoming a centrifuge to wash the bearings clean of all grease. I
also figure if we are getting a 6th season out of the bearings I can now
comfortably state it is not worth the time to disassemble the entire
assembly every year to clean and refill. $400 for bearings/6 years = only $6
6.67/year, so far, so why spend countless hours taking them apart and
putting them back together unless you are absolutely bored and have nothing
better to do!!
Cheers,
Wayne G. O'Shea
www.irishfield.on.ca
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username "rebel" password "builder"
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