Re: [A/S] Wiring and plumbing for A/S restoration

["Mr. Joy H. Hansen" <joytbrew@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim,

I thought the owner's manual called for #8 wire and that's what I got.
However, looking at it now the actual size is more like #10.  The wire is
very flexible and has 19 strands about 28 gauge.  I'll most likely get 25
feet of the #10 tomorrow.  It's possible that I could leave the wires where
they are, but I sure don't like the routing.  I studied the situation and
have determined that there is room and a 1/2 inch hole with grommet should
work.  I'm using the split plastic cable cover to protect the wires.  Much
better than the cloth/tar stuff that fell apart and dropped out.

My "A" frame is badly rusted on the inside.  The outside was painted, but
there are some significant pits.  The bottom plate that holds the tongue
jack is mostly rusted away.  I'm thinking that the "A" frame is marginal and
should be replaced.  I'm not competant enough to make the welds required.
Nor, do I know how far back the replacement should go.  I guess if it gets
into the body area, then the shell/floor would have to be removed?

My "A" frame was built up with a 5 inch "U" channel, open facing inside, and
then a plate welded in to make it a rectangular tube.  The plate was skip
welded.  Both "A" frame rails were constructed identically.  I can see the
gap between the welds along the seam.  I think this was the main entry for
water into the "A" frame.  If the tongue was low, the water rusted the metal
forward.  If the tongue was high, the water rusted the metal into the frame
inside the banana curve.

This begs the question: How close to the outer skin did you cut the "A"
frame off?

I don't have much experience welding overhead as is required to restore the
lower plate for the tongue jack.  The metal is thick enough so I won't have
a problem with burn throughs of the metal - just my clothes! :)

Did  you say your were using MIG for your welds?  I use the AC with 6011
rods as they will handle the heavy rust pretty well.  I used this rod to
skip weld a new skid rail on the street side.  Hope it stays there for a
long time!  A MIG would be just great; however, I'll have to hope I can get
an AC/DC to replace my AC so I will have a better choice of rods and be able
to get better penetration that I think would be necessary for "A" frame
work.

BTW, have you seen a rod that leaves a galvanized surface under the slag?

                                                         Joy