-= Li'l Red =-

Excellent!  The front spindles are done!

I was measuring up for the tie rod.



Painted welded and ready for final install!



Hub and spacer installed!



Check that difference in Ride height!!!




Here is the before stance.



Here is the after!



The angle is a little wrong as it looks very nose down.  It is not.  This is just a dramatic angle for the drop. Front and back are now sitting 14.5 inches!  It's LEVEL!  Not sure how I lost 1/4 inch in the rear, but I'll take it.

OK, time for the tell-all on what needs to be fixed or didn't expect.

1. I realized the J spindles were maxed for tie rod adjustments.  New spindles fixed that.  I have adjustment again.
   
2. I didn't compensate for a little slack drupe in the front spindles.  This caused about 2-4 degrees of negative camber.  I think I like it.
   
3. Only negative I have found at the moment, with the 19" tires on the front with the new geometry, I'm going to need to trim about 2 inches off each side of the front bumper.  I can flex it enough to get hung up.  Two inches and I think I am good to go!
   

Overall, I am super excited about this mod!

Looks great and should be more stable too! I can tell it's more level just by the hood and footboards.

Nice work as always!

The before and after were taken at the exact same spot and height.

Now I need to get it out and pop some wheelies.  I also need to fix the foot throttle.  Not sure what I was thinking.  I only have the foot throttle and the dash is being overridden.  I like having both so I can have cruise control!


Also, not sure If I share the new headlights from the back side of the grill.

Looks good mighty! Knuckle style spindles are definitely the way to go. Mutt couldn't ever handle a J type spindle, the 21s would kill them!

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Looks good mighty! Knuckle style spindles are definitely the way to go. Mutt couldn't ever handle a J type spindle, the 21s would kill them!

I knew someone else made some.  Didn't realize it was MUTT.  Man, it's been way too long since I read your topic start to finish.  I think @AllisKidD21 did on his rat rod too.  I'll have to look that up.  Not sure if any others did.

I really doubt I was the first. It's been so long, I probably only went that direction because it was the easiest solution for me lol.

Glamour shot time!

And now for your video plaeasure.

Great job they look really good and sturdy! Not knocking your work because I think you've done an excellent job but I've read of guys having even nyloc nuts tighten up on the right wheel causing it to destroy bearings/lock up the wheel so you may want to consider castle nuts with cotter pins to be on the safe side, I'd hate to see something small cause you grief after all the hard work you've done to Lil Red.

They were super snug on the threads.  I washered it and backed the nut out to give it not quite a 16th an inch so it wasn't riding the bearing hard.  Plus the inner races I have protrude out also.  If the bearing went out, I could see it rolling the nut.  At that point a new bearing would be needed anyway.  I may go ahead and look into drilling a hole through it and putting a cotter pin in it.  Better to be over engineered than under.  Thanks for the great idea.

The ideal thing to have with hubs like this is to put a spacer between the bearings to stop them from having too much side load from the wheel nut- nut tightens against the inner races, which tighten against the spacer, which stops them from pushing in. My minibike wheels are like that. Sort of hard to do without a lathe though. Mutt still uses the factory bushings on the front wheels, and uses a pair of nuts that are locked together for adjustable preload. I think that technique is the best for front wheels, even if it's not perfectly convenient.

Yeah the spacer would be ideal.

Grumble grumble... grrr... ugh grr....

Talk about a couple hours I would like back.

So, I was actually thinking about drilling out a hole to run a cotter pin through to hold the nut in place.  I was going to just send it, but @Brianator talked me into doing it.  I know it is for the best.

Right side, 3 drill bits used to step up the hole for my cotter pin.  Done in 3 minutes or less.





On to the left.  First bit through just fine, second bit through just fine, third bit through just fine, snap pulling it back out. What?  Not sure why it didn't just fall out.  Tapped on it, she's not moving.  Grabbed with vice grips, not wiggling.  OK, It's hot, I'll wait a few.  Come back. Nothing.  Ended up breaking both ends off trying to wiggle it.  Out come the punches.  Whacked on it about 10 minutes. Not getting anywhere.  Bust out the previous size bit.  After some time, I got drilled through. Yes!  Pull it back out SNAP.  What?  You got to be kidding me.  Tried the next size down.  Ony in about 1/8th inch, snap.  Not getting anywhere.  Off comes the spindle.  Put it in the vice, bust out the 3lb hammer and punch.  She's moving a little then stopped.  Few more blows, some metal behind the washer falls out as well as some ball bearings.  UGH! Not my bearings. Granted I could not take it out due to a drill bit through the nut.  I was thinking, I could have just sent it, but I need to do it right.  At this point, grinder comes out with cutting blade.  The nut is going to be a loss.  I cut both sides of the nut where the drill bits are.  It pried off.  Few more blows, the drill bit just falls out.  It was stuck in the nut.  Minimal damage to the axle bolt, bearings are a loss, nut is a loss, a large washer is a loss, and about 3 drill bits. (most used ones at that.)

