Aftermarket parts and why you need a lathe!!

admin

As some of you know I drive old VW MK1 rabbit diesels. A couple month ago I picked up a $500 pickup and I've been running the hell out of it. I thought I had a bad wheel bearing, but after I pulled it apart it was obvious the CV axle was bad. So I called around and found a new aftermarket axle for $60 out the door. It came well boxed, looked right, and slid right in. Nothing like in the old days when a reman axle would have dinged splines. Unfortunately, after I torqued it down it no longer would spin. Huh? I pulled it back apart and discovered the output hub was contacting the spindle knuckle. A quick measure and I discovered it was 2mm oversized. So rather than take it back I decided to put it in the lathe and turn it down. Not sure what the steel is but it was hard turning. I've never turned an assembled CV axle so I thought some of you might enjoy a few pictures. I wasn't sure how it would go but about 10 minutes later I had it back on the truck. I couldn't even return it in the time it took to fix. I often wonder how anyone gets by without a lathe.
Reply:I bought some rebuilt cv axles once for a project (was just putting longer axles in them).  When I finished with the two axles, I had one ball left over....  I guess someone doing the original rebuild lost track and lost an extra in the grease!  I also got a caliper from napa that had the wrong size bracket with it and had to re-use my old one.  I guess it's all part of the fun of it, and the lathe just makes it that much more fun (instead of a pita)..
Reply:I showed this to my wife and tried to explain but she still does not think I need a lathe. I'm going to try for a press next.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Lathe is very handy to have around indeed, thousandths matter ....Magazines have issues, everything else has problems
Reply:It's amazing how often I need to use my lathe.
Reply:Nice save! Not sure how people survive without machine tools.
Reply:I often wonder how anyone gets by without a lathe.
Reply:Originally Posted by bigbI showed this to my wife and tried to explain but she still does not think I need a lathe. I'm going to try for a press next.
Reply:Every once in a while I can remind my wife that machine tools are useful.  She warped a nice farberware pan that we had for years.  Press made short work of that.  She bought a new nylon strainer for the sink that needed a little lathe work to fit properly. I agree, how do people get along without machine tools?BTW, that Monarch is just plain beautiful.  Something to aspire to if I ever give up my 1942 South Bend 13".
Reply:Love my lathe, I find it essential to  maintain my British motorcycles.  But sometimes I turn things just for the fun of it. Attached Images
Reply:Hey..........are all these shop pics 'glamour shots', or are they REALLY that clean and orderly???????????????????
Reply:No, not all shops are neat, especially when you have to move things around to make space to fabricate something large.  My shop is a mess right now, as I am fabricating a steel table for the milling Machine.High Desert Dweller