Rear wheel spindle; advice needed

[Greybeard]

Sorry Beezermac  but I've impulsively bought a new stainless rear axle for my Plunger from a seller on Ebay. First thing is, my existing new, non stainless nut is rather tight so not wanting to seize the threads I contacted the sellers who say, send us your nut and we will make you a new one to fit our axle, (no charge mentioned). Before I hastily posted off the nut I thought I should check the axle diameter of the new item; I had big trouble with Lightning Spares over an axle that was too big to fit. They refused to exchange it or refund my money and after I sent it back for them to examine it I never had it returned!! . I'm glad they are no longer trading!

The new axle turns out to be about 2 thou" smaller than my current genuine axle, so the question is, does it matter that the axle is not a sliding fit in the inner bearing races as it should be; when It's all tightened up the races cannot turn on the axle? Should I use it or return it?

[duTch]

 Hiya GB- with regard to your first paragraph I had a similar issue, and still haven't used that axle, but have used the nut on the inner stub axle. Had same with a front axle nut I bought from there on an axle from somewhere else, thought they'd be a match but not to be...
 Two thou isn't much, but it is two thou....in a different situation I'd say it doesn't matter at all, and in this situation almost same, but not quite, by two thou at one end progressing ~less to the other- if yea kenows whut ah means?
            I be interested in other thoughts

[muskrat]

G'day Gb. I don't think it would matter as when it's all done up the bearings inner should be clamped not allowing any movement.
Any stainless on stainless application (nut & bolt) shouldn't be tight, meaning the nut should spin on without being sloppy. Stainless on stainless will gall if tight.
Cheers

[morris]

Give it a try, but when tightened up, grab the wheel and try to wiggle it. If there's more movement than with the original shaft, I wouldn't use it.
I find that even with a well fitting shaft, like I have on mine, there already is more than enough play to my taste...

[Greybeard]

Thanks fella's.
I cannot fit it because of the tight nut. I'm heartened to hear that as I suspected, once tight the bearing races will not rotate against the axle. I'll just get the suppliers to make me a new nut.