|
|
|
|
Dan's Web Site
|
Date: 3-1-2007
|
Number of Hours: 2.00
|
Manual Reference:
|
Brief Description: Install Right Main Wheel on Axle; Drill / Cotter P
|
|
I thought putting the wheels on the axles was going to be a piece of cake. Nope. Actually, installing the bearings and the wheel on the axle and torqueing the axel nut was no big deal once I purchased an 1-1/2" socket from Cremo's. The difficulty was drilling the 1/8" hole in the steel axle for the cotter pin. You can't just drill through the holes in the axle nut because they are recessed below the plane of the tire. So, you have to center punch the axle through the holes, remove everything, and then drill the axle. I thought it would be wise to use the tiniest bit I had - 1/64" and then work up. That worked great cutting through the steel up until the point that I broke the bit off in the hole and couldn't get it out. I had lubed everything up with tapping oil but it still broke. I couldn't remove the bit or start a new hole in the exact same spot since the bit is hardened steel and also spun when I did actually get a bit on it. The only thing I could do was drill it from the other side. I started with a #40 bit and drilled the opposing hole. Getting this large of a bit started on a threaded steel pipe is very difficult. I buggered up some of the threads that I had to use a needle file to clean up. Anyway, once I had the hole on the other side drilled, I used a 6" #40 bit to come at the messed up hole from the inside. My aim was just a little off in that the new hole as maybe 1/32" more inboard to the original hole. No big deal, the old broken off 1/64" drill bit is in there to stay. Once I had a #40 hole through the axle I installed the nut and used the pre-drilled holes in the nut to enlage and better align the holes in the axle to #30. Off came the nut, on went the bearings, wheel, and nut. After torquing the nut I installed the cotter pin. One wheel done...
|
|
Right wheel on axle with cotter pin through axle nut
|
|
Inboard view of right wheel on gear leg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2001-2024 Matronics. All Rights Reserved.
|
