Author Topic: Available wheels (Read 4321 times)

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?

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #1 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

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #2 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.

Steve

Jim Thomerson · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2010, 08:26:31 PM »

Take a look here. http://www.lcsperformance.com/

Brett Buck · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2010, 09:05:45 PM »

Quote from: 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?

I use the Dave Brown Lectra-Lite wheels. They wear quickly but they are cheap and pretty narrow.

Brett

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #5 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.

These would be "E-flite" wheels. They will wear quickly I imagine.

Wynn Robins · « **Reply #6 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

eric conley · « **Reply #7 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.

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2010, 10:16:40 PM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on June 15, 2010, 09:05:45 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.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #9 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.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #10 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

how thin are you actually thinking, the racing wheels wear well, and they are thin.

Jim Thomerson · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2010, 11:13:44 AM »

Are Glenn Lee's wheels still available?

Randy Powell · « **Reply #12 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.

Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach · « **Reply #13 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.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2010, 04:21:05 PM »

Quote from: 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.

The Dave Brown wheels *do* wear quickly.

Brett

Bill Sawyer · « **Reply #15 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.

Jim Thomerson · « **Reply #16 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.

Bill Little · « **Reply #17 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.

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?

Big Bear

Randy Powell · « **Reply #18 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.

Bill Little · « **Reply #19 on:** July 06, 2010, 05:23:35 PM »

Quote from: 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.

Hi Randy, douse them with water and put them in the freezer overnight, it works even better!

(old trick! LOL!!)

Your BEST bet is the wheels from Mark W.

Big Bear