joining two 3/4 inch round stock

[can_of_worms]

I have a mower that I'm extending the axles about 2 1/2 inches out, and I need to make sure they're absolutely straight. I know about slipping a collar over the joint after welding it, I found this thread: https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/weld-two-steel-rods-together.126984/

the thing is that the rim is a keyed 3/4 inch and it will end up slipping over the joint, so half the original axle is in the hub and the other half supports in and keeps the tire from coming off. Is beveling the two pieces and mating them enough? I will be supporting the axle just before the hub with a pillow block bearing on either side.

Pictures of the mowers are attached (the right side of the photo with the mower has more chamber because I forgot to put the bushing in that side)


I just finished lowering the front and making new spindles for her. this is my first really extensive welding project. I'm 17 and still very inexperienced in the grand scheme of things, so let me know what I'm doing wrong (all of this is flux core, because its so convenient for me)

 

[can_of_worms]

sorry for the poor image quality by the way

 

[Beeezer]

Ello.

 

[Other Daniel]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.
Are you going to race the mower ?

 

[Brad93]

You'll never weld the two axles and keep them straight. It's almost impossible.

You'll have to weld them then either press the axles straight or heat straighten them.

 

[Gareth J]

Outside of the box idea, if the dimensions allow, cut the wheel centres out from the wheels and move them to the inside of the wheels.

 

[fizzy]

You'll never weld the two axles and keep them straight. It's almost impossible.

You'll have to weld them then either press the axles straight or heat straighten them.

How strong do you think a threaded coupler would be? Drill them both out. Thread them and insert a piece of high tensile threaded rod. Epoxy and cross pin into place.

 

[Morris]

No matter how you do it, if there's welding involved it will not end up straight.

 

[Brad93]

How strong do you think a threaded coupler would be? Drill them both out. Thread them and insert a piece of high tensile threaded rod. Epoxy and cross pin into place.

Cross pinning is a terrible idea. Reduces strength massively

 

[tom2207]

would it not be easier to get two new axles turned , only longer ,,,
welcome to the forum

 

[fizzy]

Cross pinning is a terrible idea. Reduces strength massively

Depends which way the torque is going with the thread. Not needed if it is always tightening.

 

[Morris]

would it not be easier to get two new axles turned , only longer ,,,
welcome to the forum

Lathe purchase!

 

[Gareth J]

I think it's important to bear in mind the intended purpose here, its maximum rpm and that everything has an acceptable tolerance. Unless this is some kind of lawnmower landspeeder, I reckon fairly rustic levels of wobble may be acceptable.

Also, flux cored, and a first posting, welds look relatively excellent to me!

 

[dobbslc]

Also, flux cored, and a first posting, welds look relatively excellent to me

That's what I was thinking!

 

[can_of_worms]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.
Are you going to race the mower ?

Maybe, but for now I'm just messing around with it. I think if I were to do that I'd upgrade to a peerless 820 with 1 inch axles and better reliability.

 

[can_of_worms]

Outside of the box idea, if the dimensions allow, cut the wheel centres out from the wheels and move them to the inside of the wheels.

I didn't think about that, I'll keep that in mind. Also, if anyone has any tips on getting my rim off on of my axles, its frozen on. I took the axle out of the case and suspended the outside of the rim on blocks and heated it with a propane torch and hit it with a sledgehammer for about 3 hours no joke. I just got some MAP gas, and if that doesn't work I think I'll just end up cutting the rim off

 

[can_of_worms]

would it not be easier to get two new axles turned , only longer ,,,
welcome to the forum

thank you for the welcome! I though about that, my dad's friend offered me his lathe to borrow but the end of the axle shaft that's inside the case has splines for the differential side gears, and I have no experience with machining at all.

 

[can_of_worms]

I think it's important to bear in mind the intended purpose here, its maximum rpm and that everything has an acceptable tolerance. Unless this is some kind of lawnmower landspeeder, I reckon fairly rustic levels of wobble may be acceptable.

Also, flux cored, and a first posting, welds look relatively excellent to me!

thank you! it'll be going about 30mph, so about 48kph. trying to keep it on the low end because im still running the stock transaxle which is pretty light duty

 

[can_of_worms]

That's what I was thinking!

thank you!

 

[tigdlo]

Can you post a photo of the axle and wheels, there could be a simpler solution, moving the wheel centres as previously mentioned sounds promising as would be wheel spacers, I would have thought the extra stess would work out about the same without the risk of welding.

Agrred with the previous posters, you are off to a good start.