In article . com,
jcarlyle writes
Thanks - major disassembly is exactly what I want to avoid, too. I'm
reluctant to use a hole saw, though, for fear that the guide drill (or
the saw itself) might damage something important inside the square
tube.

Looking at the end of the square tube, I see that there are little
"saddles" that the rod rides in. Not sure if they are just at the end,
or if there are others in the middle of the tube. I haven't tried to
take off the nut on the inside of the silver T-handle yet, for fear
that I'll release something that will be impossible to put back into
place.

What I really need is (1) an idea of how Spindelberger put the
assembly together, or (2) an idea of what's inside the tube. It may be
that I simply have to drill out the 2 rivets for the T-handle, take
off the nut on the inside, and I'll be able to see what I need to in
the resultant hole.

-John

wrote:
I would try to avoid a major disassembly. Can you access the
attachment point by using a hole saw to cut through the hollow square
tube from the inside of the trailer?

We had exactly the same problem about 5 years ago. I took the trailer to
a firm which is currently restoring an Me262 for a wealthy software
person in the USA. The CEO's dad borrowed what he called a windy drill
with which removed about 400 rivets.

That enabled us to get at the square tube and to reattach the rod. And
then replace the 400 rivets! The whole process took all day.

But I know now there aren't any bits inside the tube which would be
damaged by cutting a window in it. So it will be a quicker job next
time.

Hope that helps. Oh, our trailer was built in 1984.
--
Mike Lindsay