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Who.Me? Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014 Posts: 2190 Location: UK (South)
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 11:05 am Post subject: Gate cracking around hinge |
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My single cab gates are pretty solid, but one has developed a crack above the left hand forward hinge.
Aside from getting the shitty bedliner off, is this an easy fix?
Is it just a case of cutting along the crack with a cut-off wheel and stitch welding it?
_________________ Andy
Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786 |
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c21darrel Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009 Posts: 8206 Location: San Dimas
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Who.Me? Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014 Posts: 2190 Location: UK (South)
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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c21darrel wrote: |
You wont know the scope of the job, how thin/thick the metal is until you remove the spray on bed liner and start cutting. |
Getting that stuff off isn't going to be fun. _________________ Andy
Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786 |
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DubStyle SBS Hit Squad
Joined: July 26, 2003 Posts: 6250 Location: SBS headquarters: Missery
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Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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Heat and a scraper. _________________ Anthony
SBS #1
SBS #1 on FB
"The original & best lowered Split Bus website/club" |
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Who.Me? Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014 Posts: 2190 Location: UK (South)
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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Finally had a chance to have a go at the bedliner with some heat and a scraper.
This is the crack on the inner face of the gate frame cleaned up. No sign of the crack progressing beyond this yet (no micro cracking etc).
There's also cracking on the lower edge of the gate frame
Similar cracks appearing on the rear gate from the hinge where the step is.
Question as above; this a simple cleanup-and-stitch-welding fix?
Would it be sensible to drill holes at the end of the cracks to reduce the likelihood of them progressing until I can get round to fixing them, or is that a myth? _________________ Andy
Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786 |
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Just us buses Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2004 Posts: 195 Location: Where the nuthatch winters
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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That might be metal fatigue from opening gates with stiff hinges. Or the channels may be rotting from the inside out. Get your hinges good and loose, maybe you could blow out the channels and blow some Ospho or something in the drain holes and weld it up. Nothing lasts forever. _________________ It doesn't matter where you start, it all comes together; it all falls apart. |
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Who.Me? Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014 Posts: 2190 Location: UK (South)
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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Just us buses wrote: |
That might be metal fatigue from opening gates with stiff hinges. Or the channels may be rotting from the inside out. Get your hinges good and loose, maybe you could blow out the channels and blow some Ospho or something in the drain holes and weld it up. Nothing lasts forever. |
I think fatigue cracking rather than rust. Other than these cracks, the gates are in pretty amazing condition. It's an ex-California truck and basically rust-free.
The hinges are nice and free. No binding. I keep them well oiled. _________________ Andy
Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786 |
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FarmerBill Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2017 Posts: 762 Location: New England
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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If you drill a small hole at either end of the crack before you grind it out and weld it will decrease the chances of it coming back just beyond the weld area. |
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j.pickens Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2002 Posts: 9787 Location: Exit 7, New Jersey
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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Welcome to the club. These cracks and rust in the wetter parts of the country are very common. I had rectangular doublers welded in to strengthen that area. But mine were both cracked and rusted. The doublers make it MUCH stronger, but are for working trucks, not showpieces. _________________ Founder and Chairman Emeritus, ECMSAS
BBX BBXII and BBXXI Long Distance Award Winner
BeaterBarndoor wrote: |
i wish more people would actually drive their vws rather than just talking about what they have in the garage. |
Red Fau Veh wrote: |
If you've seen one sunroof swivel seat kombi, you've seen them all! |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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Looks more like fatigue from stiff hinges opposed to rust, you'll find out as soon as you pull the trigger on the welder, it'll either weld up nice, or blow a giant hole in it. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
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ZENVWDRIVER Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008 Posts: 3340 Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:42 am Post subject: Re: Gate cracking around hinge |
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See the bolts, on either side of the bottom hinges, on our '60 SC? That was my fix, for the same problem, as yours - bolts work well - been that way for over 20 years - welding would be better, BUT I don't weld - z
_________________ 5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
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