Guy goes into a garage to grease bearings.....

[john swenson]

mike...beautiful job !! you and i will be sitting up eye to eye .... it looks plenty strong too. what size are the portal chains ? looks like it must have been a tight fit to get the master links on. there really is'nt much need for chain tensioners in the boxes is there ? are you running 26'' or 28 '' tires . looking forward to seeing it in person . hope it's ready for busco . johnboy va.

[mfenmor]

WoW!
That 26" tire looks small now.

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[mfenmor]

Lets try this again.
So I ended up making a tool to push the drive shafts in because while I was hitting them with a mallet the dang keys would fall out, even with grease on them.
got the seal installed, and portal box sprockets lined up.
Installed upper and lower outer bearings and torqued.
Install axle and test fit tire. Looks good!
All this took 8 hours today for the first install and I haven't centered the drive sprockets in the tub yet.
About an hour to finish this corner, with all the set screws locktited.
Then do the opposite side tomorrow so I can get the buckets out from under. Soon they will collapse.
She's heavy already.

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[mfenmor]

Lots of parts deburring yesterday, but time for assembly.
Bolted the "new and improved" portal boxes back on. (I do NOT want to do this again)
Dropped in the transfer chains and sprockets, inserting drive shaft at the same time.
install seal on the inside then the two drive sprockets.
Remember that time I said "there will be cussin" when doing this? Well it did not disappoint. Found out I couldn't get my keys inserted. Did some measuring and found them all over the place in dimensions. Spent 4 hours sanding and measuring keys, 96 of them.

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[mfenmor]

got it , thanks . will it be ready for busco ? j.b.

I'm tryin hard. I'm off next week just so I can work on it.

[john swenson]

got it , thanks . will it be ready for busco ? j.b.

[mfenmor]

beautifull work mike..so the exstensions are to get a wider stance ? better axle support ? explain for me , thanks j.b.

Hey JB,
The extensions are built in bearing extensions for the axle/tire.
Just like these,

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Only extra support.
Not any wider stance, though it is already 6" wider than stock with the portals.

[john swenson]

do the exstensions bolt to the tub , or are they the tire side. must be the tub , to get your tire spacing huh ? j.b.

[john swenson]

beautifull work mike..so the exstensions are to get a wider stance ? better axle support ? explain for me , thanks j.b.

[mfenmor]

Nice supports, awaiting final outcome.

Thanks Jim, Me too.
Workin as fast as I can.
All the fab work is pretty much done now, just a few brackets.
Assembly time.

[mfenmor]

Got em all hot glued up today and in my favorite color.
I'm glad I did this, but next time I'll make these of aluminum. Gettin heavy.

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Jeez I hate weld spatter. I had bought some new wire (Blue Demon) which I always use, but this time I got it on Ebay. Made in China! not India where it usually is. So I thought the wire was bad, then I realized my torch cup was way too loose and pulling in air from the back. Tightened it up and Voila! no more spatter.
Need new cups.

[ARGOJIM]

Nice supports, awaiting final outcome.

[mfenmor]

Change to the change

So, remember when I said I had an idea? no the other time.

I decided to do the boxes a little differently, and I think it's a change for the better.

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Chopped up some metal and melted some metal.

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YES! More better.

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I'll melt metal over the holes I poked for the original bearing mount.
This should be very sturdy. Built in bearing extenders.
Tomorrow I'll get it all glued together.

[john swenson]

mike ...i don't think it will be a flop at all , especially with your metal working machines and creativity . if there are any problems i see no reason you can't address them. it has taken me some time and a few modifications after my highboy frame design to get it finally working great . now it's just basic maintenance and for me i love the the results , j.b.

[mfenmor]

it's a beautiful thing !! .. i have those same 4'' bearing flanges and good bearings . i have not had to change a bearing in 3 yrs , even after all the mud at busco . because they are so easy to get to , i think being able to wash them off after rides and easy greasing procedure has helped . same with my chains. i'm still excited to see the upcoming portal box chains and tensioning system your creating . good thing i don't live next door you'd have to lock me out , lol j.b.

JB, you are welcome to come take a look any time.
The only thing I don't like about the 4" bearings is they are quite heavy. I found some bearings mounted in UHMW, but they a quite expensive.
I'd like to see these mounted in aluminum.