Fishing Mate Cart Question

[HighCap56]

Got my JR Cart today and assembled it.

The washers supplied for the wheels leave a little play for the wheels to slide a little side to side on the axles and I am not sure that is a good thing.

I was thinking about adding some nylon washers to take up the play.

Comments?

[johnnyleo11]

I would pack nylon washers in there to keep the sand out. The sand will definitely weaken the axles if they're made of aluminum. Even if they're not made of aluminum, it would be good practice to fill the space with nylon washers. It would keep some of the squeak factor down when carting it around.

[HighCap56]

The axle is aluminum. When you say "pack" I assume you mean to fill the gap with them where the play is.

I wish I could devise a way to totally seal the axle at the wheel to stop ANY sand, but as the wheel turns and not the axle.. no can do.

I can glue the washers together if I can'f find one wide enough to fill the entire gap.

If that axle turned I could make a CV style of boot for it....

Thinking of mods already... Fish must not be biting right now....

[BentHook]

On my SR. cart I had some play on the wheels. When loaded down and pulling the cart on a slope the wheels would rub the frame of the cart. The factory lock washer or whatever that was include just didn't do the job. I drilled a hole thru the axle and put in a Stainless Steel washer with a cotter pin to keep it from sliding. There is about 1/4" of free play for the wheel to move and it doesn't rub the frame anymore.

[noah]

Benthooks suggestion works but remember by drilling the hole you'll void the warranty offered by the manufactor if the axle snaps while the carts loaded. That extra side to side play was built in as a happy medium in the carts design to allow for axle load flexing at maximum load. There were also considerations given to the expansion rates of the metal, washers. ie, that occurs in the extreme summer temps. These carts have been on the retail market long enough now that issues like these were taken into consideration during test product development. Un-altered carts have a historical record of very few breakage issues surrounding the carts actual design.

[BubbaBlue]

Two words: shaft collars.

Dump the cheapo lock washers, get an axle 2" longer and add 4 stainless shaft collars.

Bob, I wouldn't worry too much about the sand. Just hose it off when you get back each time.
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