Aftermarket parts and why you need a lathe!!

[forhire]

As some of you know I drive old VW MK1 rabbit diesels. A couple month ago I picked up a $500 pickup and I've been running the hell out of it. I thought I had a bad wheel bearing, but after I pulled it apart it was obvious the CV axle was bad. So I called around and found a new aftermarket axle for $60 out the door. It came well boxed, looked right, and slid right in. Nothing like in the old days when a reman axle would have dinged splines. Unfortunately, after I torqued it down it no longer would spin. Huh? I pulled it back apart and discovered the output hub was contacting the spindle knuckle. A quick measure and I discovered it was 2mm oversized. So rather than take it back I decided to put it in the lathe and turn it down. Not sure what the steel is but it was hard turning. I've never turned an assembled CV axle so I thought some of you might enjoy a few pictures. I wasn't sure how it would go but about 10 minutes later I had it back on the truck. I couldn't even return it in the time it took to fix. I often wonder how anyone gets by without a lathe.

[Weldalittle]

I bought some rebuilt cv axles once for a project (was just putting longer axles in them). When I finished with the two axles, I had one ball left over.... I guess someone doing the original rebuild lost track and lost an extra in the grease! I also got a caliper from napa that had the wrong size bracket with it and had to re-use my old one. I guess it's all part of the fun of it, and the lathe just makes it that much more fun (instead of a pita)..

[bigb]

I showed this to my wife and tried to explain but she still does not think I need a lathe. I'm going to try for a press next.

[pepi]

Lathe is very handy to have around indeed, thousandths matter ....

[ezduzit]

It's amazing how often I need to use my lathe.

[walker]

Nice save! Not sure how people survive without machine tools.

[davec]

I often wonder how anyone gets by without a lathe.

Why...you have a friend with a lathe... Duh!

[forhire]

I showed this to my wife and tried to explain but she still does not think I need a lathe. I'm going to try for a press next.

A press is good. Just make sure it's 50T or better. I use my lathes way more than my presses.

Lathe is very handy to have around indeed, thousandths matter ....

My bad, 2mm is about 80 thou (0.078").

It's amazing how often I need to use my lathe.

Nice little Monarch. I likely end up using the lathe as much or more than my bench grinder.

Nice save! Not sure how people survive without machine tools.

The wife and I watch the house hunting shows and I always wonder where the shop is. When building a new house, always build your big shop first or your shop money will be spent on the house.

Why...you have a friend with a lathe... Duh!

Maybe that's my I have so many friends. I'm like a doctor, they are always coming to me with their problems.

[Zimm]

Every once in a while I can remind my wife that machine tools are useful. She warped a nice farberware pan that we had for years. Press made short work of that. She bought a new nylon strainer for the sink that needed a little lathe work to fit properly.

I agree, how do people get along without machine tools?

BTW, that Monarch is just plain beautiful. Something to aspire to if I ever give up my 1942 South Bend 13".

[chewinggum]

Love my lathe, I find it essential to maintain my British motorcycles. But sometimes I turn things just for the fun of it.

[farmersammm]

Hey..........are all these shop pics 'glamour shots', or are they REALLY that clean and orderly???????????????????

[addertooth]

No, not all shops are neat, especially when you have to move things around to make space to fabricate something large. My shop is a mess right now, as I am fabricating a steel table for the milling Machine.

[Sberry]

I got neighbors with machine tools but I rarely use one. Not that I cant but simply have so many simple ways around it, stock etc and parts chains got so much better and we use so much production built equipment anymore. Lots of old machines were job shop built that it was a problem.

[addertooth]

I find a Mill very useful too. When you are making jigs and fixtures, it is nice being able to make precise fixtures that are true to a tenth of a thousands of an inch. This makes it to where you don't need to "tweak it" with a hammer after fabrication.
Pictured is a simple operation of putting a keyway in a shaft.

For those who don't want to invest in a lathe/mill, the Hobby Machinist site has a forum for outsiders to ask someone to make them a part. You have to provide a drawing of what you want, and you (normally) have to provide the donor metal/part.

For those with MIG welders, having someone make you some 0.023 wire-feed wheels can be a big win, if the manufacturer does not have them available (darn non-standard Chinese welders ).

Link to: "Can you make me a part" forum on Hobby Machinist.
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/foru...ng-for-me.452/

[N2 Welding]

I wasn't sure how it would go but about 10 minutes later I had it back on the truck. I couldn't even return it in the time it took to fix. I often wonder how anyone gets by without a lathe.

Or gets by without the skillsets to use these tools. I want a lathe so much. Perhaps I should sell a couple things to be able to afford one. Nah I’m too lazy to list everything for sale.

[smithdoor]

I have been using a lathe for welding since 1960's.
It make some welding setup easier or just do not have right size.

Later working with old equipment where no option (no after market parts).
With a welder and lathe made part. Later I add mill.

Today with manufacturers using more plastic that has short life, if you making new metal parts that last a long time.
The 3D prints are same problem how want reinstalle plastic parts over and over.
Just make a metal that last a lifetime.

Dave

As some of you know I drive old VW MK1 rabbit diesels. A couple month ago I picked up a $500 pickup and I've been running the hell out of it. I thought I had a bad wheel bearing, but after I pulled it apart it was obvious the CV axle was bad. So I called around and found a new aftermarket axle for $60 out the door. It came well boxed, looked right, and slid right in. Nothing like in the old days when a reman axle would have dinged splines. Unfortunately, after I torqued it down it no longer would spin. Huh? I pulled it back apart and discovered the output hub was contacting the spindle knuckle. A quick measure and I discovered it was 2mm oversized. So rather than take it back I decided to put it in the lathe and turn it down. Not sure what the steel is but it was hard turning. I've never turned an assembled CV axle so I thought some of you might enjoy a few pictures. I wasn't sure how it would go but about 10 minutes later I had it back on the truck. I couldn't even return it in the time it took to fix. I often wonder how anyone gets by without a lathe.