Re: Rear axle spacers?
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 2:10 pm
I don't think that is a good idea!
I don't know what kind of rim and tire combination you are using but on a rail they usually use a minimum off-set rim width to match the tire. Say you are using a 1300 or 1300+ paddles (10” to 15” width) or even worse heavier side wall style tires (probably the same width rim but probably more to the wider size) you’re putting a lot of weight (cantilevered) out on the end of the stub axle and (especially the) outer bearings and their races that way. Steel rims over AL rims are also going to make things worse because of weight.
You could very easily get some axle wobble which can either stretch the stub shaft or break bearings and races because of potential wobble or the stub axle could slide in and out without them being properly torqued in place. You could also (conceivably) do some damage to the CVs and drive axle with that small amount of torque on the axle assembly. At best you can cause wear on the splines of the stub shaft and brake hub/drum and maybe knock the threaded portion of the stub off the stub axle.
Find and fix the problem before you start to use it as otherwise it won’t get fixed until something happens that can cost you more than fixing the problem now.
Sorry but that is my opinion. Periodically/occasionally out on the dunes we see a buggy/rail with a broken hind leg and the shoe sitting beside the buggy with people standing around looking at it.
Lee
I don't know what kind of rim and tire combination you are using but on a rail they usually use a minimum off-set rim width to match the tire. Say you are using a 1300 or 1300+ paddles (10” to 15” width) or even worse heavier side wall style tires (probably the same width rim but probably more to the wider size) you’re putting a lot of weight (cantilevered) out on the end of the stub axle and (especially the) outer bearings and their races that way. Steel rims over AL rims are also going to make things worse because of weight.
You could very easily get some axle wobble which can either stretch the stub shaft or break bearings and races because of potential wobble or the stub axle could slide in and out without them being properly torqued in place. You could also (conceivably) do some damage to the CVs and drive axle with that small amount of torque on the axle assembly. At best you can cause wear on the splines of the stub shaft and brake hub/drum and maybe knock the threaded portion of the stub off the stub axle.
Find and fix the problem before you start to use it as otherwise it won’t get fixed until something happens that can cost you more than fixing the problem now.
Sorry but that is my opinion. Periodically/occasionally out on the dunes we see a buggy/rail with a broken hind leg and the shoe sitting beside the buggy with people standing around looking at it.
Lee