homemade tracks, can hub be welded back on?

[flippy]

never mind,I found that many people have welded the flimsy original 3 bolt flange back on,I will do this.Mine broke off flush after driving around with my homemade tracks today.I am currently trying to download 3 videos andvsone pics in my gallery.Hopefully they download.

[Noel Woods]

If its LSS (low strength steel) which most of the 3 lugs were, then yes you can weld and gusset it. I think it would be more effective to replace that axle with a solid axle, or even better solid splined axles.

The downside of working with the old materials is that you will always have metal fatigue, and there's no telling whats going on the inside of those hollow axles. I think most folks on this forum would agree that running tracks really requires beefing up the axles and adding some support in there. I would never run any tracks on a machine with hollow axles, because every time I have, I've had the exact problem you are experiencing.

[john swenson]

flippy, i'm not sure of the i.d. of a hollow axle, but maybe it's possible to insert a solid steel round inside that axle. drill some holes spaced on the hollow axle and weld it to the insert. just a thought. johnboy va.

[flippy]

I added outer bearings with extensions,I am going to try to reweld it and add gussetts to the flange.My biggest mistake was throwing away the solid "1 3/16 scrambler axles that I kept tripping over.I tried loading my videos but it said file to large so I will try again.Seeing as this machine had #40 chain originally the hubs were bound to break once I upgraded everything to #50.I am just glad I can mig weld it,I actually thought my homeade 12 inch wheel spacers would break before the hub .The original welds on all the three bolt plates look pretty cheesy by todays standards.Looking at some physics and engineering websites is interesting when it comes to the whole solid vs hollow axle debate.I am sure I will end up having to bite the bullet and buy axles but so far I have been able to make my farm built scrambler max hybrid work on the cheap thanks to eveyones help. Got some new photos in my gallery of the tracks,I forgot how to post a video but I am sure it will come back to me.

[john swenson]

may help in strength if you have a collar that fits your axle, slip it on then weld it to the axle and hub for some extra strength. j.b.

[flippy]

Great idea john!!!Will do.

[Noel Woods]

Flippy: Just saw your digitals, very impressive work that you've done, I really like those extensions. But, I would for sure go with solid splined axles for that beast, or this is going to be something you are welding on over and over.

[flippy]

Thanks for the compliment!I try to not spend to much so I dont end up in divorce court for the third time!I wonder if I should have taken all of the woodys ice cleats out of the tracks because it adds so much friction when skid steering.What are solid axles going to cost me?I want to stay with the bolted sprocket tubes seeing as I just made all new ones for the machine last summer.