yerf dog 3203 bearing eater

[buckeye_shorthair]

Hello -
I purchased a yerf dog 3203 last year and have been tinkering on it as the kids find new ways to abuse it. I have replaced 4 front wheel bearing and 3 rims in a years time.
The rims are replaced only because that when the kids bring the kart back the rim has been wallered out and will not hold the new bearing.
Nothing seems bent and I have taken measurements to confirm it. It seems that the shocks load up, and when turning the rim wants to walk off the bearings. I also think the tiny little roller skate type bearing is not heavy enough.
Is there any kind of easy conversion to do to get either a live axle and hub or a different type of rim where I can bolt in a different bearing? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
Russ

 

[KartFab]

Hmm, I've never seen that issue even driving them hard. Do the bearings fit snug in the rim or is there wiggle room when first install them?do you overtighten the nut? Any washers or spacers rubbing on bearing seal?

You can get a piece of 3/4" 16 ga tubing and use it as a spacer inside the rim to make things even more secure, but don't make it too short. You don't want any side load on the bearings when everything is assembled, or it will cause premature bearing failure.

 

[mckutzy]

Let see a pic of the rim and bearing type....
If they are a pressed type bearing... That'll be the problem there...

 

[buckeye_shorthair]

bearing info

The bearings are pressed in, and I have purchased the wheel assembly with the bearings allready in from BMI. Maybe I am over tightening the nut, but it certainly seems that I am getting a side load. Can anybody give me the torque spec? I have even tried to use an oversized heavy washer that is the same diameter of the rim where the bearing is pressed in and running a nut against that washer try to prevent a side load. Should the nuts be locking nuts that hold the wheel on? I know right now mine does not have locking nuts.

 

[KartFab]

Nut types don't matter if you use blue thread locker on them
There are no torque specs because you do not torque the nut on there. The ONLY reason the nut is there is to keep the wheel from sliding off with the bearings. Any side load from the nut is bad. You take the nut and slowly tighten till you can't rock the wheel back and forth on the spindle.
Oversized washers are also bad because the washer could rub on the part of the bearing that is supposed to spin. You can get thin/small washers (machine washers) don't get big fender washers. I even have used the 3/4" X11/16" tube as my "washer" to keep the nut from touching the bearing.

 

[mckutzy]

Sorry I meant...Are the bearings are pressed sheet meta outer race...type... Not a machined precision ball bearing.
Hence the pics...