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Old 03-08-14, 01:51 PM
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Chombi
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As mentioned by FBinNY, many confuse freewheel wobble to a bent axle. Freewheel wobble is pretty much normal. while bent axles should be fixed, a small amount freewheel wobble is pretty much normal for about 90 percent of freewheels out there. It was just acceptable manufacturing tolerances involved in putting threads on freewheel bodies back then, that is in play. Best way to fin out whether you have a bent axle is to roll the axle on something really flat and true like a glass table. If there is a hop when you roll it, then you can find out where it is bent. If you are competent enough a mechanic, you might be able to straighten the axle yourself using creative methods with hand tools but it would be easier for most to just change out the axle.
I've straightened out a few steel axles through the years using a plastic dead blow mallet and a good sturdy surface (These days, I use a section of heavy rubber parking lot bumper stop to act like a resilient anvil) to put the axle on while I give it a few measured, careful blows from the mallet and checking it for straightness on a glass surface. As long as the bend is not too bad, it should be easy enough to straighten the axle, but if the bent is too much, you might end up with an axle that will be weakened if atempts are made to straighten it. You have to make that call whether to bother fixing it or just replacing it.
Lots of spare NOS axles always for sale at eBay, so you most likely will find the right one easy enough if you have to go that way....

Last edited by Chombi; 03-08-14 at 02:06 PM.
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