I just ordered some ball type bolts for my drag wheels. I am pretty sure that they will need to be shortened. What is the best way to cut them. I have a dremel that I just got for Christmas. Can I just use a cutting wheel on the dremel? Any tips or tricks from those that have shortened theirs? Thanks

One idea that I saw that I had not thought of before is to put the end of the bolt into a cordless drill, and hold a hacksaw blade on the bolt.... letting the drill do all the work. Now that I think about it, seems like this would be a pretty good way, as you would not have a burr on one end like you would if you cut straight through. Hmmm... not sure if the drill would handle the width of the bolt.

 

A grinder is best, but you need to measure and order the ones that you need. Grinding is easy for me and its a job, dermel will not be easy or cost effective. If too long they hit the rear springs with bad consequences and worse if too short and strip out............. They are not too costly, DO it right. Woody

 

I use my pneumatic grinder with 3'' cut off wheel.

 

Hmmm.... I do have an angle grinder with a cut off wheel.

 

I messed with the dremmel and grinder method. It was a real pain in the a$$. I ended up taking them to a friend who works in a machine shop. I gave him the length that I wanted the threaded shank to be, and one of his coworkers machined them down to the precise length. He even chamfered the end of the bolt and properly started the thread. I don't have to worry about crossthreading or mangling the threads on the wheel hub.

It's totally worth it if you know anyone that is a machinist.

 

+20 points, same story here, normal machine shop price from what I've seen to shorten 20 bolts was 20 dollars, maybe 40 tops. This is the route I'd suggest.

 

Thanks, a friend at work told me about a local machine shop that can do it. I will go that route. Thanks for saving me from potentially having a bad day.

 

I got the bolts today, and they were just the right length. I got lucky and did not have to cut them. The shank is 24MM.

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I am sooooooo jealous of those wheels.........

You did a great job on them.. I am still looking..

 

Thanks Mike. I was so fortunate that Steve bead blasted them for me before he mailed them to me.

 

Looking Good

 

Fantastic looking wheels man. One question though... the tread direction appears to be going backwards... is it an optical trick or do the shoulder blocks' water channels truly angle inward towards the center?

Dry pavement it shouldn't matter much...

 

Here is a pic that shows the tread angle a little better. Oh, and that is my track driver. Trying to shave every pound I can. LOL

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Thats a fine looking track driver you have there

 

And your wheels are on the wrong sides.......

(unless your going backwards.. )

 

Going to the garage to check it out.

 

Ok, now that I feel sufficiently stupid, and have gone out and switched sides on the tires.... The tread is now going in the right direction. I did not think about these having a left and right side.

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Thanks Howard, that is my eldest one. He is getting to the age now that he is lots of fun. He cracks me up daily with his sense of humor. Trevor is 3 1/2, and my youngest, Carson, is 6 months.


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Every time I put mine on, I have to double check them to make sure they are right.... as mentioned earlier, you're not going to drive them in the rain, so it really shouldn't matter...

 

THERE ya go! Shoot man you might gain another 1mph in the 1/4 now that the treads can 'slice' through the air in the proper direction

Cute kids BTW, those are the perfect ages