Nevin Murtha on tue 25 sep 01
Hi,
If the bushing is rubber you could use a silicon based lubricant. Stay away
from petroleum based ones which could degrade the rubber.
Nevin Murtha
n.murtha@worldnet.att.net
-----Original Message-----
From: k.m.whipple@ATT.NET
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 10:15 PM
Subject: Randall wheel fix-it question
>I'm having an infrequently recurring problem with my
>Randall kick wheel. There is a rubber bushing, just
>above the top bearing, that holds the wheel shaft in
>place. From time to time, the bushing seems to lose its
>lubrication and starts dragging against the shaft as it
>turns (it goes wheeeernk wheeeernk wheeernk :) The last
>time it happened, a friend simply put some kind of
>lubricant on the bushing and solved the problem--only I
>don't remember what he used. Anybody know the right kind
>of lube for this situation?
>Thanks,
>Kathy Whipple
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
k.m.whipple@ATT.NET on tue 25 sep 01
I'm having an infrequently recurring problem with my
Randall kick wheel. There is a rubber bushing, just
above the top bearing, that holds the wheel shaft in
place. From time to time, the bushing seems to lose its
lubrication and starts dragging against the shaft as it
turns (it goes wheeeernk wheeeernk wheeernk :) The last
time it happened, a friend simply put some kind of
lubricant on the bushing and solved the problem--only I
don't remember what he used. Anybody know the right kind
of lube for this situation?
Thanks,
Kathy Whipple
Cheryl Hoffman on wed 26 sep 01
Hi Kathy, I also have a Randall that periodically makes a strange noise. My
Hubby used automotive brake fluid (not too much -- just a drop or two) and
the problem is solved...for a while anyway. Does yours have a bucket head?
And if so, does your bucket come off the shaft so that the "yuck" in the
basin can be cleaned out easily? I'm not sure if mine is rusted on or if
that's how they're made...it was used when I got it. Noise and all, I love
my Randall.
Cher Hoffman
scott lykens on wed 26 sep 01
This certainley could have been an aftermarket addition, but all the
randalls i have played wiht have grease fittings. The kind that go on cars
and take axle grease. If it is a part that isnt menat to be greased and
isnt suppose to be making noises, i wonder if it needs to be replaced.
Randall made a wonderful machine and it would be a shame to damage a shaft
or even ruin a $20 bearing to save on a 50 cent rubber washer. I beleive
that when machines make screaming noises at us, they are calling out like
young children. You machine needs love and attention. Be nice to it and it
will last longer than you will.
Ive heard romantic stories about Randall wheels, Wheels so old, the owners
have died and new owners have traded them for things more flashy and then
you go on a nice little camping trip and you find one covered in rust and
forest. You take it home cover it with pb blaster, grease the fittings and
get the motor rebuilt.
>From: Nevin Murtha
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Randall wheel fix-it question
>Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 23:07:25 -0400
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>Hi,
>
>If the bushing is rubber you could use a silicon based lubricant. Stay
>away
>from petroleum based ones which could degrade the rubber.
>
>Nevin Murtha
>
>n.murtha@worldnet.att.net
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: k.m.whipple@ATT.NET
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 10:15 PM
>Subject: Randall wheel fix-it question
>
>
> >I'm having an infrequently recurring problem with my
> >Randall kick wheel. There is a rubber bushing, just
> >above the top bearing, that holds the wheel shaft in
> >place. From time to time, the bushing seems to lose its
> >lubrication and starts dragging against the shaft as it
> >turns (it goes wheeeernk wheeeernk wheeernk :) The last
> >time it happened, a friend simply put some kind of
> >lubricant on the bushing and solved the problem--only I
> >don't remember what he used. Anybody know the right kind
> >of lube for this situation?
> >Thanks,
> >Kathy Whipple
> >
> >___________________________________________________________________________
>___
> >Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> >You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> >settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> >Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
_________________________________________________________________
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MaryBeth Bishop on thu 27 sep 01
Sing, sing the praises of kick wheels in general and Randalls at the moment.
My bucket head does come off but I can't do it myself. I could earlier on
but left it in place too long. I have tried spraying WD40 to no avail. This
is on the list of things to ask for when I have a strong man's attention. It
doesn't really matter as I have sufficient plaster bats, but it would be more
convenient if I could switch the heads back and forth again so maybe I'll do
something to charm my husband into giving it a try. There is some corrosion
or something that builds up and I only clean my wheel when I am changing
clays or going away for a while and sometimes do a less than thorough
job...ie not taking the head off.
My more urgent question has to do with the motor drive. I am just not at all
competent in machine talk. Don't know the proper name for anything, much
less its function usually. So in my simple terms, what I think is happening
is that there is either insufficient contact between the "hockey puck" thing
that the motor makes spin and the edge of the flywheel. The "puck" goes
really fast but my flywheel maximum speed is lower than it used to be. The
rim of the flywheel is really smooth and I don't know if there is something I
should do to increase traction or if use has worn something off the "puck" or
both or whatever. One thing that has kept me from asking this question
earlier is how stupid I sound trying to talk about it. Laugh at me. It's
okay. When I step on the peddle it does come into contact with the flywheel,
still it seems there is more loss of power than I remember. Useable
obviously...a kickwheel is useable with no power...still the inefficiency
bothers me and seems a sign of attention being wanted.
So, to the question. Can someone tell me what I should do and even as
importantly what I should not try?
Thanks. Hopefully today I will finally make some pots.
Mary Beth Bishop
DEBBYGrant@AOL.COM on thu 27 sep 01
I have had a Randall wheel for 41 years now. I know it is 41 because it
was a gift from my husband after our third child was born and he was 41
last May. It doesn't make any funny noises. The only repair it's ever
needed was a new rubber drive wheel and I did have the motor rewound
once. I do have a bucket head and it does come off the shaft with a hard
twist. It can get rusted on if it is not removed often enough. Then you've
got a problem. Once you do get it off a little WD40 on the shaft head
does wonders. I love that Randall because it is so easy on my back and
is so versatile. If I don't use the motor I can go backwards and forwards
and as slowly as is needful. I do all of my slip decorating on it. I also
have a Brent on which I do most of my trimming. When I first got the
Brent I abandoned the Randall for a while and threw on the Brent until I
injured my lower back. Somehow the position you are in on the Randall
is a lot easier on the body. That's my take on it anyway. If your Randall
is making noise I advise you to call the company at 716-461-0136. Though
they are not manufacturing wheels anymore I think they are still in business
for parts.
Debby Grant in NH
John Baymore on fri 28 sep 01
Mary Beth,
Couple of thoughts.....
My bucket head does come off but I can't do it myself. I could earlier o=
n
but left it in place too long. I have tried spraying WD40 to no avail. =
If it is really stuck on there.... a gear puller will get it right off wi=
th
minimal muscle power. You can find these at good hardware stores. Get o=
ne
to fit the diameter of the bucket head....they come in sizes. You don't
need the really good ones (expensive), just the cheapest import one you c=
an
find. Handy tool to have around the "pot shop" anyway.
The tapered top end of the shaft has probably gotten rusty and rough over=
time and that is contributing to the "sticking". Or maybe you dropped th=
e
bucket head on the part that mates with the shaft and it is now out of
round or has a flat spot. A little visual inspection might reveal the
reason.
Watch getting a lot of water on the shaft end....... it'll rust, get roug=
h,
and stick worse.
It is also possible that you are getting some pitting and ewrrosion of th=
e
cast aluminum wheelhead where it meets the shaft. The content of your
water and the clay-ie slurry around the wheelhead can affect this.
So in my simple terms, what I think is happening
is that there is either insufficient contact between the "hockey puck"
thing
that the motor makes spin and the edge of the flywheel. The "puck" goes
really fast but my flywheel maximum speed is lower than it used to be. =
The drive on these wheels is not called a friction drive for nothing .=
=
The friction between the SOFT puck and the HARD flywheel is what transfer=
s
the energy from the motor to the wheel. It isn't a perfect transfer. Th=
at
friction slowly wears away the softer puck. As the diameter of the puck
decreases, the amount that the large flywheel rotates for each full
rotation of the puck decreases....... so the top speed decreases. The
constant top speed is determined by the ratio of the diameter of the puck=
to the diameter of the flywheel. So... the puck is probably getting smal=
l
enough that you percieve it as a problem. =
Solution...... replace the drive wheel (puck). Call one of the suppliers=
that handles the Randall wheel.
It is also possible that the edge of the flywheel is all smooth from the
puck polishing (like a grinding wheel) the flywheel edge and filling in t=
he
roughness with little bits of itself. Clean the edge of the flywheel wel=
l
with water and a wire brush. See if that doesn't make it "grippier". Cl=
ay
dust that gets on the flywheel and then is used as a "grinding medium"
between the soft puck and the flywheel can make this situation even worse=
. =
In that case you might want to roughen the flywheel up with a body grinde=
r
and appropraite grinding medium (all eye, hand, and respiratory safety
precautions for grinding apply ). And try to keep clay off of the
flywheel to minimize this action.
Hope this is of help.
Best,
..............................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JohnBaymore.com
JBaymore@compuserve.com
John.Baymore@GSD-CO.com
"Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop 2002 Dates TBA"
Snail Scott on sat 29 sep 01
Some auto-parts stores have a rent-a-tool program.
For a small fee plus a larger (refundable) deposit
you can use lots of useful tools you'd never want
to actually buy, including pullers. Auto Zone has
such a service, as do others.
-Snail
at 04:03 PM 9/28/01 -0400, you wrote:
>>My bucket head does come off but I can't do it myself. I could earlier on
>>but left it in place too long. I have tried spraying WD40 to no avail.
>
>If it is really stuck on there.... a gear puller will get it right off with
>minimal muscle power. You can find these at good hardware stores.
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