Hustler axle thoughts.

[brushcutter]

You know, I never thought to ask. I'll call him this evening and get back to you on it.

The overtime bunny has been good this week, looks like about a 68-70hr check, so since I got off early today I think I'll do something constructive and take a nap.

[brushcutter]

Ok as promised I talked with my brother about the taperlock flanges. He said they are 100% positive lock either direction. He went on to say that once one of their Wagner loaders got snagged on the in feed chain and the system dragged it about 10 feet before they got it shut down. This machine is used to unload entire truckloads of logs in a single lift, so you can see that we're talking serious load handling power. No damage to any of the taperlocks.

[micmac]

What about splined axles and splined sprockets then put shaft collars on either side of the sprockets .. no setscrews. Just thinking outside the box

[cclingma]

What about splined axles and splined sprockets then put shaft collars on either side of the sprockets .. no setscrews. Just thinking outside the box

I think that would be awesome. I'm just having a little trouble getting the finance department here at home convinced of the cost to do a complete splined axle/sprocket setup. I think the colars would be great though.....easy alignment and no scarring of the pretty new axles.

[brushcutter]

Micmac, that is what BW6 suggested, and I have heard of it before, my thoughts are that this would simplify things a whole bunch when it comes time to change a bearing. Plus not having the sprockets locked to the shaft would keep them from siezing. The only concern there is: will not having the sprockets locked in place allow them to wallow around and wear the splines prematurely, I know from experience that when the setscrews on a Max axle break, this very thing occurs. The advantage to both splined and keyed systems is that you can reposition your sprockets, which could open up more and better chain tensioner options, such as the snap idles that some members are using with pretty good results.

[Bw6]

BC, if you get the right class fit (sliding) for your splined axles and sprocket hubs, you shouldn't have any problems "wallowing". Also by selecting the right wall thickness for you tubing spacers they will stay put. If you really concerned you could dimple your shafts and install setscrews. Also setscrew ends come in a few different forms like brass tips etc, which are non marking. The Argo spine axle/spline hub sprockets are a little loose for my liking so I didn't use the Argo splined sprockets. Argo uses dimples in their axles to locate and secure their sprockets with 2 setscrews.

[brushcutter]

Bw, what did you use on the BWII?

[Bw6]

BC, I used modified Argo axles, but didn't use their sprockets, 1.25" weld-on hubs, bored and splined, for a sliding fit. I drilled dimples in the axles and double setscrews. I didn't think about the tubing spacers at the time, if I had I would have used them. The beauty of using tubing spacers is they're cheap, easy to change for alignment adjustments, and you can grease or anti-seize your splines and the tubing protects them.

[cclingma]

Hey brushcutter, couple more questions about the taper lock sprocket. I looked at what Martin has to offer and there are a few offerings. Is the 50H26H the type that you're thinking? It looks the most similar to the pulley taper locking systems that I had experience with. Some of the others get very wide which looks like it could be a problem, at least on the center axle.
Thanks.

[brushcutter]

Yeah, the center axle is part of the reason I haven't bought up a bunch of stock to build the new axles. I guess the only way to be sure would be to order them and try it out. Just not ready to do that yet. As it stands now, I have saved more than half the of the cash to build a 30' x 36' foot shop, so I will definitely not be buying anything that will delay that, until after the shop is completed. To put it plainly, if it came down to selling both Hustlers to build the shop then that is exactly what I would do! Then I would have the space to build 2 of whatever I wanted!!!

[cclingma]

Good luck building that shop. It would be awesome to have a place like that to work.

[brushcutter]

Thanks for the good wishes, it would seem that I have outgrown my present shop, which is one end of the mobile home that the wife and I lived in when we married. Guess I should have stopped buying so many tools... but I just can't help myself! It works, but is only 12' wide, so it is really crowded when I put one of the Hustlers in it and then try to get anything done. Not to mention all the tools and such. But hey, it beats working outside! Can't wait to start the new one, plan to have minimum 12' walls and an overhead homebuilt monorail, capable of covering the entire length and width of the shop, with at least 1/2 ton lift capacity. No more jacking the Hustlers up to tension the chains or lube the bearings!

[cclingma]

Well, we're gonna know more about these taper/QD/Flange sprockets soon. A budy of mine that works at a shop with machining capabilities made me an offer I can't refuse on 6 new keyed 1-1/4 axles and the taper lock type sprockets to go with. His shop makes machines that build trusses and they are very familiar with chains and sprockets as most of their machinery is driven with them. He's confident that the taper bore sprocket will handle this application. Time will tell I suppose.

[brushcutter]

Sounds like you may have found a source for components and experience all in one place. Add machining capabilities to that and you've got yourself an axle designer who could help you avoid regretable and expensive mistakes- how SWEET is that! Keep me informed as to how this comes together, I really like the thought of having 1 1/4" axles, especially since I have broken the same one of mine 3 times now!

[highrollinmopars]

I was just wondering how this turned out for you.