how to initialize "tightinset" for new axes?

The tightinset property for axes is not being initialized properly for new axes. I'm unfamiliar with how should be done .... but .... do we essentially need to add

sync_positions ();

... to graphics.cc(axes::initialize)?

void
axes::initialize (const graphics_object& go)

base_graphics_object::initialize (go);

xinitialize (xproperties.get_title ());
xinitialize (xproperties.get_xlabel ());
xinitialize (xproperties.get_ylabel ());
xinitialize (xproperties.get_zlabel ());

Since sync_positions() is out of the scope of axes::initialize, how can that be done?

Ben