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recommended skill level for this guide |
intermediate |
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your step by step guide
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Reducing the spinning
friction caused by the grease in your wheel bearings is
quite possibly the most effective single legal
improvement you can make to your blokart® chassis. You
are now only 15 simple steps from reducing the friction
blokart® sailing can often cause. |
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step 1
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remove wheel nut
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remove nut "A" from
end of the stub axle |
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to do this you will
need to hold your stub axle by clipping
it into your blokart® using the spaces
that came with it |
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like this, |
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NOT by
using your main axles |
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or you can use custom
blokart® tool #96... kidding, I made this
one out of a couple of bits of aluminium
and a seat post clamp off an old bmx
bike. |
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it can
even be done in the comfort of
your lounge / dungeon / XA Falcon, like this. That's
stage 1 done... easy eah? |
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step 2
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remove stub axle
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pull out the stub axle and
washer. That's stage 2 done... even
easier! Pace yourself though, if you get
this done too quick you might have time
to mow the lawns after all! |
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step 3
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remove the first bearing
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for this
you will need custom blokart® tool #3.11
from windows xp service pack 6.... I use
this inexpensive yet superb quality
screwdriver I bought from |
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with all of the
comprehensive range of screwdriver bits
removed.... come on, they let us use
their car park! |
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angle the screwdriver
to catch the inside race of the bottom
bearing and gently tap the bearing out.
A little care is required as to not
damage the bearing by excessive sideways
force. |
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step 4
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remove the other bearing
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to avoid the risk
mentioned above I use this piece of bent
aluminium which is bent roughly to the
same diameter of the outer bearing race. |
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use your handy hammer
multi-tool (my multi tool can smash your
multi-tool) to tap this bearing out. |
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step 5
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remove one dust cap from each
bearing
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you may need to ask a
grownup to help you with this one. If
you are the grownup, start talking in a
deep voice and act all serious while you
find a really really sharp thing (I use
my handy hammer multi-tool) to gently
pick out the dust cap from
ONE SIDE ONLY of
each bearing. |
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put the dust caps you
remove in a safe place in case you
somehow damage the ones you left in.
Perhaps you could fashion your spouse
some cher new bling, in exchange for
B.B.P. (blokart® brownie points) which
you may exchange for B.A.T. (blokart®
away time) at a later stage and/or wind
strength. |
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step 6
- getting ready to clean
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a
toothbrush works pretty well for this
next stage so this is an opportune time
to head for the bathroom. Grab the
stiffest one you can find (which isn't
your own of course) |
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step 7
- still
getting ready
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if you don't have a
large industrial, high volume compressor
in your blokart® bag to blow all the
grease out, you can dissolve it with
some petrol or diesel. Diesel is the
nicer to use as it doesn't dry
everything out as much as petrol, but if
your neighbour doesn't drive a diesel
then petrol is fine. |
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step 8
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cleaning out the old grease
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I use an
old tin lid to stop the petrol melting
the polyurethane on the coffee table.
Burning cigarettes or naked flames
positioned near by will quickly ignite
any spillages before signs of damage
from melting occurs. |
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dip the toothbrush in
the gas and start scrubbing, re-dip then
re-scrub. Its a bit like brushing teeth
only without the head. |
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keep
repeating till all the grease is gone.
Spin the bearing in your hand, if it
feels like a ratchet block then you
haven't finished. |
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when you've got it
clean, grab a rag or paper towel and
wipe dry. |
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check
the dust cap you left in is still in
place and wipe dry. |
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step 9
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the relube
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turn the bearing back
over and give it a soaking with "secret
blokart® performance enhancing runny
stuff in a can". I NOX gunner tell you
what its called but you can get it from
Super Cheap. I haven't looked but it
might also be available from |
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| No problem if they
don't stock it... we can still use their
car park. |
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step 10
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refitting the first bearing
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press
the first bearing into the rim keeping
the seal to the
OUTSIDE like this. |
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NOT LIKE THIS, I
SAID OUTSIDE. How well
would that keep dust out of the bearing? |
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a socket
with the same outer diameter as the
bearing makes a good punch to press the
bearing down to its seat. Be careful to
ensure the bearing stays perfectly flat
on the way in, If it starts going in on
an angle you may damage the rim. |
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before fitting the
second bearing, remember to put the
spacer tube in. That's the bit of
stainless tube that fall on the floor
earlier that you weren't quite sure
where it came from. |
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step 11
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re-fitting the second bearing
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turn the
wheel over and repeat step 10 |
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another descent
dousing of the good stuff always seems
right about now |
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step 12
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re-installing the stub axle
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time
again to use your inexpensive yet superb quality
screwdriver you also bought from |
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with all of the
comprehensive range of screwdriver bits
removed to line up the spacer tube ready
for stub axle to be inserted. That
screwdriver is proving itself to be very
handy addition to your tool kit /
utility belt) |
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slide the stub axle
AND WASHER
into position |
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step 13
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final touching of the nuts
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refasten "A"
nut on the stub axle. Notice how the
valve stem is now on the opposite side
than the nut compared to how it was in
the first photo of step 1. This puts the
valve stem on the inside of the wheel,
lessening the risk of valve stem
extraction during close passing
manoeuvres. |
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you can use custom
blokart® tool #69 which is the upside
down version of custom blokart® tool #96
used in step 1 to tighten "A" loose nut. |
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or you
can mirror the photo from step 1
to hold the stub axle however you may
need to do this while looking in a
mirror to avoid lateral confusion.....
possibly.... I think! |
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THE
IMPORTANT BIT... do the
nut up until its just tight and then
un-do it 1/4 of a turn. This will allow
the axel to move in and out very
slightly and remove any final trace of
dreaded friction. |
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step 14
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the clean up
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wipe up any excess
anything that is seeping out of anywhere |
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the
toothbrush can now be returned to its
original location if its still
marginally cleaner than its owners
teeth. |
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if not ditch it
somewhere and deny everything. |
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step 15
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product testing
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get out
there and discover just how much this
lesson to lessen friction has improved
your pace. |
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