wheel hub reduction/re-size

Cribbs74 wrote:Good idea Roddie,

I wonder if that would work on aluminum hubs.

I would think.. most certainly Ron. Aluminum is soft.. and this method is merely a "pinch-fit". The idea is; not to have the reducing bushing(s) "slip-out" of the hub, or wherever they're installed.. (it's a pain if/when you take things apart.. and a small bushing falls out and gets lost) They can easily be pressed-out if needed. It's important to cut the length of the bushing to the same width/thickness; "flush" with the hub.. and support the underside on an anvil when you "set" the bushing. This will assure that the bushing expands "directly" against the hub.

If you're bushing "really thin" wheels.. this is especially important.. because if the bushing "slips" on a music-wire gear.. your wheel "could" end up camber-fouling in.. and would ride-up the gear-leg. Some modelers solder steel-washers onto their music-wire gear, for the inside bearing-surface of the hub to ride up against. This helps the hub from binding where the axle bend-angle transitions to the gear-leg.