Now I am just sitting needing to replace the bearings and the nut.  I have a 3/4 grade 8 nut that I ran down the bolt axle to be sure it will take a nut fine.  It was ok even though I did catch the threads a little while grinding.








@Brianator, I know I said you talked me into it.  This was my doing, not you talking me into it.  

Hey mighty, why step up the drill bits? When drilling a hole out from a slightly smaller size it just makes the drill more liable to pull into the cut, jam, and break. Better to just start with the size you need and let it eat. With a reasonably sharp drill you should be able to push a 1/2" drill through steel. The only time I'll start with a pilot drill is when I get up around 5/8" or so, but with a good split tip I've even pushed those through.

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Hey mighty, why step up the drill bits? When drilling a hole out from a slightly smaller size it just makes the drill more liable to pull into the cut, jam, and break. Better to just start with the size you need and let it eat. With a reasonably sharp drill you should be able to push a 1/2" drill through steel. The only time I'll start with a pilot drill is when I get up around 5/8" or so, but with a good split tip I've even pushed those through.

Because my smaller bits are old and dull.  HAHA...  Only one I can keep sharp is my 3/8 bit and my larger set seem fine as well.  I punched the 3/4 through making the spindles.

It will work out fine.  I'll get new bearings tomorrow. Heck I'm surprised this set has lasted as long.  I got this set before the first set on Kal that wore out pretty fast.  It's why I went back with these on the Dirty Rat.  I'll freshen all 4 up.  I'll also get a new nylock nut which is about 75 cents to a buck, and I'll be good again.

Well, I guess I didn't say to be careful to not break the drill bit so that fine you can blame me, I have big shoulders! Lol

It’s never too late to learn how to sharpen a drill bit, lol. Why not buy castle nuts?

I dunno, it's what I found.  Hardware stores are pretty non-existant anymore around here.  Just Lowes, some Home Depot, TSC and Atwoods is all we have.  The box stores have little if anything regular in stock.

On a side note, I'll need to look at my belt.  After more than a couple clutch dumps popping wheelies, I seem to have stretched out my belt pretty good. 

Using plain nuts does make it easier to drill through the threads. That sucks about the hardware stores. I'm fortunate enough to have a real good one here in town.

Check McMaster. I agree about the hardware stores. I have a Lowe’s and a Tsc and an Ace and that’s it.

Excellent!  I did find some castle nuts!  Good thing, I wasn't feeling redrilling the holes. (need drill bits LOL)  I was going to create my own castle nuts if they were still out of stock.  Soon as I get my bearings, they will go on.  I guess I could do the right front now.  I'll check those bearings before I replace them too.  I think they were fine.

Left side bearings not in today. Maybe tomorrow.

Right side bearings good. Updated to castle nut.

Looks good mighty! I bet she's haspin ready

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Looks good mighty! I bet she's haspin ready

Won't be able to get up there this year. I already have some other priorities to attend to at that time. Red has made it 2 times, but only ridden once there and it was rolled. Yeah, I believe it could handle Haspin just fine at this point.

I haven't had time to throw in my 2c here but I'm loving it! Been keeping up with the thread pretty regular. Love the headlight upgrade! I though I mentioned something a long time ago saying you should put some pods under the hood lol. They look great tho and I'll bet they're plenty bright!

Love the spindles too. They look super stout! I've got my originals reinforced right now on the MM but when it's back together, if they start failing I may have to go this route too.

Murraymountain wrote:

I haven't had time to throw in my 2c here but I'm loving it! Been keeping up with the thread pretty regular. Love the headlight upgrade! I though I mentioned something a long time ago saying you should put some pods under the hood lol. They look great tho and I'll bet they're plenty bright!

Love the spindles too. They look super stout! I've got my originals reinforced right now on the MM but when it's back together, if they start failing I may have to go this route too.

So far it seems super stout!  I kid you not, I popped about 20-30 wheelies the other day until the belt said, "No More!"  LOL, that 94" belt must be closer to 96" by now.  I have a couple 93's I may try to stretch out.


Still haven't got my bearings in yet.  They were lost for a couple days, then amazon evidently overnighted a new set yesterday UPS that should be here today sometime.  UPS says they are out for delivery.  They typically show around 4-5 in the neighborhood, so I got a couple hours yet.