Before you go off & purchase a new 'pumpkin' or parts for it, PLEASE inspect the the splines inside the ring gear. The ring gear is a hardened component; as such it 'should be' harder than the drive flange and should NOT experience the same wear as the flange (sorry Daniel). That's not to say the ring gear isn't worn, however, particularly if the drive flange is excessively worn. Just inspect it carefully before you start throwing $$$$ around.
No apology needed. Obviously you should make sure you need a part before you replace it...but..
I've never seen a valk or a wing with a worn wheel flange that the mate in the pumpkin also wasn't shot. Not one.
If the wheel splines were worn, their mate was equally worn.
I suspect those splines are NOT harder than the wheel flange...the ring-gear sure, but the spline component is pressed into it and so could be different metal.
Anyway, check it out.
Well crud. I didn't think about having to replace the part in the pumpkin. I am sure this has been asked and answered a thousand times but how expensive is it and how difficult a job is it?
I think your best bet cost-wise is to pick up a used but good pumpkin on ebay or pinwall etc. They generally go for far less than the parts to repair in.
Be careful when you put it back together. These parts should not normally wear appreciably (mine are 130k+ miles with no visible wear)...it's order of assembly and/or bad bearings that tear 'em up. Hint...tighten the 4 nuts that hold the pumpkin to the swing arm AFTER the axle has been torqued. This is the single most important step in rear wheel replacement.
