Fallenleopards Hubs

[OzFab]

A bit over a week ago, fellow Aussie member fallenleopard posted a thread asking about wheel hubs:
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17786
just in case you're interested.

After posting on the thread, I sent her a PM suggesting she have some made or, if that proved to be too expensive, I could make them for her as I have access to not one, but two lathes.

After a week of PMs back & forth, I received a package containing two hubs (one front, one rear) & a wheel half. Right, off to the steel merchant...

Picked up a piece of 5mm plate big enough to make the 4 flanges, 6" of 36mm hollow bar for the rear hubs & 6" of 2" hollow bar for the fronts & got change from $20.

Off to my mate Pete's house, handed him the chunk of 36mm & the rear hub & said "make that look like two of them." He knew what I meant. The biggest challenge with the rear hubs is the taper that's used as a stop (smart idea actually) which runs the length of the hub.

After that I headed home & marked out the plate.

Then it was off to my other lathe which lives in the factory of a friend who lets me use it after all the workers have gone home. As a result, time is limited so, I didn't get much done today, but I did get a chance to cut the plate into 4 pieces. I'll get a lot more done tomorrow.

 

[landuse]

Nice. I am glad you are helping out. Go kart parts can get pricey if you have to import, or buy imports, all the time.

Good on you

 

[OzFab]

Yeah, I know what it's like, that's why I offered

 

[Mcbreja]

That's really cool of you to help her out like that.

 

[greaser]

Class act man looks like a good start.

 

[OzFab]

One (almost) done, three to go

Well, I got a lot more done today: after parting off a piece, it went back into the chuck where I cut it to length & squared off the end. Then I set the depth & bored one side to fit the bearing, dressed the centre & the outside, flipped it around & repeated the process on the other end. Then I cut a small step in one end to act as a stop for the flange plate; that way I know it's dead even.

I also found out today that my camera is no good for close-ups

 

[OzFab]

After I finished the centre, I started on the flange plate. After centring one in the 4 jaw chuck I started drilling holes, progressively getting bigger. Once I'd used the biggest bit I could find I cut away the rest with a cutting tool... & cut too much; 0.7mm means a lot when it has to be centred. That's easy fixed though; I haven't cut the other centre yet, I'll just make the step a bit smaller.

Ok, on to plate #2: repeat the above process up until the point just before I made the hole too big. Once I got to a certain point, I'd trial fit the centre after every cut until I had it just the right size.

That's all for now. Monday I should get the other centre cut, then I can start on cutting the plates down...

 

[jman231994]

You are a legend, to put it simply. Everything is looking wonderful, cant wait to see it when she gets it on her kart

 

[r_chez_08]

Nice one!
I made my own hubs but did not use a lathe. They are slightly off true.

 

[Nodroz]

Pfft, that looks very nice! They look like they have been made by a robot, who never makes any mistakes. Crazy stuff!

Is there going to be a keyway in them?

 

[jeremy schmidt]

may i ask what kind of lathe that is? i am going to buy one just what kind.

 

[jonboy]

WOW! Looks great! Ever thought of replicating some of these other obsolete or hard to find hubs?

 

[Mcbreja]

I love seeing work from folks who know what they're doing.

 

[anderkart]

Nice job!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Good on ya, man- you are a credit to our community!

 

[OzFab]

Pfft, that looks very nice! They look like they have been made by a robot, who never makes any mistakes. Crazy stuff!

Is there going to be a keyway in them?

As post #7 proves, I do make mistakes, I'm only human, I'm just a good one

These are the front hubs, I'll get to the rears

may i ask what kind of lathe that is? i am going to buy one just what kind.

It's a big, expensive, industrial machine worth somewhere around $50k (tooling is extra). A freind of mine picked up an old lathe a few years ago but it still cost him a few grand.

WOW! Looks great! Ever thought of replicating some of these other obsolete or hard to find hubs?

As stated above & in previous thread, I don't own this machine, I have limited access to it. If I owned one I would consider it but, in the US, there's an abundance of available replacement parts; over here, we don't have that luxury.

Good on ya, man- you are a credit to our community!

Thanks. It is a bit above & beyond the call but, true, this is what we're all about, That's why this is the best forum

 

[Fallenleopard]

Looking great so far, very gratefull for the help
My kart will be rolling sooner than I thought

Fabroman you are a true Aussie!

 

[OzFab]

I just thought I'd check in & let everyone know I have been super busy over the last few weeks &, when I wasn't, I couldn't get near the lathe, hence the lack of updates.

I plan to check in with my buddy, Pete, in the next day or two & see how he's going with the rears &, all going well, I will get some more done on the fronts next week

 

[OzFab]

So, again, I've had one of those weeks but, I did manage to get the second centre finished, plate tacked on, ready for welding on Monday. Then I'll cut the plate to size & drill the holes for the studs. The fronts should be done by this time next week...

As for the rears: I called in on Pete; between work, a wife & 4 kids & his own interests he hasn't had much time. First off he had to make a boring bar which is now done; cutting starts on Monday. With a bit of luck, he should be able to knock them out in a few hours then I can cut the plates to fit.

That's the thing with lathe work; most of the time is spent setting up the tooling, the actual cutting doesn't take that long. This last Wednesday I went to attempt to finish the second front. I just finished setting up (20 minutes work), half way through the first cut & my phone rings; urgent call, I've gotta go. Went back Friday & had it done in under an hour with the same setup time involved.

I'll get some pics up once the fronts are welded...

 

[jman231994]

Take as long as you want

It gives me more time to get my kart done so i can race her hahahahahaha

For both Fallenleopard and myself next week is freedom, HSC design and tech will be handed in hahaha. Then I'll start learning how to use the lathe at school, one of my friends does metals and engineering at TAFE and I'm sure if I nag him enough he'll teach me how to use the lathe haha.....So there may be some questions for you from me in the coming weeks