I received the 3" wheel spacers for my Kubota. Excited, I grabbed my tools and spacers and drove 1.5 hours to our lot in Oceanside where the tractor resides and we prepare to build our retirement home.
I should have checked my 22mm socket in the spacer first, but never thought it wouldn't fit. It didn't. Not an entirely wasted trip, but I learned a valuable lesson. When I returned home, I ordered the thinnest walled 22mm deep socket I could find. It showed up on my doorstep this morning, and while closer, the OD was too big to fit.
Keep in mind, I'm a novice at turning, but had prepared myself that I might have to turn down the socket to fit. I used this carbide tool on my Colchester master 6.5. There's a picture of the business end in the next photo. I tested it on some scrap before taking it to the socket and it performed fine, but not great.
I chucked up the socket to remove the necessary .075". I got it done, but it was painful and the finished product is embarrassing. It fits and hopefully won't break when I torque the spacers to spec. I think I'll be fine. I've read posts before about members turning chrome tools and it was difficult, but I don't remember what was discussed to make it better. My lathe max RPM is 1,000 and that's what I used, and fed by hand. Lots of heat and a rats nest. I played with DOC between .005 and .010, and it didn't seem to make much difference. I made several passes and tried a .002 finish pass. It fits fine with the slightest, I'm guessing a thou or two clearance, that I hope will be enough to fit onto the lug nuts.
I'm a little surprised the spacer manufacturer didn't say anything about a special socket, but I'll email them to see what they say. I doubt I'm the first person to experience this. Their machine work is excellent.
Thanks for looking and your suggestions.
