Curious who runs a axle that may have been pitted from sitting out in the elements. I have this one, which is good, but one side is pitted all the way across.


Good side











Pitted side

 

Not a problem, other than cosmetically

 

Like Ross said, not a problem. A few days in an electrolysis tank would remove that rust. OTOH, removing as much rust as possible with a wire wheel, a couple coats of Ospho followed with good paint would do the job of stopping the rust.

 

To me that looks more like forging scale that was painted over. Not what I would call pitting. No problem. Have it blasted if you want.

 

Try a big tank and some feed store molasses. It takes a little while but it really works.

 

Mixer,

Forging scale? I've never seen that before to be honest. Not saying it doesn't exist but I've never seen it. My other 2 axles are smooth on both sides, I think anyway.

 

Just the problem of what to do with gallons of smelly molasses when it's done.... molasses can also cause pits if you leave the iron in it too long.

 

Yes, but it happens infrequently when the metal isn't properly cleaned before coating. Not saying that's what it is, just that it looks like it to me. I have seen pitting from corrosion (electrolysis), and pitting from the redox reaction of iron and oxygen.

Forging Terms - Steel Forging Glossary | Scot Forge

 

But, it isn't toxic or Hazmat. Spray it on the lawn, flush it down the toilet, etc. Easy peasy.

 

We all are LOL!

 

Ford always used good steel, especially their axles. There's an amazing photo in one of the Ford books of an axle twisted like a pretzel without breaking.

 

Try convincing anyone up here that owned a Ford in the 70's...lol

 

Would that include the twin I-beams too?

 

Well Henry Ford did anyway.

 

If your axle came from the rust belt the back side usually rusts more than the front. The front gets blasted by road debris but the back side collects all the crud. This is particularly true on vehicles used on dirt roads where they use calcium chloride for dust control in the summer.

I wire brushed mine then used Eastwood rust converter and then aluminum paint. I didn't like the aluminum look so I covered that with Rustoleum 2X gloss black.




Spindles are not painted