Happy New Year to all.
I have read a number of threads about how to remove the gear off of the rear axles. Several people discuss using an old hub with a press to prevent damaging the threads of the axle. I am struggling with envisioning how that would be set up. Does anyone have pictures to share?
Second question is how do you get the, now removed gear, onto the new axle.... How do you start it and get the key to line up?
I have learned thru reading a few threads that I need to measure the I.D. of the gear and O.D. of the axle. That will give me an indication if i need to make any adjustments to the axle before attempting to put the gear on.
But where do I go from there?
Pictures would be of great help.
Scott Batta.
You do not use a hub, all that would do is destroy your threads for sure. You install the AXLE NUT that came off that axle or some other axle or any nut that will fit the outer end of the axle.
Scott Batta.
You do not use a hub, all that would do is destroy your threads for sure. You install the AXLE NUT that came off that axle or some other axle or any nut that will fit the outer end of the axle.
These are a few of the links I have read.
Another project I've been working on
Removing axle gears
Rear axle gear & removal
Pictures are better than words for this. Here are some shots to illustrate the basic theory. I Don't happen to have any gears handy, so we'll pretend my hand is the gear.
First you have to press the gear farther onto the axle shaft so you can remove the retainers. As Dave says, if you're saving the shaft to use be sure there's a nut on the threads to protect them. If the shaft isn't good enough to keep, you can cut it down to a couple of inches. Then you don't have to worry about bending it and it's easier to handle.
Once the retainers are out, press the shaft out of the gear.
A socket just a little smaller than the diameter of the shaft will push it through.
What I'm doing here is just to illustrate the principle. It would be very smart to make a fixture like Stan's to keep things contained if something slips.
If you are removing the axle gear you are probably not trying to save the axle. Chop the axle with your chop saw about an inch behind the gear. Press the stub out from the back. If you try to press the full length of the axle it will spring and make it hard to press the gear off. Whack the axle and it's a 2 minute job to get the gear off the stub. Taper the point of the key when you press the gear on the new axle so it is easier to line up. Grease the end of the axle and the inside of the gear before pressing it on. Make sure the inside of that gear is clean, too. Otherwise it can gall and ruin the gear and the new axle.
Take an axle nut and screw it on castle side in so it is flush with the end of the axle. If the axle sticks out it will ruin the end. If the nut sticks out it will ruin the threads.
Don't use a hub as a support for the new axle unless you are absolutely sure the taper is clean and correct. Any way you do it you are going to stick the hub and axle together and will have a devil of a time getting them back apart. You will probably need a hub puller to get them apart. If you want something to keep from putting pressure on the end of the axle, make a hole with a chamfer that the axle will almost go through, put the axle in it and press against that hole so you are not putting pressure against the taper.
Be careful pressing on those axles without something to keep it from exploding out of the press. You can get hurt pretty easily by an axle coming out that has a lot of pressure on it and the end of the axle will hit you right about where you don't want to get hit if you want to continue to be able to stand up for relief when you are out in the woods. At the very least, throw a chain around your press to keep it from coming out. It only takes once to get hurt.
I take the old axle and cut it off till only three inches of axles there, then take the new one and it presses on real nice, don't waste the time with the old ones very few are any good!
You can place the end of the axle shaft on an oak block, then using a socket drive the gear down and remove the two c-clips. Now with a puller you can remove the gear. I suppose you could reverse the procedure and drive the gear on another shaft, however, I have always got someone with a press to install the gears. One word of caution when using a press. You have a lot of force on a skinny shaft. At least one has been known to pop out of the press and sail across the room.
I built a "containment" cage for pressing gears back onto axles - photo tomorrow.
I use a press and hub. To start you must push the gear down on the axle to expose the rings. I place the tapered end of the axle in a hub slathered with antiseize and press down on the axle gear with a pipe nipple that fits the recess just center of the gear teeth. The hub is placed on plates so you are not pressing on the threaded end of the axle. After removing the rings, I press the axle out of the gear by placing two plates under the gear shoulder and pressing on the axle stub. Then I remove the key. When installing the new axle, I first remove the hub from the old by tapping it off with a hammer. If its stuck hard, which I have not experienced personally, screw a nut on the threads to protect them and press the end off using plates under the hub. Once the hub is removed, I place the new axle in it and, after installing the key, press the new gear on with the pipe nipple so the ring grooves are exposed. I finally insert the rings and press the axle stub down thru the gear just enough to snug the rings in place.
In the past I didn't use a hub but a nut on the threaded end. I hate to report that I've bent two axles doing that.
Don't forget to post that picture of your "containment cage", Steve.
Could you heat the axle gear to make installation easier?
Phil
To prevent the axle from bending I use a length of 1&1/2" square tubing with 3/16" wall. Make sure everything is lined up square in the press before applying pressure.
I'll try that, Ken. My new axle measures .0005" larger than the original. Hopefully, that will still allow the gear to press on(?). I tried once, but it didn't budge, and I was afraid I'd bend the new axle.
Phil
Here's a link to a thread showing the containment cage:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/411944/499418.html?1417743150