Wheel bearings?

[CobraII351]

A friend and I bought a Murray HardDrive. We got a great deal but it needed some work. The 2 of the 4 front wheel bearings were siezed and the 3rd was almost, only 1 was actually spinning as it should. We got new wheels with bearings and tires for it, But we had an idea instead of just tightening the nut down we bough some thin aluminum tube that just fit over the spindle bolt. We measured the inside to inside distance between the wheel bearings and cut the tube to be a few thousandths longer. Put the tube between the bearings and reinstalled the second bearing. Now with a thin spacer on the inside and outside of the wheel and the tube in between the bearing the inner races are locked together. There is less chance of overtightening the bearings and causing them to fail prematurely.

Does anyone see a downside or a reason NOT to do this?

 

[r_chez_08]

I have seen quad wheel hubs like this from factory. It should work well.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Sounds good to me!

 

[sparky]

Sounds like you considered slight expansion from heat.Non tapered bearings do not like to get ''side loaded''

 

[CobraII351]

Exactly it's too easy to screw up roller bearings by tightening the spindle nut too tight. I kind of got the idea from rebuilding the rear axle in my car, the "crush sleave" that is used between the two pinion bearnings does the smae thing. Locks the inside races so they don't spin on the pinion.

 

[jamyers]

Exactly it's too easy to screw up roller bearings by tightening the spindle nut too tight. I kind of got the idea from rebuilding the rear axle in my car, the "crush sleave" that is used between the two pinion bearnings does the smae thing. Locks the inside races so they don't spin on the pinion.

Sounds like a great idea - really, all ball-bearings ought to have such an arrangement to keep from side-loading them. (lazy/cheap manufacturers. grr!)