Nervous to "slot" my Awana axles...

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Hey guys,

So I am prepping my Awana Grand Prix cars. I have coned the heads and will polish them up. But I am afraid to try and put the slot/groove in the shaft. The wheel bore on the Awana wheels is substantially thinner than a BSA wheel because the outer hub is offset inward so there is less room/contact area. My rat tail file is not that small. So I worry after the groove there wont be much contact surface. Yes I know les contact, less friction but should I worry about not enough contact in order to make the oil effective? Keep in mind I am new to oil. Wasn't sure if the oil slips into the slot or stays on the contact points at either end of it. I'm asking here and also over at APR too.

Does anyone have actual recommended dimensions of the actual slot?

Also I do not have a shop with air so I can't blow my wheels out unless i used a can of compressed air. Is that a no no?

As always, any advice is coveted and greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys!
Jimmy

 

[xjarcher]

Too late now! for oil, I wouldn't bother. I've done some to try and it really didn't help much. For graphite I'm sure it helps. I used a mini file and some ceramic abrasive sticks.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Heya! I almost forgot I posted this! That was my first foray into oil. So yeah... certainly too late now! Lol
I don’t bother trying to slot Awana axles. Lord willing our SE MI Regionals folks have made that change to oil after yours and Domino’s work.
Thanks for the advice as always!

 

[DerbyBoyz]

I groove my AWANA axles when using oil. I think its worth it.

 

[derbydentist]

Curious about the canned compressed air if any pro racers are using this? I just wonder if there is something else in there that could contaminate the bores after you have air dried.

 

[CVRacing]

I groove my AWANA axles. I put a wheel on the axle and Mark where the hub ends, remove the wheel and then center a 1/8" groove between the axle head and the mark I made.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Curious about the canned compressed air if any pro racers are using this? I just wonder if there is something else in there that could contaminate the bores after you have air dried.

That’s a REALLY good question. I don’t have an air compressor so I use canned air. I haven’t had any ill affect. Used it on all my Awana cars last couple years, also in my Box Stock I raced at APR last month. He ran real well. But could he have run better???
I race league but certainly don’t consider myself a pro so hoping a real pro chimes in on this one if any have knowledge of why we should t use canned air.
Jimmy

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

I groove my AWANA axles. I put a wheel on the axle and Mark where the hub ends, remove the wheel and then center a 1/8" groove between the axle head and the mark I made.

Hey CV, what’s your favorite method for grooving them? I did try it once but it didn’t work too well for me.

 

[TRE]

You can use canned air it gets expensive...i like a bit more pressure

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

You can use canned air it gets expensive

Yeah I noticed that... I run thru a can rather quickly. I plan on lookin for a small compressor with tax returns. Like just a little 110v one to use inside.

 

[TRE]

Get a California air they are quiet

 

[DerbyBoyz]

Hey CV, what’s your favorite method for grooving them? I did try it once but it didn’t work too well for me.

You can just use a drill press with a good flat table and a file.

 

[derbydentist]

You can use canned air it gets expensive...i like a bit more pressure

Thanks for the quick answer TRE! I was wanting to ask that one for a while and kept forgetting. I bought a can and plan on trying it out but was also concerned about having enough pressure. If not I'll have to check out the California air you recommended.

 

[Loud2ns]

I grooved a set this year and didn't like the way they turned out, so I didn't use them

 

[CVRacing]

Hey CV, what’s your favorite method for grooving them? I did try it once but it didn’t work too well for me.

I use the drill press with a vice on it to rest the file on, and raise the table enough so the groove is in the right spot. My brother had tried this too and hated it but it works pretty easy for me.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

I use the drill press with a vice on it to rest the file on, and raise the table enough so the groove is in the right spot. My brother had tried this too and hated it but it works pretty easy for me.

So do you then just slide the vice towards the spinning axle once it gets going?

 

[CVRacing]

So do you then just slide the vice towards the spinning axle once it gets going?

Vice is clamped down tight, I lay the file on the vice then slide the file only into the spinning axle.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Vice is clamped down tight, I lay the file on the vice then slide the file only into the spinning axle.

Got it. Thanks!

 

[DerbyBoyz]

I groove my AWANA axles. I put a wheel on the axle and Mark where the hub ends, remove the wheel and then center a 1/8" groove between the axle head and the mark I made.

CV I do almost the same thing. I like to put a small journal by the head of the axle though with a small cutting file, then cone the head, then with wheel on I measure for the journal (after I have coned axle head) I do like to gap the DF axle a little with wheel on so the journal will sit out just a bit further.