Hub tool

[Malburg114]

Well my girlfriend says buying tools gives me joy and I’m good at spending money on old junk I don’t need so I’m making these “hub tools” to help pay for more tools and car parts lol. Something I made for myself but ended up getting a ton of interest from people asking me to make more.

They are made from 1 3/4 6061 Aluminum bar stock. They’re roughly 3 inches tall with 2 inches of knurling and a slot big enough to go into the locking hubs and turn.

If anyone else runs hubs and they’re hard to turn and needs one let me know. I’m trying to get the measurements for warn, Toyota and other common hubs to make them to fit.

Otherwise just a cool project I’m having fun making and practicing on.

And some pictures of the lathe and mill I’m using.

 

[PAE]

Broached with a 1/2 square hole might be useful.

 

[Malburg114]

Broached with a 1/2 square hole might be useful.

I’ve had guys say that but not sure how to actually do it. I’ve been offering to put wrench flats on the back as well for a 7/8 or 3/4 wrench. I will say my driver side hub takes a wrench with a screwdriver I’m the end to turn and with this and knurling I can now turn it by hand.

 

[PAE]

Start with a round hole and run the broach thru with a press.

 

[Malburg114]

Start with a round hole and run the broach thru with a press.

Makes sense. I’ll look into them.

 

[IowaOffRoad]

Broached with a 1/2 square hole might be useful.

Seems like a good way to durability test lockout hubs

Want to watch what happens when someone sticks a high-torque cordless impact on one. What would give first, the tool slot or the lockout?

OP, good looking tool though! What they worth? I carry pliers so I don't 'need' one, but they are cool enough for a conversation piece if nothing else.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Or poke a sideways hole, like one of these:

 

[white-rhino]

You might be on to something. I have a couple of these but they appear to be discontinued. I looked it up to show you the irregular shape which gives good gripping power. I think the knurl may not offer good enough grip and needing to pull out an additional wrench or bar makes it more cumbersome. Good luck with your project.

R&P The Hubber Hub Tools

Whether you're looking to maintain, optimize, or upgrade, we offer competitive pricing on R&P The Hubber Hub Tools for your Truck or Jeep at 4 Wheel Parts. With our selection of quality brands and expert advice, we help boost your vehicle's performance and make a statement on or off the road.

www.4wheelparts.com

 

[bgaidan]

You might be on to something. I have a couple of these but they appear to be discontinued. I looked it up to show you the irregular shape which gives good gripping power. I think the knurl may not offer good enough grip and needing to pull out an additional wrench or bar makes it more cumbersome. Good luck with your project.

R&P The Hubber Hub Tools

Whether you're looking to maintain, optimize, or upgrade, we offer competitive pricing on R&P The Hubber Hub Tools for your Truck or Jeep at 4 Wheel Parts. With our selection of quality brands and expert advice, we help boost your vehicle's performance and make a statement on or off the road.

www.4wheelparts.com

I have one of those and it works great on my rigs with slightly smashed hubs.

I've been meaning to model it so I can 3d print more or even mill them on the CNC.....just haven't had the time to sit down and draw it up.



Although there are a couple sellers on Etsy with them already....

Or I might just steel OP's idea, except start with a chunk of 3" and turn the business side down to 1.5" so I have a bigger "handle" to work with.

 

[arse_sidewards]

I’ve had guys say that but not sure how to actually do it. I’ve been offering to put wrench flats on the back as well for a 7/8 or 3/4 wrench. I will say my driver side hub takes a wrench with a screwdriver I’m the end to turn and with this and knurling I can now turn it by hand.

Rotabroach.

Frankly it would be cheaper, faster and more flexibile to just drill a through hole that you can fit the handle 99% of 1/2 drive ratchets and breaker bars through. That way you can also jamb the handle of a channel locks, screwdriver, or whatever else in there.

That said, if you need that much leverage on your hubs something else is fucked up.

