Where to Buy 1'' Live Axles (CHEAP )

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ond

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Does anybody know a good place to buy a 1'' live axle at a reasonable price ? I looked at 1'' axles from $50.00 to $80.00 :smiley_omg: Thanks in advance.
 
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mckutzy

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If you can find 1" keyed shaft for $50 at a usable length....I'd get it...
That's a good deal...
 
B.M.800

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So gokart axles... certain kind or metal? I realize your racing karts will have some fancy stuff... but for the average live axle yard kart?

Could a person get a length of 1018 and have a machinist buddy cut the keyways?
 
Bbqjoe

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The axle is probably the most important non engine part of your cart. If you get what you pay for, why would anyone want a cheap axle?
 
anickode

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B.M.800 said:
So gokart axles... certain kind or metal? I realize your racing karts will have some fancy stuff... but for the average live axle yard kart?

Could a person get a length of 1018 and have a machinist buddy cut the keyways?
Click to expand...

On my rat wagon kart, my axle and jackshaft are just a piece of 3/4" CRS and I hand cut the keyways with cape chisels and a die grinder. It's also a very short axle and only has a 14" span between bearings, and a top speed of 30. And little wheels.
 
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mckutzy said:
Cutting keyways with a cape chisel.....
Thems the ol old school thing the apprentice has to do long before he's going to touch a mill...

Wow... A+ for effort...
Perhaps you can add a corollary to the already post of the DIY "keyway milling"...
I for one would like to see it..

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19167
Click to expand...

I certainly will the next time I do it. As much as I'd love to, I unfortunately don't have the time to just sit down with a scrap of bar stock and make a demonstration video, but next time I'm working on one, I'll do a little walk-through.

It does take some skill, but more than anything it takes patience. The tools are really simple... A cape chisel, a couple single bevel cold chisels, a ball peen hammer (16 ounce is plenty), and some files. I cheated on the files and used a die grinder, but that can go real bad real quick.
 
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OK so the wheels I ordered are the same as the front wheels Tri Stars , but the rear wheels are keyed and stepped so the axle will also have to be a 1'' keyed to a 3/4 step down. There goes the cheap axles , cheapest I've found so far is $47.00 plus shipping.
But thanks for all the help guys !



 
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GearHeadGarage said:
BMI axles are not zinc coated so it'll rust , but you asked for cheapest
Click to expand...

Is that their only downfall? Are they just as strong? Ironically I almost clicked the button for a 45" earlier, but figured I'd better look up some info. I've got mixed feelings about BMI, but go powersports wouldn't price match, or even try to on anything I asked them about.
 
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ond

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1'' thick steel axle has to be pretty strong weather its from China or the US. The Zinc or Cad plating will make it last a little longer.
 
anickode

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ond said:
1'' thick steel axle has to be pretty strong weather its from China or the US. The Zinc or Cad plating will make it last a little longer.
Click to expand...

I'm still a fan of bluing steel parts to help protect against rust. It ain't zinc plate, but it's cheap and easy with a few precautions. Long skinny parts can be tricky, but can certainly be done. Nice advantage of bluing is that it doesn't add to the thickness, so machined parts stay their true dimensions. It's basically just done with a hot caustic bath, boiling water and red devil lye.
 
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anickode said:
I'm still a fan of bluing steel parts to help protect against rust. It ain't zinc plate, but it's cheap and easy with a few precautions. Long skinny parts can be tricky, but can certainly be done. Nice advantage of bluing is that it doesn't add to the thickness, so machined parts stay their true dimensions. It's basically just done with a hot caustic bath, boiling water and red devil lye.
Click to expand...



Can you point me to a good video, or elaborate a little more? Thanks.
 
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mckutzy

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It's basically a comercial process used for blueing gun parts... There are some less dangerous ways...
You can find these on YouTube, under hot blueing.
 
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