Whoa there Paul! Good pic in fact where I would start is....... a wire brush, get the inside of that bracket clean, it'll give max contact area between the two surfaces, if there is a gap when the bracket is closed up, give it a bit more, SS bolts are not just going to strip that easily, get a decent socket on it with a bar or better still, check the max torque of the SS bolts and use a torque wrench.

Yes to be fair I was using mechano spanners :o

At work we use friction wrenches every day on steel and stainless fittings. If the wrench slips, our secret weapon is good quality emery cloth. We usually use 2 or three strips of 3/4" cloth, run lengthways on the rod, with the abrasive side against the rod. Something around 180-220 grit seems to work the best. A 2" friction wrench will slip without the cloth, but a 200 lb guy can bounce on the end of a 3' long snipe once you put the cloth in. Should be worth a try anyways? Make sure it's decent emery cloth though, as the cheap stuff won't hold up. Wouldn't hurt to clean both surfaces with a piece before you tried either (sand lengthwise of the shaft, not around it). Every little bit helps. Also of note, you'll have to use new pieces whenever you adjust your axle, but a roll should last you quite a while.

If you do end up having to drill holes, I second the cutting fluid remark, makes a huge difference. Almost as important as SAFETY GLASSES when drilling in steel. Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestion Brant! I've got something similar all rigged up and ready to try, but I've used this extra grippy skate grip tape, stuck directly around the axle. Seems to hold well, Just need some wind to test it in the field!

Yeeeehaaar!

Sorted! Plan E worked a treat...cleaned up both surfaces, grip tape stuck to the axle. Been out for a couple of hours today and it hasnt moved at all 😊

:bigok:

Hi guys, thank you all for giving all your options to rectify this problem, and most of them are probably problem solvers...

I never had an issue with the axle slipping, but it was brand new then and I am only 12stone, I would like to give you another option

If you say there is a gap between the plates, then yes try some 12mm zinc coated bolts first, if they were not enough to close the clamps, try opening the holes out to fit 16mm bolts, that will give you much more grunt to tighten up, when all said and done, you must only need a minuscule amount of extra clamping force to secure the axle.

All sorted Carl, I stuck a layer of grip tape around the axle where the clamps are. Tight as a ducS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s chuff now and didn't move a millimetre during a 2 hour session.

Meanwhile I will also try and drop a few pounds off my ever expanding gut

Man that buggy is solid, and such a smooth ride, I love it.

Thanks for the support!!

Paul

Record for that buggy is 57.40mph btw....something for you to aim for

Steady on Paul, steady on.... Let's try and keep it under 50, shall we? :evil:

Definitely under 50 Steve!

I don't think I'll be going anywhere near 57mph with my kites Carl but I'll see what I can do!

My fastest to date is 38mph but that was on flexi buggy at Mablethorpe and I was cr%$ping myself, feeling like I could fall off the thing at any moment. Anything over 25 was a bit hairy in that buggy!

I've been 32 in the superbug and I didn't flinch, so stable and I feel much safer with the high side rails. So next chance I get with decent winds I'll let her run!