Keyed Hub Pics

[TheKid]

I have some pics of one of the hubs up to the point where it still needs some clean-up with a die grinder. The pics show the procedure of creating the keyways in the hub. The keyways are cut into 3/16" thick washers I made with a hole saw and a step drill. They replace the bearing cups that were originally in the hubs, and are welded from the inside.

http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/Keyed%20Hub/

[trikeman]

I have some pics of one of the hubs up to the point where it still needs some clean-up with a die grinder. The pics show the procedure of creating the keyways in the hub. The keyways are cut into 3/16" thick washers I made with a hole saw and a step drill. They replace the bearing cups that were originally in the hubs, and are welded from the inside.

http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/Keyed%20Hub/

Nice work.

How did you cut the keyway? Did you also cut the keyway in the shaft? Are you using a commercial key, or one you made, as well?

Thanks.

[TheKid]

I bought the keyed shaft and 3/16" x 3/16" barstock from MCM Industrial Supplies. As I explained in the pic captions, I cut the keyway in the washers with a jigsaw. I used very fine blades. First, I drilled a 1" hole in a piece of wood and clamped it to a table. I placed the flange over the hole, and clamped it to the wood. Then I cut on the marks I made on the washer, and wore the middle down with the blade. It took about 10 minutes to cut all four keyways.

[TheKid]

I needed 2 more hubs for the 24" wheels, and I already had one plug made. I made 3 more with a 1 3/8" hole saw. They fit very nicely in steel freewheel hubs. They're installed flush with the outside of the hub, and welded on the inside. The center hole is drilled out to whatever axle size you need, and the keyway is cut in as per the pics posted earlier in this thread. I used 1/4" steel for the plugs, to make sure the keyways are beefy enough to withstand the pressures of braking.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/Keyed%20Hub/PlugsSmall.jpg

[theDude]

Great idea! I just ordered some adapters.