Axles of evil
May. 26th, 2021 11:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
offcntrThe replacement axle assembly for my broken trike was scheduled to arrive on Thursday. In fact, it showed up two days early, on Tuesday. I tore into the box, got out the pretty blue pipe-thing, and discovered that it wouldn't fit.
Schwinn has changed their trike design since mine was built. The frame is in two pieces, which split into forks that bolt together around the gear and chain assembly. In my older bike, the rear fork fits inside the front fork, held by four bolts. Newer models, like Denise's, have a wider rear fork that fits around the front, and in fact, has two less bolts, as the front end is anchored by the nuts holding in the front gear axle.
I could fit the parts together this way, but the gear axle would be two inches too short, and finding a longer one would probably take me another week or two (if it could be found at all) and also require me to pull the gear and the rear disc brake, and then reinstall them properly afterwards.
I did not want to get into that.
Fortunately, I knew that the axle was available separate from the rear assembly (if only it was in stock), so I figured I should be able to pull it out and transplant it into the existing rear end. Hopefully, without catastrophic damage to the axle itself. Good thing I had the broken one to practice on. I removed the lock nuts on either end, loosened the set screws on the two bushings in the middle so they moved freely, then removed the set screws and square key holding the gear in place.
Then I took a rubber mallet and whacked at it. (This was by far the best part of the whole project.) The axle slowly shifted down the shaft. When the broken end was flush with the bearing, I got out a center punch, and kept hitting it. The gear didn't want to slide, but WD-40 and vise grips managed to persuade it to let go. Kept whacking until the center punch vanished, then got out a second punch to whack on the first. By the time the second punch disappeared into the shaft, the axle was free in the center, and I was able to remove the bushings and gear and pull it out the rest of the way.
With that experience, getting the new axle out was a breeze. Didn't even need the mallet. It slid neatly into place, through the bearings, shaft, bushings and gear (I used the new ones, why not?) and out the other end. Tightened down the lock nuts on the ends, positioned bushings and set them as well. Placing the gear was a little trickier. I know from experience that if it's not lined up properly, the chain will come off or break. I got Denise to hold a straight edge against the front gear, pressed the rear one up tight and turned the set screws into the key.
After that, it was just a matter of replacing the basket, which I'd removed for easier access, and putting on the wheels.
One of which has two broken spokes. Crumbs. Have to finish up tomorrow.
Schwinn has changed their trike design since mine was built. The frame is in two pieces, which split into forks that bolt together around the gear and chain assembly. In my older bike, the rear fork fits inside the front fork, held by four bolts. Newer models, like Denise's, have a wider rear fork that fits around the front, and in fact, has two less bolts, as the front end is anchored by the nuts holding in the front gear axle.
I could fit the parts together this way, but the gear axle would be two inches too short, and finding a longer one would probably take me another week or two (if it could be found at all) and also require me to pull the gear and the rear disc brake, and then reinstall them properly afterwards.
I did not want to get into that.
Fortunately, I knew that the axle was available separate from the rear assembly (if only it was in stock), so I figured I should be able to pull it out and transplant it into the existing rear end. Hopefully, without catastrophic damage to the axle itself. Good thing I had the broken one to practice on. I removed the lock nuts on either end, loosened the set screws on the two bushings in the middle so they moved freely, then removed the set screws and square key holding the gear in place.
Then I took a rubber mallet and whacked at it. (This was by far the best part of the whole project.) The axle slowly shifted down the shaft. When the broken end was flush with the bearing, I got out a center punch, and kept hitting it. The gear didn't want to slide, but WD-40 and vise grips managed to persuade it to let go. Kept whacking until the center punch vanished, then got out a second punch to whack on the first. By the time the second punch disappeared into the shaft, the axle was free in the center, and I was able to remove the bushings and gear and pull it out the rest of the way.
With that experience, getting the new axle out was a breeze. Didn't even need the mallet. It slid neatly into place, through the bearings, shaft, bushings and gear (I used the new ones, why not?) and out the other end. Tightened down the lock nuts on the ends, positioned bushings and set them as well. Placing the gear was a little trickier. I know from experience that if it's not lined up properly, the chain will come off or break. I got Denise to hold a straight edge against the front gear, pressed the rear one up tight and turned the set screws into the key.
After that, it was just a matter of replacing the basket, which I'd removed for easier access, and putting on the wheels.
One of which has two broken spokes. Crumbs. Have to finish up tomorrow.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-27 04:05 pm (UTC)