Axle and Wheel Re-prep Problem

[Mister B Racing]

I was re-prepping axles and wheels. Now when I spin the wheels on the axles and the wheel rides against the head of the axle, it sounds like the wheel is rolling over marbles or gravel. The sound is not real load but you can hear it when you hold the axle and wheel up to your ear.

The axles I washed in Dawn then rinsed with clear water then lightly buffed them with a cotton rag, followed by Jig. The wheels I washed with a car wash soulution that has no wax in it followed by two coats of Red Rocket and then buffed out. One small drop of oil on the axle and then slide the wheel on.

I am thinking I need to buff the under-side of the axle head more and maybe buff the wheel hub more. Other than the the rolling over marbles or gravel sound the wheels do spin nicely.

Anyone else having this problem? Any thoughts?

 

[bracketracer]

Have you looked very carefully with magnification at the wheel bore at the outer hub? I'm thinking you have some stringy plastic there.

 

[Redstone Racing]

I recently experienced a similar issue. I re-prepped a set of wheels that had only been raced one time and one of them had a clicking sound when spinning. It wasn't loud and the wheel spun nicely. I inspected the wheel and axle closely and couldn't see anything obvious that could be causing it. I put the wheel on a new axle and got the same sound. Although I didn't see anything wrong with the wheel I replaced it with a new one and picked up a little speed. I'm sure some of the pros that have been around for a while have experienced this and can hopefully provide some insight.

 

[Bullet]

I used to get that small sound sometimes and used to worry about it...I have not directly seen a large effect on speed with a good prep from this. I inspected, polished, inspected, etc and no change in the the sound. I just chalked it up to a small movement/wobble in the bore causing a little contact with the axle head or an uneven layer of Jig that needed broken in...may not be the case, but that's how I satisfied my OCD an got over it...lol.

 

[ngyoung]

I have yet to spin a wheel that didn't have a light flutter or buzz sound when I held it to my ear.

 

[B_Regal Racing]

Directly from the King regarding the "tick" or noise you may hear in a wheel:

http://www.pinewoodderbyonline.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1283335038&postcount=12

 

[ngyoung]

I don't touch the outer hubs from John's wheels with sand paper. I hand spin a q-tip head with polish on it on the hubs but that is it.

 

[ngyoung]

I don't touch the outer hubs from John's wheels with sand paper. I hand spin a q-tip head with polish on it on the hubs and treat with red rocket.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

I don't touch the outer hubs from John's wheels with sand paper. I hand spin a q-tip head with polish on it on the hubs and treat with red rocket.

Hmmmm...

 

[ngyoung]

Now you make me think I said something dumb or doing something wrong.

I don't touch the outer hubs from John's wheels with sand paper. I hand spin a q-tip head with polish on it on the hubs and treat with red rocket.

Hmmmm...

 

[ngyoung]

Originally Posted by DerbyDad4Hire

The tick is coming from a small piece of fringe on the outer hub that can be left from the machining process. Everyone needs to make sure the outer hub is sanded smooth and polished to perfection.

Would anyone who sands their hubs please share how they do so and with what grit? I just can't envision a method that I feel confident in not screwing up the small outer hub cone.

 

[Vitamin K]

I'm guessing that you do NOT want to use this:

(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

Since the rears are meant to migrate out to the heads, I'm guessing that it is primarily the DFW that benefits from hub polishing?

 

[3phase]

Can't find the post, but i believe bracketracer made himself a tool to hold the wheel while polishing the outer hub. And someone else mentioned using a mother's mini polishing ball with some plastic polish.

 

[BulldogRacing]

a paper towel folded into a triangle works for bulldog

 

[ngyoung]

Ok. I pretty much do the same with novus. When I read "sand" it made me think using actual sand paper before polishing

 

[TRE]

i hit mine with 80 grit

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

I'm guessing that you do NOT want to use this:

(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

Since the rears are meant to migrate out to the heads, I'm guessing that it is primarily the DFW that benefits from hub polishing?

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Ok. I pretty much do the same with novus. When I read "sand" it made me think using actual sand paper before polishing

hmmmm....

 

[B_Regal Racing]

Would anyone who sands their hubs please share how they do so and with what grit? I just can't envision a method that I feel confident in not screwing up the small outer hub cone.

I would not sand anything, but I do polish the outter hub with Novus (especially for the rear wheels). I would consider a method of spinning the wheel without something in the bore. (thanx BR)

TRE, you should start using 60 grit, and then maybe I'll catch you

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Would anyone who sands their hubs please share how they do so and with what grit? I just can't envision a method that I feel confident in not screwing up the small outer hub cone.

I would not sand anything, but I do polish the outter hub with Novus (especially for the rear wheels). I would consider a method of spinning the wheel without something in the bore. (thanx BR)

hmmmm.... interesting...