Problem with 5/8 in. shaft in this years kit

[echos]

For for those of you that have started building a drive system you may have noticed that the 5/8 in. shaft doesn't fit the 5/8 in. bore in the gears for the gearbox and the bearings very well. I had grabed some other 5/8 in. shaft we had around the shop and tried it with the componets and had a much better fit. Which leaves me to beleave that shaft included in the KOP is not really a shaft at all but a 5/8 in. axel with a key cut through it. For those of you that are lost a 5/8 in. axel when measured is 5/8 in. while a 5/8 in. shaft when measured is slightly less than 5/8 in.

I'm not shure if it was like this in any other of the KOP but it would be intresting to find out. I would like to find out who screwed that one up. For the sake of knowing the shaft is made of a polished steel that has resembling look to chrome. If you take any of the 5/8 in. bearings or gears and have a hard time putting them on the shaft, then I suggest that you go and purchase a real 5/8 in. shaft. The componets should slide on much easier without the need for a hammer.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by echos

For for those of you that have started building a drive system you may have noticed that the 5/8 in. shaft doesn't fit the 5/8 in. bore in the gears for the gearbox and the bearings very well. I had grabed some other 5/8 in. shaft we had around the shop and tried it with the componets and had a much better fit. Which leaves me to beleave that shaft included in the KOP is not really a shaft at all but a 5/8 in. axel with a key cut through it. For those of you that are lost a 5/8 in. axel when measured is 5/8 in. while a 5/8 in. shaft when measured is slightly less than 5/8 in.

I'm not shure if it was like this in any other of the KOP but it would be intresting to find out. I would like to find out who screwed that one up. For the sake of knowing the shaft is made of a polished steel that has resembling look to chrome. If you take any of the 5/8 in. bearings or gears and have a hard time putting them on the shaft, then I suggest that you go and purchase a real 5/8 in. shaft. The componets should slide on much easier without the need for a hammer.

I found that you really have to file down any burs on the supplied shaft edges to make them fit in the bearings. Just running a file around the edges helps the fit quite a bit.

[echos]

the shaft is made of a polished steel

If its been polished how can it have any burs?

[Vince]

Originally Posted by echos

If its been polished how can it have any burs?

when you cut it down to size

[Adam Y.]

That is the right size. It really is a pain in the but to get everything on especially with new shafts.

[KenWittlief]

I think they are that tight for a reason - you REALLY dont want any slop in your gears on the shaft, the slightest bit of play will cause them to slam everytime you change direction, then the gears will get looser and looser over time.

something else you can try with the gears is to warm them up a bit, or to put the shaft in the freezer before you assemble it.