Pro Tip: AXLE CUTTING

This month we’re back in the shop and looking to cut a kart axle. You could be wondering why anyone would cut an expensive axle and, believe it or not, there are a few good reasons. If you find that the inside wheel is setting down too soon or you need the kart to rotate better through the center of the corner without taking away too much rear grip, you can benefit from a shorter axle.
Full article here: kart360.com/features/pro-tip-a...

[@alanreynolds5985]

Slide an old bearing on to the axle with the collar outermost and lock it with a grub screw lightly. Use that as your guide to cut whatever size you want to remove.

[@ipwee]

That's a handy jig. What I've done in the past for round stock is make a kerf in the stock using my #4 rigid pipe cutter. If it's 1/8 or under in thickness I continue using the cutter to finish it. If not, I'll finish it off with a portaband. Either way you a nice straight cut.

[@christianbuczko1481]

Once its cut, just start the engine, and use very fine emmery cloth to sand the spinning axel like a lathe... would work on excessive rust along the length if thats causing problems.

[@macypfaff2381]

How about a lathe buddy? I just just starting karting with the kids and it is crazy to see people do thing we would never dream of doing on real race cars.

[@christianbuczko1481]

Using a tape measure wont be accurate. A micometre would be far better, same as not using a pen, use a scribe to mark things for real precision..

[@janj0n]

This sounds like complete and total bullshit. Removing 5mm (.20" or thereabout") from both ends of an extremely lightweight, to begin with, tubular axle, while leaving the wheel hubs in their original positions, there would be no measurable increase or decrease in performance.

[@mr2law]

it sounds stupid right? But it really works!

[@bernardplanko6780]

if you think again, the hubs dont have the same holding area any more it decreased maybe from holding on to the axle by 50mm to 45 what is a noticeable change, yea and it has a tremedous effect, if you race kart

[@kanoa9321]

You don’t leave the wheel hubs in the same location, whole point of this is so you can slide them inboard, reducing the rear track width, which helps the kart rotate.

[@rickytizzle123]

Why the fuck do you pronounce ''measure'' like that? It literally grates on me.