Hi all,

I have had the rear spindle zinc plated which has turned well, but it has stopped it fitting into the hub bearing because of the size increase of the shaft. I want to remove the plating on the bearing faces, but don't want to machine the spindle. Has anyone removed the plating with and paint strippers or rust removal fluids before ?

Thats odd Ive had a number of axles plated and never had to remove any to fit them back In hub.

I have seen the same question asked on another forum.
The consensus was; when plating spindles, just get the head and the threads dipped, not the shaft.
If it was a close fit before; adding even a thin plating layer causes the spindle to nip on the bearings.

One thing is for sure; paint stripper won't cut it, it barely removes cellulose paint nowadays.


Either get it stripped by the plater and just get the ends redone or judicious use of abrasive papers if you can get it
spun in a lathe.

Some readily available acids will remove it but MAY cause embrittlement.( best read up on it.)

The best way to remove it is to stick it in a lathe and get some 80 grit emery cloth to bring it back down to size. Try and get hold of the original shaft diameter and I'll polish the plating off for you if you want.

Just to add, you won't get the plating off with paint stripper or rust removal treatment!

Well I know the plating doesnt stand up to the heat a rear manifold gets up too so could try a blow torch to remove it

If you do that, be very very careful with the blow torch. Get it too hot and you might anneal the steel...

As spikenipple said stick it in a lathe,
If you don't have a lathe hold it in a vice,I would use 100 or 120 grit emery cloth the stuff on a roll,
With one end in the left hand and the other in the right hand.Nice fast linnishing strokes it will soon come off,
It will probably take you 5mins.

Thanks for all your advice, last night i got chance to have another look at it. I used some emery cloth on the two bearing surfaces and it went in with a slight tap with a wodded mallet. It must of only been a couple of thow larger.