P1000m5 Traveller II

 

[joeymt33]

So now what do I do? Oh I know, strip the front of the shocks, bumper, winch, winch plate, etc and prime for welding repairs and gussets everywhere.

 

[ToddACimer]

I have noticed similar paint cracks on all my a-arm weld joints but nothing on the frame itself. I'm not sure how well the paint adhesion is on Honda's parts but I'm also curious if the heim joints on your a-arms carry the load into the frame and if the Honda bushings on the stock arms may absorb some of that load.

 

[joeymt33]

I have noticed similar paint cracks on all my a-arm weld joints but nothing on the frame itself. I'm not sure how well the paint adhesion is on Honda's parts but I'm also curious if the heim joints on your a-arms carry the load into the frame and if the Honda bushings on the stock arms may absorb some of that load.

The heims May have more impact but the Oem hinges don’t move freely so they are constantly pulling up and down. I’m not sure which is worse because after 3000+ miles of using these joints I can’t say I’m unsatisfied with the way the machine has held up with the abuse I have given it. Especially with my front 5” wider than stock.

Actually the Heim joints are only on the bottom and the upper is stock set up. But I have seen some paint cracking on the bottom in the past and had to re-weld those areas. But I never used any gussets. I know there have been several members of the forum tear the a-arms from the frame but I can’t remember if any of them were using stock a-arms and bushings. I know that none of them were using Heim joints.

It may be hard to tell in the close-up picture that I provided above but the Weld is pulling from the tube and there is a crack. But I’ve been wanting to strengthen up the front for a while anyway.

 

[JTW]

The heims May have more impact but the Oem hinges don’t move freely so they are constantly pulling up and down. I’m not sure which is worse because after 3000+ miles of using these joints I can’t say I’m unsatisfied with the way the machine has held up with the abuse I have given it. Especially with my front 5” wider than stock.

Actually the Heim joints are only on the bottom and the upper is stock set up. But I have seen some paint cracking on the bottom in the past and had to re-weld those areas. But I never used any gussets. I know there have been several members of the forum tear the a-arms from the frame but I can’t remember if any of them were using stock a-arms and bushings. I know that none of them were using Heim joints.

It may be hard to tell in the close-up picture that I provided above but the Weld is pulling from the tube and there is a crack. But I’ve been wanting to strengthen up the front for a while anyway.

Delton was stock... and I’m pretty sure the others have been also.

 

[joeymt33]

Finally got done with the fixes referenced above.

For the crack that I noticed, I first stripped the paint then welded the crack and added a gusset. Thanks @snuffnwhisky for the gusset. The TIG welder had a switch acting up so flux core wire had to do.

 

[joeymt33]

I then moved to the other side of the upper a-arm and beefed it up some. I made a bracket that adds strength to the a-arm mount and bumper mount at the same time. The bumper mount is welded on three sides of the tube but not the long side next to the arm mount.

It’s hard to tell but the circled part shows the bumper mount not welded on the side shown. The bracket shown is one part of the new piece


I added these two pieces and then tacked them together then removed them to be welded front and back.


Here’s the assembled piece


Now installed and painted


Btw, it was welded in place also

 

[joeymt33]

The lower a-arm is strong in the back but the front of it can be a weak point too. I’ve had to weld stress cracks in the past on both sides. Snuff showed me the modification he did and I copied it.

 

[JTW]

The lower a-arm is strong in the back but the front of it can be a weak point too. I’ve had to weld stress cracks in the past on both sides. Snuff showdown me the modification he did and I copied it.

View attachment 93310

View attachment 93311

View attachment 93312

View attachment 93313

I need to do this this winter...

 

[joeymt33]

I need to do this this winter...

Beef up the axles while you’re at it!

 

[GlockMeister]

Nice work Joey.

 

[joeymt33]

Lastly, I changed the shock location in front to allow more compression stoke and less total droop. This will allow me to run the shocks softer (compression knob) with the increase in up travel and less bottoming the shocks out. I can also increase the spring rates for more stability with out raising it higher. And the last benefit is I can now remove the limit straps.

CATVOS stock


New tabs below the original


The TIG decided to work this time


Why run to Lowe’s for black paint when I’ve got some wrinkle finish? Now one side is semi gloss and one side is wrinkle




Oh yeah, I almost forgot that the upper a-arm bolts are now upgraded to 12.9 grade thanks to @ohanacreek sending these to me. I remember when @Hondasxs broke one of these.

 

[joeymt33]

Nice work Joey.

Thanks bud. Shop time is therapy for me. Who’s next?

 

[GlockMeister]

Thanks bud. Shop time is therapy for me. Who’s next?

I need a little shop therapy..but my new shop is an awful mess.and dark as a dungeon..

 

[joeymt33]

I need a little shop therapy..but my new shop is an awful mess.and dark as a dungeon..

That’s not fun. Sounds like you’ve got some winter projects coming up.

 

[GlockMeister]

That’s not fun. Sounds like you’ve got some winter projects coming up.

Yessir...brown truck.is makin daily runs.

 

[Neohio]

@joeymt33 Did you use the same washer @ohanacreek used to repair his elongated holes?

 

[ohanacreek]

@joeymt33 Did you use the same washer @ohanacreek used to repair his elongated holes?

From his picture, no.


Here’s the bolts, I added this to my thread as well.

 

[Neohio]

Is this a common enough problem that I should talk to my machinist about making 10-15 sets?

 

[ohanacreek]

Is this a common enough problem that I should talk to my machinist about making 10-15 sets?

I think you’d find 10 people who’d buy them.

 

[Neohio]

I think you’d find 10 people who’d buy them.

I'll model something up today then.
Thanks.