I spoke with gary the week before ordering my axle, and while he did not admit there was a problem he told me he was improving the axle nut. the one I have looks and acts very much like the rad lock axle nut. I only have about 3 hrs riding on it since the last time I rode---> still tight, but we'll see if it stays that way

 

I bought the Durablue Eliminator axle for my Raptor from Golden West Cycles (great prices and fast shipping!). This is what happened...

First: The axle came with only one hub nut and I had to drive 75 miles round trip to Dura Blue in Anaheim because their custom slotted hex nut is not available in any stores.

Second: The axle is 1” longer on the right side. When I was at Dura Blue, the owner was there so I asked to speak with him to find out if I had the wrong axle. He blew me off and sent an employee out to tell me “don’t worry about it.”

Third: Because I put in so much effort, I decided to install the axle anyway. But, after tightening the main axle nut, the allen head retainer screw would not tighten or loosen (tried the screwdriver thing) With this, there was no way to keep the nut tight. I tried to use vice grips to get the weak allen screw to move. It wouldn’t.

and...I had to put the spacers on the inside of the hub on the left side on the outside of the hub on the right to make it even. lame.

The stock Raptor axle is too narrow and Durablue should have spent the time and payed the money to re-tool and manufacture a Raptor specific axle. Durablue is capitalizing on Raptor owners by passing Banshee axles off as Raptor axles.

My friend bought the X33 and had no problems. We used the red (heavy) loc-tight on the threads.

 

first to blueleader your axle should have come with a spacer which goes on the chain side and keeps it from being longer on the right. I noticed my axle came with no instructions, when I went on line to download the instructions the first thing they said was to carefully note the position on all the pieces on the axle before starting install, sure would have helped to tell me that to start. sounds like you have a bad axle nut if you cant get the screw loose.
second: after a 2hr ride, my axle nut came loose again, time to give those guys a call

 

mine did the same thing it would loosen
up while riding and the bearings got smoked
so I called and gary said they had a new
nut he send me one for $15.00 and I looked
at that piece of junk and machined the two
and made a lock nut setup like the stock
nuts LIKE IT SHOULD BE GARY!!!!!!!!

 

WOW!!!! I think I am going with the Lonestar axle after reading all this- Hey Gary!!!!!- Sorry man sounds like you haven't got the bugs worked out yet.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

 

Yea i had the same problem with my 2+2 axle, I only tried using loctite on the allen screw and didnt try it on the locnut yet. I noticed mine loosened up alot and didnt know this was a common problem. The stock setup wit the two nuts never came loose on me but ill try to use loctite on the threads and see if it dosent lossen up on me. IT gonna be a scary ride when that locnut decides to come off one of these days. Ill just wait to see what everyone else does about it.

 

I sure wish everyone who considers DuraBlue parts could read this forum!

Unfortunately, I did not research the subject before I bought my X-33. If I had, I would have noticed DuraBlue has far more negative feed back than others. (possibly they are out selling others, which of course, increases the chance for all these problems) Anyway, it is obvious that they don't need to "care" about us, the consumer, because we just keep buying!!

I sure expected more for the premium price...

phil

 

Glad I have been waiting for the RPM Dominator to arrive - the only axle with a true lifetime warranty.

My stock axle nuts have come loose several times. In fact, they have been loose for the better part of the last 8 months. I've been to the dealer twice with it already and it has to go back one more time. Unfortunately, my dealer didn't think it was important enough to invest in the wrench ends that connect to a torque wrench. Yamaha has now convinced them of the importance.

I do like my dealer and don't want to rag on them on a forum since they do eventually get around to helping me...but if you need the info I can send it to you privately. It is all documented and Yamaha Customer Care is working on the issue with my local dealer.

/NotuRaptor

 

I have a Lonestar, and just bought an axle-locking nut that is on the 2002 Raptor. Cost me $30.00 and hopefully the setscrews will assist in keeping it tight. If not I am going to drill a hole in the locking nut and use safety wire to hold it on.

Marty from the Quad Shop highly recommends, using as much grease as possible on the spacers and in the bearing areas to keep the water out. Also if you use the existing axle nut, be sure to clean the threads with rubbing alcohol to assure a clean surface for bonding of loctite.

My Fatty Raptor[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]