Post by beetlesbailey on Jun 30, 2012 15:52:07 GMT 10
Hi All
I was looking at a thread on carapark coupling where a member was looking for parts for his van's coupling when I remembered this disaster my dad had with his adjustable coupling.
He had a 1970 Failane with 100,000 miles on the clock (just run in)and his mate towed their horses to the Warumbungles for an endurance ride over 2 days.
For the return trip they filled the tank with petrol and hooked the horse float on and double checked everything.
About 2 kms down the road they drove through a paved causway and the horses leaned back which lifted the coupling off the ball.
Then it dropped to the road and while dad's mate slowed down, the coupling continued under the car till it reached the end of the chain.
Of course while the coupling is sliding along the road it caused sparkes and before it reached the end of the chain the petrol tank was torn open by the brake lever .
Result: Two burned horses eventually put down.
I burned mate tryng to free horses.
All saddles etc. lost in fire
Fairlane burned from windscreen back.
Horse float burned.
Nervous break down for Dad and, his mate was back
home in U.S. in 3 days after living here for years.
The reason the float came off?
Under the adjusting screw and locking nut which were checked by Dad a couple of times is supposed to be the 'tounge' that goes under the ball.
WELL IT WASNT THERE!
IT HAD BROKEN OFF and fallen in the grass where they unhooked 2 days earlier (some one found it) .
Now who do you know who checks under the coupling on a regular basis? PLEASE DO.
Check the length of your safety chains and make them as short as possible when crosed.
Always cross them.
If you only have one, weld on another so if it comes off it will drop onto the crossed chains and you may not have a big bon fire.
For added safety weld a good sized steel rod in a loop across the front of your 'A' frame and one on your tow bar then fit a 2"'D' shackle between the two.
With is set up done right you can turn any angle and the van wont drop if the coupling or the towball fails.
Beetles
I was looking at a thread on carapark coupling where a member was looking for parts for his van's coupling when I remembered this disaster my dad had with his adjustable coupling.
He had a 1970 Failane with 100,000 miles on the clock (just run in)and his mate towed their horses to the Warumbungles for an endurance ride over 2 days.
For the return trip they filled the tank with petrol and hooked the horse float on and double checked everything.
About 2 kms down the road they drove through a paved causway and the horses leaned back which lifted the coupling off the ball.
Then it dropped to the road and while dad's mate slowed down, the coupling continued under the car till it reached the end of the chain.
Of course while the coupling is sliding along the road it caused sparkes and before it reached the end of the chain the petrol tank was torn open by the brake lever .
Result: Two burned horses eventually put down.
I burned mate tryng to free horses.
All saddles etc. lost in fire
Fairlane burned from windscreen back.
Horse float burned.
Nervous break down for Dad and, his mate was back
home in U.S. in 3 days after living here for years.
The reason the float came off?
Under the adjusting screw and locking nut which were checked by Dad a couple of times is supposed to be the 'tounge' that goes under the ball.
WELL IT WASNT THERE!
IT HAD BROKEN OFF and fallen in the grass where they unhooked 2 days earlier (some one found it) .
Now who do you know who checks under the coupling on a regular basis? PLEASE DO.
Check the length of your safety chains and make them as short as possible when crosed.
Always cross them.
If you only have one, weld on another so if it comes off it will drop onto the crossed chains and you may not have a big bon fire.
For added safety weld a good sized steel rod in a loop across the front of your 'A' frame and one on your tow bar then fit a 2"'D' shackle between the two.
With is set up done right you can turn any angle and the van wont drop if the coupling or the towball fails.
Beetles