shortening axles

[bobcat fan]

i would like to shorten some axles for a tractor project. how would i go about this i have access to a machine shop but cant recut splines

 

[rus_geek]

Usually cut a chunk out of the middle and weld it back together, keeping the original ends. What kind of axle are we talking, though?

-rus-

 

[bobcat fan]

toyota corolla axle

 

[brokenot]

How to proceed depends on how narrow you need to go. Ford is one manufacturer that has been kind of famous over the years for building some of their rear ends the don't have the pumpkin in the center. That means that one side has an axle that's a few inches shorter than the other. We narrowed a Ford station wagon rear end years ago for a project by obtaining a second used "short side" axle from the junkyard, then cutting and shortening the "long side" axle tube on the rear end to match it.

These guys will make you custom length axles for popular rear end applications if you want to narrow the housing on your own. If you don't want entirely new custom length axles, they can shorten and re-spline your used axles....providing there's no taper on the axle shaft that would eliminate the possibility of re-splining due to a lack of material to machine:

Moser Engineering - Moser Engineering - Home

Here's an old Panzer lawn and garden tractor. These came from the factory with really narrow automotive rear ends. Chrysler stuff I believe...

(not my photos, just some I found elsewhere on the 'net)

I don't think differential failures were anything Panzer owners ever had to be concerned about.

:thumbsup:

 

[bobcat fan]

thanks for that i cant obtain other axles as they cost a fortune here i was luck enough to have a corolla axle given to me and found the one on ebay for 50 but the scrap yards wanted around 250 for any axle. i was thinking if i took out the axle i could turn one side down drill out the other and then when i weld them the would be straight but not sure how to do outside tubes.

 

[slowzuki]

Those japanese axles housings are just steel, if you care about getting them perfect, you make an alignment rod and machine pucks to go in all 4 bearing locations. Cut the tubes down and line it up, weld her up.

If you aren't narrowing it much, and close is ok, you grind the welds near the brake flanges, once through the tube, the flanges can be knocked off. Cut your tube down very square and put the flange back into the tube, line it up as best you can and weld it.

 

[LD1]

thanks for that i cant obtain other axles as they cost a fortune here i was luck enough to have a corolla axle given to me and found the one on ebay for 50 but the scrap yards wanted around 250 for any axle. i was thinking if i took out the axle i could turn one side down drill out the other and then when i weld them the would be straight but not sure how to do outside tubes.

You might get better advice if we knew where "here" was.

Moser does good work and are affordable. I had an input/output shaft shortened, turned down, and re-splined by them for a double 203-205 t-case I was working on. Only cost me $65 plus shipping.

But again, If we dont know where "here" is, that may not be good advice to you if you are half way around the world and it would cost you a fortune to ship.

 

[Craig Clayton]

I did a axle cut down out of a Ford Pint axle to built a Power King look alike. I cut the outer tubes and took out the piece and rewelded. For the axle I cut out the middle and ground both ends like a very blunt chisel and welded with 6011. The way I found to keep them straight was to check often but use the welding to pull them straight. The reason I went with 1/8 " 6011 is it did not lay down alot of material per pass ie less distortion.
Craig Clayton

 

[fbson395]

Since you have access to a machine shop. Try This, Cut the axles then thread a male a female thread on the ends to the length you need. Leave a 45 on the ends so you have a grove to weld into. You will then have a straight axle and it should work just fine. Hope this helps.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Bobcat Fan
If you have access to a Bridgeport style mill, and a simple indexer you should be able to cut, re cut any spline you want..........

Good luck
Wyo

 

[Craig Clayton]

I am going by memory again and I made a slight error yesterday. As I remember the splines are hardened and tempered or they would wear out. How are you going to cut them? You anneal them but then you would have to harden and retemper.
Craig Clayton

 

[not2old]

thanks for that i cant obtain other axles as they cost a fortune here i was luck enough to have a corolla axle given to me and found the one on ebay for 50 but the scrap yards wanted around 250 for any axle. i was thinking if i took out the axle i could turn one side down drill out the other and then when i weld them the would be straight but not sure how to do outside tubes.

I can't imagine paying anywhere near that kind of money for an axle. Do the auto wreckers in your area wear masks when they quote those prices? Look on Craigs List or somewhere similar for someone wrecking their own vehicle or a back yard guy.

 

[bobcat fan]

i know prices are outrages in australia

 

[fbson395]

That's true but if I recall the shaft Dia. Is smaller after the splined area.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Its simple, Ive narrowed a few and fixed a few snapped ones. THe best way to do it on the cheap and quick is like this. Take the axle and cut out the amount desired with a saw or torch allowing for your kerf and dress up tolerances. Then face the ends of the cuts and center dril land ream them to a tight tolerance for a 3/8ths or so hardened dowel pin. Then chamfer the edges for a weld. Press them together and smoke em. I have done one on a a Deutz tractor with a snapped axle and a several omebuilt machinery axles and log loaders. Most axles are fairly soft in the middle.

 

[fbson395]

Yes, that will work as well. Although I prefer to cut the axles on a lathe and steady rest to obtain a straight cut. This allows the axle's to match up and be put back being true. This job can be done in many different ways. How it's done will many times depend on the tools you have to work with.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Most of the axles I cut down have a pretty good taper. I ususally take great amount out and a torch works good. I just dress it up in the lathe and then drill and ream Ido use the the steady res to hold the end Im about to drill. Ive found on some axles it helps to put the weld in a small fire. I have an old forge I heat ill build a fire in and let the axle rest in t over a few hours.

 

[fbson395]

Sounds Good to me!:thumbsup: