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kick wheel ideas

updated thu 25 jan 01

 

Don Hoskisson on wed 24 jan 01


Penni,
Marcia's description for the fly wheel is a good
solution. The only concern is to make sure the
weight is even (balanced). If you can turn the
wheel on its side, the heavier side will turn to
have the weight at the end closer to the ground.
If you once get it balanced, then keep the gravel
from each compartment separate during transport,
and marked to return to the right spot.

I've made several wheels over the years (over 20).
One wheel used car axles (2) for the shaft and bearing
system. It had a fly wheel 36" D with 2 1/2" of
cast concrete on a 3/4" plywood board. The fly
wheel weighed about 130 pounds. It would turn
forever. I made another wheel using a Cat tractor
fly wheel as the fly wheel. The fly wheel is 18"
in diameter and weighs 185 pounds. Good bearings.
It is very compact (only 6" longer in length than
a Brent electric), but it slows down way to fast.
The fly wheel diameter and weight make a big
difference in how long a wheel will turn (per kick).
A third wheel (kick) uses a Cat fly wheel that
weighs over 210 pounds and 19" in diameter.
It is about the same performance as the 18" wheel.
By the way I use a motor (AC) on the 18" and
20" wheels--makes a compact effective "kick wheel."

Don Hoskisson, Western Oregon University

>From: Marcia Selsor, selsor@imt.net
>I had a fly wheel that had two pylwood circles sandwiching pie shapes
>with 2x4s. Inside the pie shapes was gravel. -to whatever weight you
>like. To move it, unscrew the plywood circle and slide it up the shaft
>to empty. Fill it at the next location.
>The gravel migrates to the outside once spinning. I liked it at about
>100 lbs.
>Marcia
>
>Penni Stoddart wrote:
>>
>> I am hoping to build a kick or treadle wheel that I can use at historic
>re-enactments I go to in the summers. Originally I wanted to get a York
>Kick wheel from Axner but the duties, exchange and taxes were more then a
>little overwhelming! I have found several plans for wheels on the net,
>that is not the problem. What I need to know is how small can the fly
>wheel be without being unproductive? Also what else can I use as a fly
>wheel besides concrete (ie, round metal car parts) The wheel will need to
>fit into the back of my Sable Station Wagon - along with everything else I
>take to a re-enactment. And it needs to be portable enough that I can lug
>it around.