I have a Chang Jiang sidecar, that by now everyone should know the problems I have been having during the instalation process. Granted all the problems are small, but for me very time consuming because of my disabilities. While waiting to acquire some supplies for a strut extention problem, I thought I would tackle the job of the wheel bearing on my sidecar. The bearing are pretty well gunked up and will not spin freely. I don't think their is any problem with them, but being gunked up as their are, I wouldn't feel safe riding around.
The nut or sleeve that holds the bearing assembly apparently needs a special tool to unscrew it from the hub housing. This nut or sleeve has four holes around it's rim that I believe this tool fits into with four pins. I was wanting to know if anyone knew where or from whom I could acquire, borrow, steal, or buy this tool from. Time is short and I could use some help on this one.
I will attempt to add a photo of the part in question I need the tool for. I put drill bits in the holes around the sleeve that should correspond with pins on the tool. The photo is in the album section under Rockhound Rider.
BTDT, what I did, like you, was to put the right size drill or closest to the right size in the holes, I measured the centers and drilled a piece of 2x4 and pounded it over the drills to make a wrench and it worked, the nut you want to lossen is most likely the lock nut and is L/H thread, be sure to get as close as you can to the nut to reduce leverage on the 2x4 holes, if you can use fir or oak, something hard.
Ted
I was thinking maybe of using some metal square stock and drilling through it, Using some old drills I have, I could tack weld them in place, that way they are less likely to change position and possibly damage the holes.
Of course, I could take the offer to buy one from LRM USA for a very reasonable price with shipping. Now if I can arrange to pay him and he can ship ASAP, all this fuss will have it's remedy.
Thanks for all the suggestions and/or replies. All things usually work out in the end.
With out a doubt you would be better off with the ordered tool, if you do make your own the way you suggested DON'T weld the drills, they will snap in a heart beat, there very hi in carbon and the heat will temper them and they will be as brittle as glass if no more so.
Ted
"DON'T weld the drills, they will snap in a heart beat, there very hi in carbon and the heat will temper them and they will be as brittle as glass if no more so."
High carbon steel doesn't weld well, but I've been under the assumption (metallurgically) that: Heat and slow cooling anneals (softens)steel, but heating then quenching can harden it into a molecular structure known as Martensite which is "as brittle as glass".
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Lonnie, the drill past the weld is softer but the combination of the heat and metals combined with the drill material makes it brittle as heck, try it sometime for kicks and giggles.
Ted
I got good results making a pin wrench using the shank of a broken drill bit. I brazed and air cooled the tool which should anneal the drill steel. I still have the wrench and use it often, but like all tools, they have their limits. If you do break it, it's no big deal to make another.
As you noticed, I said tack weld them in place. I didn't mean to weld the drill bit completely to the stock. It was only a means to stabilize the bit so it did not tend to move about while truning the home made tool.
The problem is however solved. Marcus at LRM USA has graciously offered to sale and ship me a CJ pin tool at a very reasonable price, that I can well afford. If the mail doesn't loose it, I hope to have tool in hand by next week some time, maybe in time to pull the bearings so I will have them when I go into town once again a week from tomorrow, Thursday, May 31. If it comes sooner and the insurance varification papers arrive also, I may well make an extra trip in to get a movement permit, so I can have the Vin# checked on thursday as well and if the approve of the current paperwork I have on the motorcycle, Register it as well. I'll also be able to learn whether or not I need additional fine adjustments made on my sidecar mounting.
Things are coming together people, it's just a matter of a short time. About two and a half, if I am to make it to the 4th Annual Lake Berryessa Meet & Greet this year. A few people are expecting me to show up with my rig this year and I certainly would hate to disappoint them.
