Matco W62 wheels on Avid 5/8" axles?

16 posts in this topic

Posted

I was wondering if anybody has Matco W62 wheels and brakes on the Avid 5/8" axles? If so do you know what bearings? Matco tech rep says that the W62 wheel will not work on 5/8" axle but I am pretty sure Ralph Moe's plane had the same wheels I am trying to use on mine. I am trying to upgrade to hydraulic brakes with parts I have collected and now seems to be a good time since my wheels were submerged during Harvey.

Thanks,

Dan

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Posted

Don't think Avid ever used 5/8" axels.  All of them (from A model to MK IV)  I've been around were 3/4"  JImChuk

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Posted (edited)

My early C model definitely has 5/8" axles. It looks like a factory made landing gear and I can't imagine anybody modifying it to a smaller size.

Edited by dav8or

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Posted

Think I just figured out how it was done. Looks like Azusa sells a sealed tapered roller bearing with the correct 1.781" OD and 5/8" ID that should fit the W62 wheel and the 5/8" axle.    Dan

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Posted

A little more research shows that Azusa sells the 3/4" tapered bearing with a sleeve adapter down to 5/8".   Dan

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Posted

someone has messed with your gear then.  All the axles were 3/4" from the factory on every Avid I have seen from A to MK IV.

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Posted

Well that kinda sucks then. They did make it look like a factory part and the gear is the same design as the other Avid I have seen up close. I just looked through the build manual and found the line item that says ream to .75" for axle. Of course I did not see any entries in the log books showing any modifications to the gear and cannot imagine why anyone would have done that. Now I am not sure what to do. This Avid has almost 400 hours on it. I have flown almost 200 of those hours. I would think that It would be a nightmare to attempt cutting the 5/8" ID tubing out and welding in 3/4" ID in its place. I would be afraid that the gear alignment would not be maintained in the process and it handles great right now.

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Posted

If you really have 5/8" axels, I'm surprised you have any wheel alinement now.  I know Leni has bent 3/4" axels, and I have as well.  I even bent some 5/8" axels on my single seat Himax.   Maybe that says something about my landing tecknique...... and your's.   JImChuk

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Posted (edited)

Dan,  If you have the solution to make everything work, and the plane has flown with 5/8" axles for 400 hours, why not stay with what you have - If you have no worry about the axles?  Why "fix" it  if it aint broke?   If you want to make your wheels ready for possible 3/4" axles in the future, then you could put some 3/4" sleeves over your 5/8 axles and use them that way too. 

All of the Kitfox axles I have had were 3/4", and I have a spare set on hand now, but there is no law saying you have to use that size.  EDMO

Edited by EDMO

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Posted

They really are 5/8" and right now sealed ball bearings in unknown manufacturer 6"x6" welded tubeless wheels with Azusa mechanical drum brakes. I have checked them several times in the past with calipers. My Avid is based on a turf field and I land at paved, grass strips and off-airport. In my upgrade to Matco hydraulic brakes I have to replace the current axles with Matco 5/8" axles that have the mount for the Matco caliper plates. Now I am nervous about using the new Matco axles.

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Posted

I don't know about the 5/8" Matco axles but I can tell you the 3/4" axles they sell are all but impossible to bend, tough as hell.

 

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Posted (edited)

I don't know about the 5/8" Matco axles but I can tell you the 3/4" axles they sell are all but impossible to bend, tough as hell.

 

Are the Avid axles made like the Kitfox axles, going into a tube and held with one crossbolt?  Should be simple to replace them.  Maybe soak them with penetrating oil for a while if they might be rusted inside the tubes.   EDMO

Edited by EDMO

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Posted

Yes they are Ed.

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Posted

Yes they are installed in a piece of tubing with the single bolt securing it. I expect them to be stuck in there pretty good after all these years but will manage to get them out somehow.

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Posted

Went down to the airport and remeasured the axles. Not sure how I managed to measure incorrectly before but they are actually 3/4" axles. Felling much better about that now and my brake upgrade continues.

 

Dan

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Posted

makes more sense now.  Glad you got it figured out!

:BC:

 

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