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Slotted front axles, how come?

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Slotted front axles, how come?

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Old 05-05-10, 01:43 PM
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Slotted front axles, how come?

Why do some quick-release front axles have shallow lengthwise slots machined into them for keyed spacers while others don't have slots and use round spacers? Just wondering.
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Old 05-05-10, 02:00 PM
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Anytime you see a keyed washer, the designer of the piece wanted to resist rotation, so you have to think "why?".
On a hub axle, it makes an easier job to adjust the bearings.
"Why?" on some axles there is no flat or key? Price.
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Old 05-05-10, 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by David Newton
On a hub axle, it makes an easier job to adjust the bearings.
How so? To keep the lock nut from moving the cone when locking?

I just had to unfudge a slotted washer out of the headset of a Fuji last week... so they seem like a pain to me I ended up locking the nut against the cup, and then rotating both the cup and nut together until the washer was dragged into the right position. Probably the reverse of how it originally got fudged.
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Old 05-05-10, 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by tugrul
How so? To keep the lock nut from moving the cone when locking?

I just had to unfudge a slotted washer out of the headset of a Fuji last week... so they seem like a pain to me I ended up locking the nut against the cup, and then rotating both the cup and nut together until the washer was dragged into the right position. Probably the reverse of how it originally got fudged.
normally if there is slot or groove in the axle the washer between the cone and locknut will be keyed, like a headset washer. the key keeps the washer in place so the locknut and cone are sort of turning against a neutral froce.

OH btw this engeering is only as good as the mechanic using it. I have seen lots of those messed up HS washers. I think that comes about from the reflector bracket dragging the washer with it. those fudged up washers are another reason i always like atleast 2 washer/spacers in a headset.
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Old 05-05-10, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by David Newton
Anytime you see a keyed washer, the designer of the piece wanted to resist rotation, so you have to think "why?".
On a hub axle, it makes an easier job to adjust the bearings.
"Why?" on some axles there is no flat or key? Price.
Right, I understand the concept of a tabbed washer. But in the case of a hub, how does that make adjustment any easier? You're already holding the cone in position with a cone wrench as you tighten the locknut, right? So who needs a tabbed washer? Or are there people out there who just reef down on the locknut and rely on the tab to hold the precise cone adjustment? Good luck to them.
As to price, I just repacked a couple of hubs--a Shimano 105, which has an unslotted axle, and an unlabeled Shimano hub--which I assume was a cheaper model--that DID have a slotted axle.
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Old 05-05-10, 05:46 PM
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the slotted washer keeps things from rotating and does make adjustment marginally easier. Probably best to put the axle in an axle vice.
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