Bent axle pin to account for (7)
I believe the answer is:
explain
'account for' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'bent axle pin' is the wordplay.
'bent' indicates an anagram.
'axle'+'pin'='axlepin'
'axlepin' is an anagram of 'EXPLAIN'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for explain that I've seen before include "Make (something) clear" , "Elucidate, make clear" , "Show the whys and wherefores" , "area affected by mountain formation?" , "Elucidate, clarify" .)