Codyboy's "bulldog bronco" ascender

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

Thanks Nate, I have a question for you or anyone who can help. Does the alum chubs fit the axles with the same fitment as the stock ones? I'm trying to get a feel for tolerance when I turn the brass beef tubes.
Ernie,

Yes, nice and snug! Maybe tiny bit tighter.

[CODYBOY]

Thanks Poprivet, we can do some for uncle when your ready! I commented in your thread, you can PM me about details if you want. I could at least do the lathe work for you and you could finish up the fitting.
Ernie,
I have been working with Kelly on that, they are really busy right now, and a new product line may have to wait a month or Two. I have a fist full of some of his old links, if you get me some measurements I could see if I have any that match up. Measure from end of thread to end of thead.

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Yes, nice and snug! Maybe tiny bit tighter.

Thanks Nate, if I made them any tighter I'm afraid the stock chubs would be to tight. ????

[Natedog]

What I meant is that the Vaterra aluminum c-hubs seemed to fit tiny bit tighter on the axle housings than the plastic c-hubs.

[CODYBOY]

Gotcha, tolerance should be perfect then. Should have them done by the end of the week.
Ernie,

[joe122]

Wow Ernie, you are a fabricating monster! Awesome and educational. Just a killer build so far. I might have missed it, what do you use to "fishmouth" your tube ends?

[CODYBOY]

Thanks Joe, yea I'm trying to pass forward what little I know and maybe help someone else. I cheat a little on my fish mouth, I do most of it on the corner of my grinding wheel and if I don't have a good fit I go to a cut chain saw file in my drill press. The grinder works really well if I'm doing an angled joint.
I think this is the rig I will bring on our trip this fall.
Ernie,

[Poprivet]

Looking forward to seeing this thing in person then. It will be an honor to crawl with you Ernie.

[CODYBOY]

Hey Poprivet, have you recovered from your fun weekend? Did you get very wet? I'm looking forward to it also, by the time we get to your place me and the Bulldog may need a little help!
Ernie,

[Poprivet]

I don't know if I'd say "recovered", but I'm OK.
Weather wasn't too bad actually. A little rain on Saturday, but the day turned out awesome.

If you need to bring the Bulldog in for repairs. We'll get it taken care of, and back on the rocks in no time.

[CODYBOY]

Ok, I wanted to post up a few more steps to adding this weight ( axles are now at close to 60 grams) to your a front axles.

To put them in the wise at the drill press I found a drill bit the right size to pass through the undrilled axles. This works great to get the axle square to the drill press.





After the axle is clamped in the vise I drill it out in two step.



In between the different size bits I chamfer the holes so the bit centers in the hole.






Here is the three bits and the chamfer tool.




Some of the rainbird sprinkler brass I repurposed for this project.



Tubes ready to be JB welded into the axle.



Now I use a drill bit that is a tight pass through to get a perfect match on the tubes inside the axle for gluing.



And completed axles for some ascender friends.



All for now, thanks for looking, now go make your weighted axles!!

[NickDanger]

Great work!

[Natedog]

Very nice machining techniques/procedures thanks for sharing them, I just learned a little more.

Axles look great!

[CODYBOY]

Thanks Nate, just got home from a little trip. Did you get your axle today? How does your aftermarket c-hubs fit?
Ernie,

[CODYBOY]

Ok, time for a little update. Natedog sent me some shims for my axles, so I thought it was time to work on my own.



I've been using my cvd to test spin all the all the weighted beef tube axles for fitment. So all put back together. I'm going to change out the c-hubs for some after market when the come in.



As it sits now it comes in at 12.7 oz, no need for that rotating weight in my tires and/or wheels. I think Pete mentioned that he thought the weighted tires was part of his issue with breaking shafts. Maybe he will way in on the subject.



All for now, thanks for looking.
Ernie,

[Poprivet]

Very impressive Ernie. Top shelf work indeed!

Maybe i missed it, but what are you using for Knuckle weights, and how do they attach?

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by Poprivet

Very impressive Ernie. Top shelf work indeed!

Maybe i missed it, but what are you using for Knuckle weights, and how do they attach?

This is from my first ascender build. I got in trouble with oversized photos so I had to delete a bunch of them. Since I changed direction with build I decided to start a new one.

I wanted to add weight to the front of my ascender, and thought about weighting the front axles and then I came across these in my build box. They will make perfect brake drum spindle weights!



If you have followed any of my builds you know that I like to repurpose used items. I think these are used to close off plugins on floor mounted electrical boxes. I gave $2.00 apiece for them.
I also ordered some alum front spindles (VTR33401 as they are designed for the ascender spindle weights.

I drilled a hole in them so I could use a 10-32 X 1 1/2" bolt to clamp them together and chuck them up in my lathe.



They needed to be machined so 1.9 wheels will fit over them.




Next, I counter sank them with a 1 1/4" bit so there is a cavity for the 12mm hex to fit into, and it also makes room for the VP wheel mount to fit inside the weight.





A 15/32" pass through hole is next, so it will fit tightly over the flange on the alum spindle.
Next is a 2mm pass through hole to mount the weight to the spindle.





I cut a slot in the weight so I could tighten the 12mm hex pins and mounted them on the chubs. You can see that I aged them.







A few shots of what they look like mounted, and how they fit inside the wheels.






Sooooooo. $4.00 and a little machining time for 2.5 oz of weight on each side!!

Does that help? I have some more of the plugs that are not machined that I could take a photo of if you want.
PS: found the photos and inserted them.

[Poprivet]

Now thats using your noodle. I know exactly what those are. Can't remember the last time I've seen one though.

I have some 1/4" thick brass plate here somewhere. I may try something similar.

Thank you for the details and pictures.

[CODYBOY]

I'm sure you know this, but just in case, a hole saw with a good cutting oil would get you off to a good start with that 1/4" stock.

[Poprivet]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

I'm sure you know this, but just in case, a hole saw with a good cutting oil would get you off to a good start with that 1/4" stock.

Yes sir, that is what i had in mind.