wrote in message
ups.com...
This is a common problem with older Komets, at least those that have
been wheeled across the U.S. for many tens of thousands of miles (mine
was a 1978 that failed after 13 years). Symptoms and repair are as
noted. Early warning is the hump in the floor that causes the wing to
wobble as it's pulled out of the trailer and the spar dolly rides up
over the bump. I was able to gain access from above/below for the
welding by drilling out relatively few pop rivets and bending/propping
up a section of the wooden floor.

This is a different problem than the one of the rubber torsion spring
failing and allowing the trailer to settle on the axle a few inches,
although several of the symptoms are the same (i.e., less axle/longeron
and tire/fender clearance).

I've never heard of it happening on a Cobra trailer, leading me to
wonder if it's really related to hardening of the rubbber or just
failure of welded steel joints. Cobras I've seen are all aluminum; I
don't know if early ones were steel tube.

Now is also a good time to check the welded attachment of the tube that
retains the trailer tongue. The front attach point on mine failed and
the tongue pivoted on the rear attachment, allowing the front of the
trailer to sink down until it came to rest on the brake actuating rod,
applying the brakes. Fortunately neither the brake shoes nor the
bearings were destroyed, although the smoke pouring off the wheels was
pretty impressive. That smoke was the only real trouble indicator since
the trailer continued to track very nicely (although if I'd been real
observant, I might have noticed in the rearview mirror that it was a
few inches lower in front). Note that the tongue itself can be in
excellent shape even when the mounting tube is failing. You have to go
inside the trailer and look under the forward mounting attachment to
inspect it.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"


Thanks for the details, Chip.

As an update, I have the trailer opened up. The lower longerons were nearly
cracked through on both sides which would have left only the upper longerons
holding the trailer together. Total failure was only a few miles away. I
caught it just in time.

BTW, the tounge was replaced with a MUCH stronger "A-Frame" hitch by a
previous owner.

It turned out to be easier than expected to bend the axle mounting sub-frame
back into position with six foot 2x12's and large C-clamps. I straightened
and aligned the trailer with jacks and welded the longerons and sub-frame
with an oxy-acetylene torch. I am thinking that the metal will be
re-normalized by the heat. The next step is to borrow a MIG welder to add
substantial reinforcements.

E-mails from the axle manufacturer (Flexride) indicates that a 10 - 15 year
life is all that can be expected from the rubber torsion axles before the
rubber is "hard as a rock". No surprise there that a 26 year old axle could
break a trailer frame.

So far, I have a couple of evenings into the project and $0.

Bill Daniels