Using Loctite 660, worn axle, hub repair.

[JoeM 7,874]

Having a handful of XI machines, with a few miles on them, I am finding out how tough they are on rear axles and hubs.

They tip the scales just north of 1000 pounds and are very powerful machines. They use the old key and setscrew set up and most show signs of hub/key issues after the 500 hour mark. 

 

Finding a good solid repair requires knowing what you have to work with. Having a hub with a good bore is the first step.

This hub is in great shape and still has the machine marks in the bore indication of it not moving around on the axle shaft. 

 

Any of the newer 1 1/8 hubs work as long as the key and bore are okay. 

 

Taking measurements of the shaft and noting the keyway condition is next. 

 

Shafts slightly worn < (-.005), with bad keyways can be used with the taper hub sold by A-Z.  I have one running with a shaft that is .010 and the taper is all the way in but is still holding up okay. 

Note the split at 6 o'clock on taper, it is closed up pretty tight and the taper is all the way in the hub.

 

Axle key way used with taper lock hub. 

 

Shafts slightly worn with okay keyway I like to use loctite 660 with primer. And a oversize key (+002) (xi machines use a straight key) and use alloy set screws (MMC #91416A315) torqued to 45 ft lbs.

A note when using the 660 I found putting a bead of it inside of the rear of the hub bore that goes on the axle first is the best practice. I have got sloppy with this stuff, putting it on the axle and when the hub was slid on it leached into the seal area and later hardened and  wiped out the seal. 

 

Somewhat sceptical about the 660 holding up, The worn axle .003 under with the seal that needed changed did hold up well and needed a puller to remove the hub. It was impressive.

I think I am as a standard now going to just use the 660 on all my axle/hub installations. 

 

One other repair I used for a bad xi key, taking a die grinder and cutting the width of the key in the axle to 5/16 wide. Used a step key and reinstalled with 660. It is holding up well. 

 

All else fails......wled it!

 

 

 

Edited November 3, 2022 by JoeM

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

I've used 660 also.  Impressive stuff!