shortening axles

Craig Clayton · Feb 3, 2011

I am going by memory again and I made a slight error yesterday. As I remember the splines are hardened and tempered or they would wear out. How are you going to cut them? You anneal them but then you would have to harden and retemper.
Craig Clayton

not2old · Feb 3, 2011

bobcat fan said:
thanks for that i cant obtain other axles as they cost a fortune here i was luck enough to have a corolla axle given to me and found the one on ebay for 50 but the scrap yards wanted around 250 for any axle. i was thinking if i took out the axle i could turn one side down drill out the other and then when i weld them the would be straight but not sure how to do outside tubes.

I can't imagine paying anywhere near that kind of money for an axle. Do the auto wreckers in your area wear masks when they quote those prices? Look on Craigs List or somewhere similar for someone wrecking their own vehicle or a back yard guy.

bobcat fan · Feb 3, 2011

i know prices are outrages in australia

fbson395 · Feb 3, 2011

That's true but if I recall the shaft Dia. Is smaller after the splined area.

Taylortractornut · Feb 4, 2011

Its simple, Ive narrowed a few and fixed a few snapped ones. THe best way to do it on the cheap and quick is like this. Take the axle and cut out the amount desired with a saw or torch allowing for your kerf and dress up tolerances. Then face the ends of the cuts and center dril land ream them to a tight tolerance for a 3/8ths or so hardened dowel pin. Then chamfer the edges for a weld. Press them together and smoke em. I have done one on a a Deutz tractor with a snapped axle and a several omebuilt machinery axles and log loaders. Most axles are fairly soft in the middle.

fbson395 · Feb 5, 2011

Yes, that will work as well. Although I prefer to cut the axles on a lathe and steady rest to obtain a straight cut. This allows the axle's to match up and be put back being true. This job can be done in many different ways. How it's done will many times depend on the tools you have to work with.

Taylortractornut · Feb 6, 2011

Most of the axles I cut down have a pretty good taper. I ususally take great amount out and a torch works good. I just dress it up in the lathe and then drill and ream Ido use the the steady res to hold the end Im about to drill. Ive found on some axles it helps to put the weld in a small fire. I have an old forge I heat ill build a fire in and let the axle rest in t over a few hours.