Grooving the Axles

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Gavin Chafin
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Grooving the Axles

Post by Gavin Chafin »

I was reading some earlier posts and it appears that there is some disagreement over whether grooving the axles is a good idea. I’m still undecided on this one. If you’re using graphite, I’ve heard that the groove serves the purpose of providing a reservoir for the graphite. But, what if you’re using a wet lube? Could there possibly be a benefit to grooving the axle if you’re using a wet lube? Could grooving the axle reduce the initial wheel inertia (akin to raising a wheel)?
Barga Racing
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Re: Grooving the Axles

Post by Barga Racing »

Gavin,
We have always grooved our axles because after reading about it a few years ago I believed that was definitely the way to go, now I am also wondering. So I have decided to do some experimenting. If you read Stan Popes subject on "Hub evaluation protocal" he has a fantastic idea on doing experiments that would seem to be under consistent circumstances. I have my weighted ring made and simply need to do a couple more sets of axles to begin testing. I will have plain polished axles, grooved axles with multiple thin grooves, grooved axle with single wide groove, and a set of oversized axles, also a set of nickel plated axles. The wheels will be plain polished hubs, threaded hubs, and undercut hubs with only a 1/16" on either end for contact surface. To be sure one treatment works better than the others I am making 2 of everything and will do tests with all the combinations. I was only planning to use graphite with moly but since I just ordered some Nye oil I will also run all the tests with that as well. I should have some interesting data compiled when I am done. It might be several weeks though before I have it.
Last edited by Barga Racing on Sun Oct 05, 2003 7:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gavin Chafin
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Re: Grooving the Axles

Post by Gavin Chafin »

Can't wait for the results. Please let us know.
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MaxV
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Re: Grooving the Axles

Post by MaxV »

Just a few thoughts:
Could grooving the axle reduce the initial wheel inertia (akin to raising a wheel)?
Wheel intertia is reduced by removing weight from the wheels. Since the axles are static, removing weight would not affect inertia.
Could there possibly be a benefit to grooving the axle if you’re using a wet lube?
I would say no. Since thin film lubes work by coating the surface, coating inside the grooves would serve no benefit. And you don't want to leave a liquid inside the wheel hub as the viscosity slows down the wheels. It also can leak out, possibility fouling the track.
Gavin Chafin
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Re: Grooving the Axles

Post by Gavin Chafin »

Thanks, Randy. Very good answers.
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