MTD Columbia - Need some help reassembling

[mike.]

Woah! I haven't been on here in a while.

Anyway, I have an old MTD Columbia frame that I picked up for free a while back. Unmodified frame, wheels, bars, tank, almost everything except the engine and jack shaft. I want to restore the wheels first. The problem is I do not know how to rebuild the rear wheel. I lost the axle, unfortunately, so I do not have anything to go off of at this point. I need an axle and bearings but I don't know how to fit them in there or which ones to get. The I.D. of the hole in the wheel is 1 1/2 inches on the sprocket side, and a little less, probably 1 3/8 inches on the brake drum side.

I want to put a set of bearings and an axle in there and call it a day. What should I use? Any advice? Trying to do this real cheap.

http://imgur.com/a/WD1G5

First image isnt working for me, but its just a shot of the whole wheel, brake drum side.

 

[mckutzy]

First does it look like there was bearings in there, in the first place?
If bearings have to fit in there you will need exact size. You need a mic or at least a caliper.

 

[mike.]

Yeah there were bearings in there. What kind of bearings do I need? There is no flange or anything to hold them in there. I will figure out the size when I get home from work.

 

[mckutzy]

I dont know what kind of bearings you will need(well any regular sealed ball bearing), but you need to find the size of bore to determine that.

 

[mike.]

Ok so just slap some bearings in there that fit? Because I have access to about 100 different sizes of bearings for free.

 

[mckutzy]

I cant say for sure, but I cant see any shoulder or pocket for bearing to fit(from your pics that is). That what I was getting at.

If something fits and has the right axle dia. then hey, do what ever.
I does look like however, it might be some of those cheap pressed sheet metal flange bearings in there originally, so you might need something with a flange or a snap ring groove in the outer race to hold it in place.

 

[buckeye]

See what ya think of these.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0045E0CWS/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

 

[mckutzy]

Ya something like those...
But now what about the axle and machine? pics?