Axle keys

[spinelll]

Ever use a Loctite product on them?

[Napa Skip]

No. Is the problem you are trying to solve a loose fit of the key in the axle or rear hub key slot?

[columbiA]

If you centre punch along the sides of key way on axle it will tighten up key & stop key from sliding up key way when installing hub.File off metal displaced above axle taper so hub will go on all the way,also have axle & hub tapers free of grease & oil.The best repair of course is to find better parts if badly worn.

[H. L. Chauvin]

With similar thoughts, I have several axles with enlarged axle keyways, some keyways small, some larger.

In hearing my dentist recently tell me about their making crowns today to place on teeth with the latest, far greater strength epoxies when compared to that of just a few years ago, I called "Devcon" for some advice as to whether or not steel axle keyways could be repaired with "Devcon" epoxy. I think a small can at that time, large enough to repair several axles, cost about $30.00.

They put me in touch with a "Devcon" technical engineer who had experience in this area.

He said that "Devcon" would work to repair axle keyways, but the key, (no pun intended), was in the preparation of the axle prior to applyingt the "Devcon".

Here is what he suggested:

1. Thoroughly clean one Model A axle keyway in one axle, removing all grease & oil.

2. Do the same with one "good" Model A rear hub with a "good" tight keyway.

3. Simarily, thoroughly clean one new key.

4. Provide recesses in the axle keyway to later hold the "Devcon" material in place by using a small circular cutting dremel tool blade mounted on a Dremel tool, thus making random cuts about 1/32" deep:

a. In both vertical side surfaces of the axle keyway, near the flat bottom, along the full length of the axle keyway, with said cuts almost parallel to the bottom of the keyway; &,

b. Also random cuts on the flat bottom of the axle keyway.

5. Place the clean key in the axle keyway to insure a neat fit while touching the keyway bottom, & verify that the rear hub fits properly on the axle with the key in the axle keyway.

6. If it fits well, take apart & obtain some automobile wax & apply it liberally to both the clean key & only the keyway in the hub -- "not" the keyway in the clean axle.

7. Remove excess wax from the keyway & the keyway in the hub.

8. Halfway fill the full length of the "unwaxed" axle keyway with "Devcon", place the waxed key in the "Devcon" filled keyway & press the key downward until it hits the bottom of the axle keyway.

9. When the "Devcon" squeezes out of the keyway around the key, remove all excess "devcon" from the axle & key with a tool like a putty knife.

10. Place the waxed hub on the axle with the key in place, tighten hub on axle, & allow to cure a minimum of 24 hours.

11. Remove hub, remove key & clean any "Devcon" residue on tapered part of axle, (id any), with a flat file.

12. Insert key, re-install hub & drive off.

Hope to try this "Devcon" like this one day.

[Bruce Lancaster]

An odd product I have seen in industrial supply catalogs...I've never used this but it seems like an interesting idea:
Carbon slugs to occupy a keyway while welding repairs are made. The carbon is made in sizes matching various types of key and I think also in threaded and shaped forms of other sorts. Welder does his thing beside the carbon key, which holds the existing keyway open so weld does not go into any place within actual key area. Carbon is then removed and excess weld cut down as needed.

[Pete]

If I was going to weld on the axle, I would want to install saftey hubs also.
I have welded up a keyway once and re-machined it but the car already had saftey hubs.
It is not usually possible on an old axle that has bad fret marks to lap it and get a 100% surface but if you could, it will work without a key.
In any case, lapping helps. Get as much surface as possible.