Furthermore, you could just mill a slot in hex stock. It can already be gripped pretty well without knurling and it comes with flats for your wrench, obviously less bling tho.

 

[white-rhino]

That said, if you need that much leverage on your hubs something else is fucked up.

I would agree with this. I've never NOT been able to unlock my hubs with my Hubber. Sometimes it requires rocking the tire front to back to release any preload. Needing a wrench or bar just seems cumbersome. Last thing I want to do is start digging into my tool box simply to unlock my hubs.

 

[PAE]

Have a dedicated tool that's at the ready stored in a door pouch or there abouts.

 

[Malburg114]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I plan to practice to see if I can mill a 1/2 in hex into the end for a ratchet but like most have said they don’t want the extra tools. I normally keep a crescent wrench in my glove box which is why I didn’t think wrench flats would be bad.

I will say my driver side hub is so tight I normally have to use said crescent wrench with a screwdriver through eye to turn the hub and with this and knurling I can get it to turn no issue.


As for adding a star or something else to the end I don’t really have the capability.

As of now I’ve been selling them on Facebook and Instagram from 60 shipped with just the knurl and 80 with wrench flats for a 3/4 in wrench.

 

[Duc]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I plan to practice to see if I can mill a 1/2 in hex into the end for a ratchet but like most have said they don’t want the extra tools. I normally keep a crescent wrench in my glove box which is why I didn’t think wrench flats would be bad.

I will say my driver side hub is so tight I normally have to use said crescent wrench with a screwdriver through eye to turn the hub and with this and knurling I can get it to turn no issue.


As for adding a star or something else to the end I don’t really have the capability.

As of now I’ve been selling them on Facebook and Instagram from 60 shipped with just the knurl and 80 with wrench flats for a 3/4 in wrench.

Use a rotary broach to make it quick and easy. Not sure I would do 1/2" but more 3/8".

Rotary Broach Tool Holder .750inch Shank for .500inch x 1.75inch Broach

100% brand new itemCome with 2 years

www.godpt.com

Not sure how long it will last but still a crap load better than manually milling it. This is a hex tool but you can buy a square tool for the rotary broach.

 

[arse_sidewards]

Use a rotary broach to make it quick and easy. Not sure I would do 1/2" but more 3/8".

They can go as big as your wallet. The larger sizes are $$$ and you might have to grind your own tools.

 

[Malburg114]

Use a rotary broach to make it quick and easy. Not sure I would do 1/2" but more 3/8".

Rotary Broach Tool Holder .750inch Shank for .500inch x 1.75inch Broach

100% brand new itemCome with 2 years

www.godpt.com

Not sure how long it will last but still a crap load better than manually milling it. This is a hex tool but you can buy a square tool for the rotary broach.

Never seen those before in use till I just watched a YouTube video. Super cool and I may invest in a 3/8 square one. Wrench flats are still easier or even a hole through the side for a screwdriver as I think those are more common tools people keep on hand or easy to grab vs a ratchet but I may have to get one of those just to try.

 

[vetteboy79]

Rotabroach.

Just to clarify, is not the tool you meant to reference. Those are annular cutters

 

[PAE]

I like the simplicity of the hole in the material at 90° to the part for a common 18 or so length of half inch pipe.

Easier to make than a square or hex broached hole, cheaper than buying extra tools.

It is also used as a Jack handle in most hydraulic Jack's so common to have in a tool box or in a door side pocket / pouch.

 

[arse_sidewards]

Just to clarify, is not the tool you meant to reference. Those are annular cutters

Their fault for making the name so close.

 

[Malburg114]

Just shipped 9 of them out yesterday. I’ll do another run of 10-20 her soon

 

[rockyota83]

you guys should probably take your hubs apart and clean/grease them if you need a tool to unlock them

 

[Malburg114]

you guys should probably take your hubs apart and clean/grease them if you need a tool to unlock them

You ever had a Yukon hub get stuck or just be hard to turn in general? They’re notorious for being hard. My passenger turns no problem. Driver has always gave me issues no matter what I did to it and I’ve had it apart several times.

