axle lock collars

[BSBLHATER]

iam changing all my axle bearings on a 1990 max iv and I watched the video of a guy doing this on a max ll on youtube. my question is are the collars only attached to the axle with a set screw and with this set screw removed the collar slides freely on the shaft. the video leads someone of average intelligence or less meaning me to believe that the collar has to be tapped left or right to unlock it. well after I spent hours removing my 1st one and a can of wd40 and the aid of a fire wrench to get it to move I finally got it. to make it short and boring my outside collar set screw was gone. this allowed the shaft to move and take the sprockets out of alignment yukering the bearings inside and out. yes a little 5 cent set screw. I was complaining of excessive noise coming from this machine in previous post and this is where most of its coming from. just rolling the axle around with the chains off is very noisy. the bearings on this machine are destroyed from abuse and old age and no maintenance. iam doing my two rear axles now because my tranny is out. the rest I will replace next spring or summer in the nice weather. I love breathing new life into this poor girl. also as I have said in previous post on this machine iam going to change the motor. I have found a 20 horse single cylinder with the shaft dimensions I need to make it happen. can someone give me feedback on there thoughts about this. the single vs the twin. its a brand new engine with electric start . will it do the job
thanks everyone
jim

[Mike]

Jim,

The collars rotate on a cam built onto the bearing. As you rotate the collar, it gets tighter against the axle and holds it in place. The set screw is simply there to keep the collar from working lose once it is locked into place. If you watch that weirdo in the video you mentioned, he shows the cam on the bearing here: https://youtu.be/GebTAtCD8C8?t=489

[msafi65]

I started puting a very small string of strip calk between the bearing race and the ecentric collar. Just enough to seal the bearing at the axle. A lot of new bearings leak water at the axle until they fill up with rust ect. I've found that the bearing hasent rusted to the axle on ones that were sealed years ago.

[BSBLHATER]

Thanks mike I missed that part all together. Thanks you. Would you and msafi65 have some collar and bearing numbers. Thanks jim

[msafi65]

Your vehicle should have HC206-20R3 bearings if it hasent been converted to a larger size.

[BSBLHATER]

thanks msa I ordered 4 today. called all local part stores for pricing and went with the lowest. hope they are here by the weekend. I used the links you and mike have posted for me. what does the r3 mean at the end of the part number. this seemed not used in all my searches and calls. do you know. thanks
jim

[msafi65]

Relubricable with triple seals. R is relub #3 is 3 seal lips. if no 3 in part #it has single seals. They work but don't hold out the water ect. as well. A lot of members on this site purchase bearings from Buffalo Bearing. On that year MAX you don't lock the eccentrics until the sprocket is in line with transmission out put sprockets. Good luck with the project.

[BSBLHATER]

yeah i botched that. got 4 of those bearnings in transport with no r3 designation. live and learn. will end up replacing them as soon as they get some slop in them. all is good the max is the easiest thing to work on i have seen in the 30 plus years i have of working on man toys. i ordered them from olean bearing. thanks for schooling me. this site is the most helpful forum i have ever been involved in. hands down

thanks
jim

[BSBLHATER]

bearings came today. all day or most of the day in the garage tomorrow doing both rear axles and putting tranny and motor back inn. I have had two weeks if I was smart I would have had the motor at a shop getting valves ground. but honestly never thought about it because I found that single cylinder that I did not get feedback on. it will all workout by next summer. she will be in very good condition. thanks mike and msa you guys are amazing and really know your stuff.
seeya