3D Flyer

My Feedback: (37)

I am replacing my main gear on my Eagle 63. The kit came with 5/32 wire gear but last night I purchased a Great Planes Dural .40 size aluminum main gear to replace it with. My question is that the instruction say to use a 8-32 bolt with 2 8-32 nuts to make the axle .... ??? I got this hardware but was not to happy with it. First I will have to drill my wheels to accomodate it (they have 5-32 holes). Second, I need to buy flat washers so the wheels will not rub the side of the 8-32 bolt. Why doesn't Great planes make a screw on axle that fits the 8-32 hole that is predrilled inot the gear? Should I get one of their larger screw on axles anyway and drillout the gear? ... if not I will need to drillout my wheels to make the wheel hole go from 5-32 to 8-32. It seems screwy.

Please advise.

brschmid

there is nothing wrong with drilling out wheels. every wheel i have ever used has been drilled to fit. also the specified bolt method works just fine.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I agree with brschmid. This is a common practice. Just make sure you use lock nuts to hold the wheels on because the rotating wheels always make one of the bolts want to come loose.

3D Flyer

My Feedback: (37)

I couldn't find any lock nuts but was planning on using CA on the bolts ... ?? Is this OK?

brschmid

or if you have room, use 4 total nuts. that is how mine is set up, the outer nuts lock teh inners in place.

CA should work too, as long as you don't get it on the axle

3D Flyer

My Feedback: (37)

good idea ... maybe I'll do both CA and the 4 bolts....thanks.

brschmid

that might be overkill, test it first(the nuts), you may want to change your wheels someday

i fixed my previous, i meant to type nuts, but types bolts

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

I would use blue locktite before CA. That way you can get them off again if need be.

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

All:

My way is to use a piece of brass tubing a little longer than the thickness of the wheel. Put the tubing over the threads, slide the wheel on (yes, you have to drill it a bit larger yet) with flat washers on each side, and tighten the nut against the end.

This greatly decreases the wear on the inside of the wheel also, having the flat surface of the tube to turn on instead of the sawing action of the screw thread.

Bill.

3D Flyer

My Feedback: (37)

Well, it turns out that I used the 4 bolt approach with the blue locktite. I am very happy so far with this approach and the assembly is holding up. I also see merit inthe brass tubing approach and I may just use that on my next project. Thanks to everyone for your great ideas. It really helped me out.



Happy Flying!

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Check here:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...66#post1342651

for my favorite method of open wheel mounting.

Bill..

linclogs

If you're replacing wire gear with dural gear, why not use something like the DuBro bolt-on axel shafts? I'm surprised no one mentioned those - or am I missing something here?