Threaded front axle issue

[TheHammer28]

Hello - I have a Yerf Dog go-kart that I've owned and ridden for a couple years. Recently, I had some front tire issues, so I decided to just buy two new rim/tire combos. The wheels mount directly onto the front axles, which are just 5/8" fine thread rod. The issue is that now one of the nuts that secure the wheel onto the rod screws tighter and tighter onto the rod until the wheel cannot turn anymore and the other unscrews itself and falls off, based on what side the wheel is on. Can someone give me some insight into what I'm doing wrong? The wheels I bought were replacement lawnmower tires of the exact same size. The old and new rims looked the same to me and I used the same low profile nuts that were originally on the cart to secure them, until one unscrewed itself. I now have locking nuts on (pictured). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[G.W]

Hello - I have a Yerf Dog go-kart that I've owned and ridden for a couple years. Recently, I had some front tire issues, so I decided to just buy two new rim/tire combos. The wheels mount directly onto the front axles, which are just 5/8" fine thread rod. The issue is that now one of the nuts that secure the wheel onto the rod screws tighter and tighter onto the rod until the wheel cannot turn anymore and the other unscrews itself and falls off, based on what side the wheel is on. Can someone give me some insight into what I'm doing wrong? The wheels I bought were replacement lawnmower tires of the exact same size. The old and new rims looked the same to me and I used the same low profile nuts that were originally on the cart to secure them, until one unscrewed itself. I now have locking nuts on (pictured). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Do those wheels have bearings or bushings?

What is happening is the rotation of the tires is causing the nut to spin in the rotational direction of your tire.

 

[TheHammer28]

Do those wheels have bearings or bushings?

What is happening is the rotation of the tires is causing the nut to spin in the rotational direction of your tire.

Thank you. I'm no expert on the bushing vs bearing question, but I can tell you that the wheels have a grease fitting on them, which would suggest to me that they have bearings. However, the center does not spin at all, which makes me think bushing. Not sure if my logic is sound there. Yes, I know that the rotation is causing the issue. I just don't know how/why I never had this issue with the old wheels while they seemed functionally the same. Not sure how these wheels would ever work like this, unless they were meant to be used on a vehicle that had one axle reverse threaded. Is the answer to simply use wheels with a spinning hub in the center? I'd rather just convert the front axles to 4 lug hubs. Just not sure if this type of conversion kit is readily available for this type of cart.

 

[panchothedog]

Put your new tires back on the original wheels that worked for a few years. Then use lock nuts on the axle. This has nothing to do with thread direction on your axles. Lawnmower wheels are not intended for use on go karts. Your original wheels probably came with the kart, have the correct bearings, and just need tires. DON'T EVER put a non locking nut on a wheel axle.

 

[Thepartsguy]

Yes you need thick wall spacers in between the hub. on both of my streakers and all the bikes I can go take the spacers out and crank the wheel nut till it wrecks the bearings and locks the wheel tight. Then you can unloosen the locked wheel install new bearings leave it loose so it spins real free and I “could” see how that would unthread very easily. I Always wrecked wheel bearings cranking them tight till they locked and loosening just till they spun and calling it good... now with the spacers I can really crank on the wheel it and it doesn’t allow the wheel to have a bunch of slop. Haven’t had anymore trouble with bearings either! thanks again denny!!

 

[BrownStainRacing]

Hello - I have a Yerf Dog go-kart that I've owned and ridden for a couple years. Recently, I had some front tire issues, so I decided to just buy two new rim/tire combos. The wheels mount directly onto the front axles, which are just 5/8" fine thread rod. The issue is that now one of the nuts that secure the wheel onto the rod screws tighter and tighter onto the rod until the wheel cannot turn anymore and the other unscrews itself and falls off, based on what side the wheel is on. Can someone give me some insight into what I'm doing wrong? The wheels I bought were replacement lawnmower tires of the exact same size. The old and new rims looked the same to me and I used the same low profile nuts that were originally on the cart to secure them, until one unscrewed itself. I now have locking nuts on (pictured). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Those washers are too big.
They are grabbing the outer part of the bearing and wheel hub, turning the nuts.

Take those washers off and get more pics of the bearings.

 

[TheHammer28]

Those washers are too big.
They are grabbing the outer part of the bearing and wheel hub, turning the nuts.

Take those washers off and get more pics of the bearings.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

No bearings, bushings

 

[Snaker]

Yes you need thick wall spacers in between the hub. on both of my streakers and all the bikes I can go take the spacers out and crank the wheel nut till it wrecks the bearings and locks the wheel tight. Then you can unloosen the locked wheel install new bearings leave it loose so it spins real free and I “could” see how that would unthread very easily. I Always wrecked wheel bearings cranking them tight till they locked and loosening just till they spun and calling it good... now with the spacers I can really crank on the wheel it and it doesn’t allow the wheel to have a bunch of slop. Haven’t had anymore trouble with bearings either! thanks again denny!!View attachment 139339

Yeap, this is likely your problem.
Simple cart wheels are designed to fit on threadless axles where you insert a cotter pin with a loose fit and allow the wheel to float around a bit.

The threaded axle relies on a stack of parts that the nut tightens down on.
From washers to bearing inner races to the inboard axle shoulder.
The whole stack all gets tightened down by the nut.
But that stack also needs a spacer tube inside the wheel between the bearing inner races.
Otherwise the bearings get laterally stressed when the nut is tightened and bind up

If you take the new wheel off, you will likely see that the inner spacer tube is missing.