Hi, can I continue to use this axle? The keyway is dented right in the middle. The key itself was bent. A new key fits snug in the 2 opposing holes and lines up with the middle, but will also likely bend when the set screw is tightened. Can I get away with continuing to runt his axle or should I replace?
Kart Republic Rok Shifter
50mm axle w/ reinforcement
No. Replace axle, replace keyaway, inspect sprocket and set screw.
If that was the result of over-tightening the set screw, please send picture of the gorilla-armed human, along with the adamantium-made M4 set screw
All jokes apart, no it’s not safe to drive with a dented axle. Best case scenario is that you tear the keyaway apart, ruin your sprocket, waste a ton of time replacing the whole thing anyways.
I absolutely have 0 shifter experience, so I would listen to others and ignore my post completely (I race 4 cycles). However, that axle looks better than 90% of the axles on my spare axle rack, so I would keep it as an emergency spare.
No hammers were used. I installed a new axle & sprocket due to a sprocket/key failure in the summer of 2024, after purchasing the kart from a prior owner. During the install everything went smooth, only thing i can think of is perhaps I over tightened the set screw. The indent on the key and axle line up with the set screw. Ran the 7-8 races without issue. I started my winter prep for next season and discovered this…
Sprocket and set screw are good. No issues identified there.
I am more concerned about the key holding rather than the indent itself. Since this is a fairly new axle, I thought I would see if I can get away with running it.