front hub 200m

[puttputt]

I'm fixing up a junkyard queen. . .

front hub - opposite end from the brake ( right side as you
face the front )

there's nothing there between the hub tube and the axle - the axle is just floating around in the tube. I took out the remains
of some kind of cap with a rubber insert.

Partsfish diagram shows a bearing , and a dust cap, which makes
sense. But it also shows an "axle collar", which is what I don't
understand. Do I need one of those ? when I disassembled
this, the axle just bolted to the bottom of the fork with that
four-bolt semicircular mount. Is that collar to hold the dust
seal in, maybe ?

also, anyone know if I need to pull the axle to put in a new
bearing, or can I just put it in from the one end ? That sucker
is REALLY frozen at the other ( brake ) end. . .

thanks

[ATCnut]

You need the axle collar. It is a tube that slides over the axle, goes inside the dust cap, and pushes between the fork and the inner bearing race. The remains of the cap with rubber was the dust seal.

There needs to be a solid connection from the fork, through the collar, to the inner bearing race, through the tube inside the hub, through the other inner bearing race, through the brake hub, to the other fork. Without the axle collar you will put extremly excessive lateral force on the bearing and it will not last long.

You will have to remove the axle to replace the bearing. The only way I know to get the old bearing out is to put a drift threw the axle hole and drive it out. I would replace both bearing and dust seals while I had it apart.

[puttputt]

makes sense to do both -

I have tried heat yet, but any other tips on freeing up this
axle? The four-bolt cap came off, but now I'm trying to
turn the axle ( counterclockwise ) with a 17mm socket and
a fairly long handle, to back it out of the other side,
and no go. I whacked it with a hammer
and put penetrating oil on it, but she's stuck pretty good.

[ATCnut]

I want to make sure I understand. The steel axle is stuck where it is threaded into the aluminum shock.

If so, you are on the right track. keep spraying the axle with penetrating oil. I put the 4 bolt cap back on loosly to hold the axle stright. It should turn counterclockwise looking at the hex end.

[puttputt]

yep, it's where the axle theads into the alum shock, and
yes I'm turning it counterclockwise ( from the free end ) -

I'll get it.. ... they all give up in the end - it's just that some
put up a good fight, like this one. I didn't break, strip or
injure anything yet, so . . . .

[ATCnut]

Be firm, but gentle.