a. Burnt journal (AAR symbol 84). Any burned depression or continuous streak on the surface metal of
the journal or wheel seat may cause the axle to break or cause a hot journal, known as a "hotbox." An axle with
this defect must be removed from service and turned on a lathe. If the defect can be removed without reaching
the wear limits, the axle may be returned to service. If any wear limit given in tables II, III, or IV, is reached or
exceeded, the axle is scrapped.
b. Bent axle (AAR symbol 84-A). All second-hand axles should be checked in the lathe for roundness,
concentricity, and taper of wheel seats and journals after they have been dismounted. If they are bent, they
should be scrapped unless the wheel seats and journals can be trued within the prescribed limits.
c. Broken axle (AAR symbol 85). Any circumferential laps or seams in any portion of the axle can cause
it to break. A broken axle or one with a broken end collar must be scrapped.
d. Back journal fillet (AAR symbol 85-B). The back journal fillet should have the same radius as the
standard radius for a new axle; however, when the fillet is worn it should be restored to the original radius
unless in doing so the journal would exceed the length limits and require the axle to be scrapped. The AAR
rules permit the use of secondhand axles with minimum back fillet radii of 1/8 inch for A axles, 5/16 inch for B
axles, and 3/8 inch for C through F axles. The wheel-defect gage shown in figure 2.3 is used to measure the
back journal fillet.
e. Journal length worn to limit (AAR symbol 85-C). Figure 2.25 shows how to measure the length of a
worn journal, and figure 2.26 shows the gage most commonly used to measure this defect. When the length of
the journal measures 11/16 inch more than the original length of the journal on an axle A through F, the axle
must be removed from service. Axles are usually scrapped because
Figure 2.25. Measurement of Worn Journal.
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