Originally Posted by
JSF-TC
David,
Make your own.
Order the 3/8" rod and clips from McMaster-Carr. Cut to length. Spin it in a pillar drill and use a cut-off disk in a Dremel to make the groove.
I did exactly that for a replacement nose gear pin for my SM Xtreme Hawk. A $4 part from SM but with $25 postage.
I can now make them for about 50c each.
The rate I go through them I can save enough for a new plane.
Paul
Agreed!
I have been making wheel axles out of music wire this way for years. I have even used a hand drill on occasion.
Use the extra thin cut off wheels (the ones that break really easily) for smaller E-clips.
I usually cut the groove first, then cut the axle to length. That way if I screw up the groove by cutting too deep I can just cut it off flush and start over without wasting very much material.