The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts A run on 2-speed axles?

Mike B was here yesterday and mentioned that the guys at one of our area big truck scrap yards was saying that they've been selling most all 2-speed axles that come in (For the larger trucks, I think Mike said -- hopefully he can fill us in).

Apparently they're all going to South and Central America where a lot of older trucks with 2-speeds are still in service and the parts for them are hard enough to find that buyers are scouring N. American junk yards for them.

I found this an interesting bit of info and a bit cautionary. If true, we all might want to make sure our own parts stashes are well stocked.

Anyone else know anything of this? Mike B -- Anything to add to this?

John

well if they bought our trucks back when and thier breaking them it makes sense that they would buy our scraped ones to fix theirs

I've read on some other forums about central & south American people or their agents buying trucks, parts of trucks and other older heavier equipment and taking them below the border to keep their equipment running longer.

From what I hear, they pay good prices and in cash too.

-W

I have been attending these salvage auctions for over 10 years. I am going to have to miss this one. http://berryhillauctioneers.com/auction.php?aid=534 However, I would venture to say that 3/4 of the lots will go to south and central America. I sold a semi load of stuff that was surplus to me at one of Berryhill's auctions recently, and I don't think a single part stayed in the US. They have lots of cheap labor, people who have learned to improvise through necessity, and they do not worry about safety standards or emissions standards. With about a half a dozen of these sales a year, thats a lot of stuff going out of the country.

John,

Looks like others are hearing and seeing what I was told...they buy our worn out equipment and then take all of the usable parts they can find to keep them running.

Mike B

Lots of old, high-hour, worn-out John Deere combines and tractors make a trip to Mexico. They are not afraid to rebuild almost anything and pay top dollar IN CASH.

Well that's gonna make life difficult down the road for folks. Potentialy have to swap in a single speed or pony up the dough to have parts custom fabricated,... Joy!

Yea that's all I need. It's hard enough to find a junk yard around where I'm at that stocks vehicles older than 1990. (Most junkyard owners are scraping anything older) And now people are coming in out of country to take the few parts in the few junk yards I know have older stuff. Great...

This has been going on for years around here with tractors and farm equipment. I really don't like it but when the buyers flash cash most folks grab it and let their stuff leave the country. Just seems like a bad idea down the road.

I'd say its better its shipped south and refurbished for reuse than shipped east as shredded scrap. At least this way there is hope of finding recognizable parts again...

Yanno, I'd have to agree, I'd rather see these old beasts find a new life South of the border than be melted down to make into cheap Chinese made tools.