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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Randy Powell on June 15, 2010, 01:16:39 PM

Title: Available wheels
Post by: Randy Powell on June 15, 2010, 01:16:39 PM
So, what wheels are currently available that are at least 2" in diameter (2.25" would be better) that are narrow? I looked at the Brodak electric wheels, but they tire ("O" ring) is very soft. Something a little more stout would be nice.

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Mark Scarborough on June 15, 2010, 05:24:04 PM
Joe Just has some racing wheels that are pretty cool, you can also get ball bearing racing wheels from Darryl Cady, ( pylon racing) they hold up really well and they are definetly firm. and definitely narrow
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Steve Helmick on June 15, 2010, 07:49:43 PM
Hanger 9 Pro-Lite wheels are pretty neat. Not as light as Dave Brown Electrics, but pretty narrow and rather handsome. Available in 1/4" increments. Ultimate Hobby usually has some sizes, but not all, and you never know what size they will have.  :P Steve
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Jim Thomerson on June 15, 2010, 08:26:31 PM
Take a look here.  http://www.lcsperformance.com/
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Brett Buck on June 15, 2010, 09:05:45 PM
So, what wheels are currently available that are at least 2" in diameter (2.25" would be better) that are narrow? I looked at the Brodak electric wheels, but they tire ("O" ring) is very soft. Something a little more stout would be nice.

Any thoughts?

  I use the Dave Brown Lectra-Lite wheels. They wear quickly but they are cheap and pretty narrow.
   
    Brett
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Balsa Butcher on June 15, 2010, 09:08:26 PM
Here's a pic of my current favorite wheel. Very light, 7/16" wide at the hub for the 2 1/4" size. Tires are 3/8" wide. I just put a set of 2" on my Olympic as the original wheels I used were rubbing against the wheel pants. The bad news is that I can't find the package so don't have info on the manufacturer etc. Maybe someone recognizes them. If not, I should be going by the shop where I bought them this weekend and will get the info.  8)

These would be "E-flite" wheels. They will wear quickly I imagine.  :(
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Wynn Robins on June 15, 2010, 09:30:14 PM
tons of wheels here too..

http://hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?catname=Wheels%2FLanding+Gear&idCategory=123&ParentCat=58
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: eric conley on June 15, 2010, 09:44:32 PM
     Mark Warwashana (734-449-7355) has wheels that are 3/8" wide at the hub and are 2.25" in diameter. The hub is 5/8" in diameter and is a brass casting, the tire is a hard rubber. This wheel is shaped like the racing wheels you see on team racing planes.
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Clint Ormosen on June 15, 2010, 10:16:40 PM
  I use the Dave Brown Lectra-Lite wheels. They wear quickly but they are cheap and pretty narrow.
   
    Brett


Ditto here. Very light weight. Also, they look nice with their thin, rounded, and treaded tire.
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Randy Powell on June 16, 2010, 10:28:42 AM
Thanks guys. I'm building a plane that is designed for very narrow wheelpants and wanted to find some sort of narrow wheel that would not wear out quickly.
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Mark Scarborough on June 16, 2010, 10:56:56 AM
Randy,
you WANT it to wear out quickly?
hmm ok so I theorize that you desire to intentionaly build in something so you know where it will fail right? lol LL~ LL~

how thin are you actually thinking, the racing wheels wear well, and they are thin.
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Jim Thomerson on June 16, 2010, 11:13:44 AM
Are Glenn Lee's wheels still available?
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Randy Powell on June 17, 2010, 09:57:03 AM
Sorry Mark. Typo and I fixed it.

What I really want is wheels like the Brodak Electric wheels (with the white spokes) but with a better tire. I tried looking for "O" rings to replace the tires, but haven't been able to find ones that really fit.
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach on June 17, 2010, 10:41:56 AM
Usually an excellent selection of 'O' rings in a veriety of densities, can be found at farm impliment dealerships. H^^
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Brett Buck on June 17, 2010, 04:21:05 PM
Thanks guys. I'm building a plane that is designed for very narrow wheelpants and wanted to find some sort of narrow wheel that would not wear out quickly.
   The Dave Brown wheels *do* wear quickly.

    Brett
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Bill Sawyer on June 18, 2010, 07:04:14 PM
I wanted a hard tire on a narrow hub but couldn't find exactly what I wanted. The closest thing was the Hangar 9 wheels. By carefully sanding them on the belt sander I was able to take a good bit of width off the tires. I sanded the tires flat with the hubs. This left the rubber looking more like dust than black so I used a scripty pen to darken the tires. It worked real good and I was able to trim off about 1/8 of the total width. I did take just a bit of fingernail and skin off with the belt sander and had to " go fetch" them a few times when the sander got the best of my grip but well worth the effort.
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Jim Thomerson on June 18, 2010, 09:15:43 PM
I've been using the "poker chip" wheels from the source I cited. They have 2 1/4 wheels.  They do not wear. 
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Bill Little on July 05, 2010, 03:16:59 AM
Eric said:
Quote
Mark Warwashana (734-449-7355) has wheels that are 3/8" wide at the hub and are 2.25" in diameter.

These are, to my understanding, clones of the old Veco "grasscutters".  The hard streamlined tires we use to always use on the I-Beamers with sexy wheel pants.  ;D   Have to order some when my present supply is gone.

Tom Morris, Jim Snelson, and Randy Smith all sell the Dave Brown sponge wheels for thos of us with no in town Hobby Shop. 

Hey, Randy!  Take apart wheel pants are a breeze, so what difference does th e tire make?   n~  n~ <=  y1 LL~  LL~  H^^

Big Bear
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Randy Powell on July 06, 2010, 10:03:39 AM
Bill,

I just wanted a narrow wheel with a fairly hard tire. Rubber rather than foam.

On a side note, I shorten or thin wheels (and more appropriately tires) by running a screw as an axle and chucking it up in a drill press then use a sanding block to take the tire down or thin it or whatever. Work real well.
Title: Re: Available wheels
Post by: Bill Little on July 06, 2010, 05:23:35 PM
Bill,

I just wanted a narrow wheel with a fairly hard tire. Rubber rather than foam.

On a side note, I shorten or thin wheels (and more appropriately tires) by running a screw as an axle and chucking it up in a drill press then use a sanding block to take the tire down or thin it or whatever. Work real well.

Hi Randy, douse them with water and put them in the freezer overnight, it works even better! ;D  (old trick! LOL!!)

Your BEST bet is the wheels from Mark W.

Big Bear