ATC90 axle questions

[twomanyhobbies]

Hi, New (old) guy here.

I picked up a 1978 ATC90 a few months ago. Runs good, but has a few issues. When this machine was built, I worked as a mechanic at a Honda dealership. We saw a lot of these with loose rear axle bearing fits. Back then we had a local machine shop that would repair the axle fits using a spray metal process. Worked great. About half the cost of a new axle back then.

My first question is - what's done for fixing loose bearing fits these days? I haven't had my ATC90 apart. If I'm lucky, maybe it just needs bearings and a little loctite. It doesn't feel too sloppy yet.

Second question - are any tools available for removing axle nuts? When I used to work on these I made a really deep socket (with a piece of water pipe and a cut up impact socket,) and used it with an impact wrench. Worked pretty sweet. I'd settle for a couple of the correct size open end wrenches now.

I'm sure this has all been discussed before - but I couldn't find anything by searching the site.

[DAM shop]

Hi, New (old) guy here.

I picked up a 1978 ATC90 a few months ago. Runs good, but has a few issues. When this machine was built, I worked as a mechanic at a Honda dealership. We saw a lot of these with loose rear axle bearing fits. Back then we had a local machine shop that would repair the axle fits using a spray metal process. Worked great. About half the cost of a new axle back then.

My first question is - what's done for fixing loose bearing fits these days? I haven't had my ATC90 apart. If I'm lucky, maybe it just needs bearings and a little loctite. It doesn't feel too sloppy yet.

Second question - are any tools available for removing axle nuts? When I used to work on these I made a really deep socket (with a piece of water pipe and a cut up impact socket,) and used it with an impact wrench. Worked pretty sweet. I'd settle for a couple of the correct size open end wrenches now.

I'm sure this has all been discussed before - but I couldn't find anything by searching the site.

New bearings should solve your problems. We’ve never had a carrier that was so sloppy that it wouldn’t hold a bearing and we’ve done a lot of these. As far as a axle nut tool yes they make the or at least have made them. It’s more of a open ended wrench style of tool.. we’ve found it just as easy to use channels locks. Can’t remember the size of the nut

[twomanyhobbies]

Thanks for the reply.

The bearing fit problems we ran across were bearing ID to axle. Not as often with the 90's and 110's, but lots of 185's and 200's.

[ATC King]

My first question is - what's done for fixing loose bearing fits these days? .

Beer can? :lol:

Funny, but they for sure get repurposed like that.

As far as a big nut tool, you need a big wrench. I bought a 24" adjustable wrench from Harbor Freight years ago just for ATV axle nuts. They're $30 now. For double nuts, buy two and grind the jaws down on one for holding the inside nut.

[twomanyhobbies]

ATC King,
At least that axle fix is another excuse for having a beer.

[twomanyhobbies]

Thank you, Scorcher!

Heyco does make some good tools. I've had a few others in the past. One of these and my 24" adjustable wrench should do the job.