axle size #s

jworth said:

I need to order new axles/cones, etc. to rebuild a hub. What I am seeing when I look for them is size numbers like this:
10x26x135x146

Ok, what do each of the #s mean? Maybe the first is diameter of the axle, the second maybe thread pitch (threads/in?), I figure one of the last two is the length of the axle. I don't know what the other would be. Any help would be greatly appreciated. For what it's worth, I asked the vender and he wasn't much help.

I believe the last number (146) in the sequence is the total axle length ...

You can shorten a longer axle, but you can't lengthen a shorter axle.

Are you sure that you REALLY need anything more than new bearings?

jworth said:

I need to order new axles/cones, etc. to rebuild a hub. What I am seeing when I look for them is size numbers like this:
10x26x135x146

Ok, what do each of the #s mean? Maybe the first is diameter of the axle, the second maybe thread pitch (threads/in?), I figure one of the last two is the length of the axle. I don't know what the other would be. Any help would be greatly appreciated. For what it's worth, I asked the vender and he wasn't much help.

10 by 26 means 10mm in diameter and '26' is thread pitch/threads per inch (as opposed to 10 by 1). 135 is the frame rear spacing it's made for and 146mm is the total length.

You can shorten any axle, just put one of the locknuts on forst, cut, clean the end and then use the locknut to clean up the threads as you take it off.

Thanks, That helps a lot. How about for the bottom bracket axle? As I recall it has similar numbers but of course, that's one solid piece. Maybe I can figure that part out.

jworth said:

How about for the bottom bracket axle? As I recall it has similar numbers but of course, that's one solid piece. Maybe I can figure that part out.

There will usually be two number -- the smaller of the two will usually be the width of the BB shell (e.g., 68mm, 70mm, 73mm) and the second will be the spindle length.

The most suitable BB spindle length depends on the frame & type of crank.