 

[rockyota83]

yes i have, its been solved by cleaning up the splines inside the hub with a file, cleaning it good, lightly greasing it including the dial o ring. this is on both yukon 35 spline hubs and factory 30yr old hubs, the yukons spin so smoothly every time i spin them im impressed.

they can also be hard to unlock if youre bound up from turning, throw it in reverse back up in a straight line then pull back forward and they unlock like butter.


im just giving you guys shit though cool tool you made with your even cooler tools

 

[bgaidan]

yes i have, its been solved by cleaning up the splines inside the hub with a file, cleaning it good, lightly greasing it including the dial o ring. this is on both yukon 35 spline hubs and factory 30yr old hubs, the yukons spin so smoothly every time i spin them im impressed.

they can also be hard to unlock if youre bound up from turning, throw it in reverse back up in a straight line then pull back forward and they unlock like butter.


im just giving you guys shit though cool tool you made with your even cooler tools

Mine are usually smashed up from getting beat on the rocks and just barely turn with some persuasion. I probably have a total of 8 pairs of warns and I just piece them back together with the best parts from the pile every time I break one.

 

[Malburg114]

Still making these. Sold quite a few. Have a bunch made and ready to ship. Fit ford hubs and Yukon. Also made a few that fit warn hubs (test hub was off a Dana 44).

60 on the regular ones shipped

80 on the warn ones shipped

 

[Duc]

Still making these. Sold quite a few. Have a bunch made and ready to ship. Fit ford hubs and Yukon. Also made a few that fit warn hubs (test hub was off a Dana 44).

60 on the regular ones shipped

80 on the warn ones shipped

You might want to look into having someone knock this out on a cnc unless it fills free time at home.


Good job on finding a niche market.

Edit: The machining cost will probably be low if your wanting to run a few at a time. Shoot me a PM if you interested.

 

[Malburg114]

You might want to look into having someone knock this out on a cnc unless it fills free time at home.


Good job on finding a niche market.

Edit: The machining cost will probably be low if your wanting to run a few at a time. Shoot me a PM if you interested.

It doesn’t take very long to make them. Maybe a few hours for a batch of 10. I’m sure cnc would be faster and save me time but I don’t sell enough to outsource them.

I’ll shoot you a pm just cause I’m curious.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

yes i have, its been solved by cleaning up the splines inside the hub with a file, cleaning it good, lightly greasing it including the dial o ring. this is on both yukon 35 spline hubs and factory 30yr old hubs, the yukons spin so smoothly every time i spin them im impressed.

they can also be hard to unlock if youre bound up from turning, throw it in reverse back up in a straight line then pull back forward and they unlock like butter.


im just giving you guys shit though cool tool you made with your even cooler tools

Came to say the same thing. Although I still wouldn't mind the tool for those times when it's 0* out and my fingers don't feel very strong

 

[bgaidan]

Heh....forgot about this thread.

I modeled one up a couple months ago to play with the 3D printer. Mostly works, but my tolerances are way too tight and it takes a bit of force to get it in the hub. I need to shrink it down bit and give it more of a hot dog + hallway fit.

Finish on the top was shit from the supports too

 

[Malburg114]

Heh....forgot about this thread.

I modeled one up a couple months ago to play with the 3D printer. Mostly works, but my tolerances are way too tight and it takes a bit of force to get it in the hub. I need to shrink it down bit and give it more of a hot dog + hallway fit.

Finish on the top was shit from the supports too

Those look good. I ended up picking up a broach for an Allen key for another idea. I still need to get one for a 3/8 ratchet. Most people seem to like wrench flats though for a 3/4 in wrench as well.

How do you get the material to hold together and be strong enough? I got a knob for my tube bender for the release from a buddy and the first day it chipped and broke apart.