Built-in steer angle.

[mike-E]

I want to build a full length drill jig for Awana that has a built in 5 degree cant and steer. Can anyone give me an idea of what angle to tilt a milling machine head to achieve roughly 3" over 4 feet?

 

[ljo]

5° positive camber / and 1° toe in.
Do your rules allow you to bend your front axle?

 

[mike-E]

5° positive camber / and 1° toe in.
Do your rules allow you to bend your front axle?

Yes, but it's not an easy task to bend a polished, non-grooved Awana axle without doing damage.
Hoping to help out a bunch of kids get fast(er).

 

[Loud2ns]

Yes, but it's not an easy task to bend a polished, non-grooved Awana axle without doing damage.
Hoping to help out a bunch of kids get fast(er).

Put your k-house slot on the head, polish it up, and try this method from one of the greats. This works on Awana axles.

 

[Hangtime]

Wow! You would need very steady hands to do that without causing damage. It occurs to me that a guy who has access to a milling machine might also have a small lathe available to him. So, why not use that to cut a bending groove?

 

[mike-E]

Yeah, doing three or four wouldn't be a problem. There's about 20 kids though.

 

[Hangtime]

Fair point. There’s a good reason guys use vendor axles. The bending groove, tuning slot, polish and bend 20x would be a pain in the ...

Anyway, my experience with drilled steer has been a mixed bag. It sounds great, but my results have not been consistent. We used drilled steer in our scout cars this year. We made it work, but I think a bent steer axle would have been better.

 

[T-Bone Racing]

Yeah, doing three or four wouldn't be a problem. There's about 20 kids though.

20! That sounds crazy! Is the issue bending the axle or putting the groove in? Or both?

Are you not able to buy an axle bender?

 

[mike-E]

Sure. I could buy a bender, but there's still bending and k-house grooves that would have to be cut. Just looking for a simpler method that could be done quickly every season. I'm building the jig anyway. Making my own 2.3 mm bushings too.

 

[Hangtime]

Sounds pretty ambitious. Do you have a way to harden that bushing?

 

[mike-E]

yes. there will be 10 total. O1 tool steel(drill rod), oil quenched and left full hardness. 65-67 Rockwell I'm guessing.

 

[Hangtime]

Is this your home shop that you’re talking about?

 

[mike-E]

No, I have a Bridgeport at home, but I'm a machinist and the toys at work are a lot more accurate.

 

[Hangtime]

That’s great! Maybe you can post some pics once it’s finished.

 

[Brian Stanley]

I've wanted to make my own drill jig for a while, but I'm not sure my little hobby mill is up to the task. I'd love to have a Bridgeport, but I don't think I can convince the wife she'll have to start parking in the driveway!

 

[mike-E]

That’s great! Maybe you can post some pics once it’s finished.

Still have to heat treat and sand about .001 off o.d. Bushings are 7/8 long and reamed to .090 which is just a smidge tight for a 2.3 mm drill. May have to hone using a drill and lapping compound.

 

[DerbyBoyz]

Looks really nice, great job.

 

[Brian Stanley]

Be careful, people will start placing orders with you!

 

[Hangtime]

Nice work! That looks very clean. Built in steer as well as cant?

 

[mike-E]

2 1/2 degrees on one rear, 3 on the other. One side has 5 degrees cant only. The other has 5 and 1 degree steer. Both fronts at 4 3/4" wheel spacing and raised .035 from rear height. There are also straight holes 1/8" and 3/16" from the bottom in the center of the jig. I like to drill straight through where my ladder rungs are going to be and CA glue a toothpick in the hole before doing the cut out.