tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195118970059599158.post2239023288741937469..comments2023-06-25T03:36:23.277-07:00Comments on The life of a pioneering photographer.: Failing Fuso Santek 2Michel Szulc Krzyzanowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01206870014691669677noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195118970059599158.post-56977042101070504652007-06-24T07:46:00.000-07:002007-06-24T07:46:00.000-07:00Michel;sorry to read you are in such a predicament...Michel;<BR/>sorry to read you are in such a predicament with your<BR/>vehicle. Based on your description, the bolts have<BR/>been overloaded. Typically, bolts used in a fashion<BR/>that has bending occurr in the thread area fail<BR/>readily.<BR/><BR/>A simple suggestion to get you back to the builder in<BR/>the USA.<BR/><BR/>Have a local mechanic, or yourself, replace the broken<BR/>bolts with new US made grade 8 bolts, then one at a<BR/>time replace the unbroken bolts on the other side with<BR/>grade 8 bolts. These are the strongest bolts available<BR/>readily. Do not re-drill the holes to a bigger size,<BR/>as that may lead to disagreement of who was at fault<BR/>for what.<BR/><BR/>Grade 8 bolts are marked on the head with 6 hash marks<BR/>or lines radiating outward from the center.<BR/><BR/>Save all the bits and pieces for analysis by the<BR/>manufacturer. Save the unbroken bolts also<BR/><BR/>If you have questions, I am happy to help. I will<BR/>check this e-mail again in 3 hours to see if you<BR/>replied.<BR/><BR/>Good luck;<BR/>AlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195118970059599158.post-68627774177254284502007-06-22T20:34:00.000-07:002007-06-22T20:34:00.000-07:00Michel,I think that you should call it an "adventu...Michel,<BR/>I think that you should call it an "adventure" vehicle instead of an expedition vehicle. Your travels in it are part of the experience!<BR/> Failure indicates that the connection is not adequate. Read www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/fastners/index.asp for a good explanation of bolt grades. I'd make sure that you're using grade 8 bolts. One supplier is mutualscrew.com.<BR/> I think that a larger diameter is necessary also, and if needed access holes could be cut in the outboard side of the square boxes to allow drill access to enlarge the bolt holes on the inboard side of the support boxes.<BR/> I think you should look for support from Santek to resolve this as they were responsible for many of these choices.<BR/> Welding the support to the frame rail is an option, but I wouldn't do this without a well qualified certified welder.<BR/> Your wood blocking will defeat the whole idea of your anti-torsion box suspension? Is that really what you want to do?<BR/> In the meantime scribe a mark from the frame rail across the square support box so that you can visually see if the bolts start bending and the parts begin shifting.<BR/> I enjoy following your travels, Best Wishes.<BR/><BR/>Don Howe<BR/>2002 LD MB<BR/>Long IslandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195118970059599158.post-84300192383671261112007-06-22T10:27:00.000-07:002007-06-22T10:27:00.000-07:00Howdy Michel, When I inspected the construction of...Howdy Michel, When I inspected the construction of the Fuso Santek months ago. I ask Paul about putting air Matts in the spot that you placed the boards. Firefighters and rescue personell use these air matts to lift vehicles in accident situations.They could be adjusted according to driving and road conditions via an onboard compressor and gauge in the cab. I think truckers may also have a system for this situation, that could be adapted for the santek. I was also curious if the bolts were case hardend steel?, RobertAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195118970059599158.post-77379078166837906432007-06-22T08:41:00.000-07:002007-06-22T08:41:00.000-07:008mm / .3" = 5/16" bolt(actual values are: .31250",...8mm / .3" = 5/16" bolt<BR/>(actual values are: .31250", 7.9375 mm)<BR/><BR/>Shear strength of 5/16" bolt: <BR/>Grade 5: 5,750 lbs.<BR/>Grade 8: 6,980 lbs.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06193543316251273424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3195118970059599158.post-77553976440515258472007-06-22T08:16:00.000-07:002007-06-22T08:16:00.000-07:00It is possible that the bolts had loosened a bit a...It is possible that the bolts had loosened a bit and the slop caused them to start bending and then breaking. I would recommend that you periodically check the tightness of these bolts until you are satisfied that they aren't going anywhere at all. Tight bolts (of sufficient grade) should not have been a problem at all.<BR/><BR/>Whatever you do, don't let this hinder your joy of the vehicle. Everything happened for a reason at exactly when it was supposed to happen. It's fixed now, and chances are you'll never have this problem again--ever.<BR/><BR/>As to the "miserable" town. People live there. What is thought of as "miserable" by us is "home" to them.Ken Norton - Image 66 Mediahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914354005286967942noreply@blogger.com