Spindle too short - fixed! | GTAMotorcycle.com

Spindle too short - fixed!

Chris-CJ

Well-known member
Anybody know of a small machine shop with a lathe, in Mississauga?
The spindle that I bought off the 'net is too short for my bike and I need a longer spindle. It is a simple job, cut to size a longer rod of matching diameter and turn threaded lengths at both ends.
The spindle is for crash protection and has no load bearing function.
Here is a similar item:

In advance, thanks!
 
@nobbie48 ?

EDIT:
What is thread needed? You may be able to buy a piece of all-thread and skip the lathe entirely. Alternatively, if the thread is common, a die will be a lot faster than single point cutting the threads (and no lathe required). If you're feeling brave, drill press on lowest speed, chuck rod, clamp die in press vise and have at er.
 
Last edited:
@nobbie48 ?

EDIT:
What is thread needed? You may be able to buy a piece of all-thread and skip the lathe entirely. Alternatively, if the thread is common, a die will be a lot faster than single point cutting the threads (and no lathe required). If you're feeling brave, drill press on lowest speed, chuck die in press vise and have at er.
What are the overall dimensions. Diameter, length and thread form, metric or ?

My experience with machine shops is they don’t like one/offs unless you pay with your right arm plus a kidney
 
@nobbie48 ?

EDIT:
What is thread needed? You may be able to buy a piece of all-thread and skip the lathe entirely. Alternatively, if the thread is common, a die will be a lot faster than single point cutting the threads (and no lathe required). If you're feeling brave, drill press on lowest speed, chuck rod, clamp die in press vise and have at er.
Good idea, now to find a length of "all thread" that is 35 cm in length and 8 mm in dia - where in the hood would I search?
 
Last edited:
That doesn't have to hold any real load. Use a piece of threaded rod. Threaded rod will eventually rust.
If you want to come up here (Kawarthas) I'll make you one.
'Preciate the offer, thanks!
(Will keep this in mind and DM you if need be)
 
Good idea, now to find a length of "all thread" that is 35 cm in length and 1 cm in dia - where in the hood would I search?
Too long doesn't really matter, easy to cut. Thread size/pitch really matters as I assume it has to interface with your existing spools (or are they just nuts in the spools? store pics aren't great). Easiest way to measure thread pitch is with gauges or just take the parts to HD and start trying some nuts on your rod or bolts on your spools. I would guess metric but who knows for parts like that. Metric allthread is harder to find (but I suspect you can still get it). Metric dies are easy to find and then you can work with a plain rod. Do you have calipers? What is OD of male threads?

EDIT:
HD in this case is home depot not Harley Davidson.
 
Too long doesn't really matter, easy to cut. Thread size/pitch really matters as I assume it has to interface with your existing spools (or are they just nuts in the spools? store pics aren't great). Easiest way to measure thread pitch is with gauges or just take the parts to HD and start trying some nuts on your rod or bolts on your spools. I would guess metric but who knows for parts like that. Metric allthread is harder to find (but I suspect you can still get it). Metric dies are easy to find and then you can work with a plain rod. Do you have calipers? What is OD of male threads?

EDIT:
HD in this case is home depot not Harley Davidson.
The spools are not threaded (good thing!), so all I need is a rod with OD = 8 mm and length 35 mm (correction, should read 35 cm)
If I get an all-thread at HD with the same OD and equal to or longer length, problem solved.
The spools are non-threaded and held in place by a collar on the inner end and a nut at the outer end, thread size can be any, just as long as the all-thread has the required OD.
Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Pic of the item
0e3b922f5956e2cde3cde79e401ddeac.jpg
 
Too short, the other end of the rod remains in the axle tunnel
 
Last edited:
The spools are not threaded (good thing!), so all I need is a rod with OD = 8 mm and length 35 mm.
If I get an all-thread at HD with the same OD and equal to or longer length, problem solved.
The spools are non-threaded and held in place by a collar on the inner end and a nut at the outer end, thread size can be any, just as long as the all-thread has the required OD.
Thanks!
35mm seems pretty short, I am guessing 35cm

As long as you are sure it's 8mm. Amazon is most likely the easiest and cheapest.

 
Last edited:
35 cm maybe....
You can get 36" of threaded rod at Crappy Tire or Home Depot, usually only in imperial sizes, so use a 5/16 x 18 (don't forget nuts and washers. Use locking nuts)
If you absolutely HAVE to have metric, you can get metric threaded rod at an industrial supply house like Try Hard or KBC.
 
If you can get away with 305mm, I do a MMC order every Friday. You could have it Tuesday.

 
Glad you found some.

Another way around this IF the rod goes through a larger bore is to buy a couple of 8 mm machine screws, drill 8mm (5/16') hole in the end of a slightly larger rod and after cutting the heads off the screws drive them into the holes and braze. Obviously threaded side out. Or you could drill and tap the ends and cut the screws to use as studs.
 
Glad you found some.

Another way around this IF the rod goes through a larger bore is to buy a couple of 8 mm machine screws, drill 8mm (5/16') hole in the end of a slightly larger rod and after cutting the heads off the screws drive them into the holes and braze. Obviously threaded side out. Or you could drill and tap the ends and cut the screws to use as studs.
There should be bearings very close to that spot. I wouldn't be brazing there.
 

Back
Top Bottom