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kick wheels and attaching motors

updated tue 9 aug 05

 

Marcia Selsor on sat 6 aug 05


Dear Lynn,
Pardon me for being aghast, but the Leach wheel represents a purist
approach to throwing. The rhythm of the treadle and the "one with clay"
ideal of the Leach wheel would seem to be counter motorizing it. -Not
to mention the removal of the treadle and the foot mechanism. These
wheels
are works of art in and of themselves. If you really want a
motorized wheel, I'd bet you could sell the Leach wheel on clayart
and buy a top of the line
factory motorized wheel. It would save you a lot of work and save a
pristine craftsman's tool.
Best wishes,
Marcia
On Aug 6, 2005, at 1:11 PM, claymaker wrote:

> I have a leach wheel and would like to put a motor on it. Does any one
> know what and the how to go about it. I am not seeming to find any
> information that is helpful. Thank you.
>
> ___________

claymaker on sat 6 aug 05


I have a leach wheel and would like to put a motor on it. Does any one
know what and the how to go about it. I am not seeming to find any
information that is helpful. Thank you.

pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sat 6 aug 05


----- Original Message -----
From: "claymaker"


> I have a leach wheel and would like to put a motor on it. Does any one
> know what and the how to go about it. I am not seeming to find any
> information that is helpful. Thank you.


Hi Claymaker,


Usually, the term 'Leach Wheel' connotes a Treadle Wheel, or it does to me
anyway, which if motorised, should likely have the Treadle lever prudently
and kindly removed.

Depending on the surrounding structure of the Fly Wheel, there can be more
than one way to drive it from an Electric Motor - a belt could be able to
regard the Fly Wheel as a pully for example, and run directly on it if the
Fly Wheel were thick enough and flat on it's periphery...the Fly Wheel could
be removed and a vee-grove could be cut into it or additional material added
to effect e vee-groove, then be re-installed...or maybe a vee-groove could
be cut into in in place if the Fly Wheel is made of laminated Wood, or, a
Rubber nose or drive-element could be fitted to a Motor and with the Motor
hinged, allow one to engauge or disingauge it at will.

A cone-shaped friction drive, fitted to a Motor or shaft, able to be raised
or lowered under tension, could allow a range of speeds in direct-drive...

Images of your Wheel might help for me or others to tell more about your
practical options.

Is the Fly Wheel made of laminated Wood?


Phil
las vegas

Vince Pitelka on sat 6 aug 05


>I have a leach wheel and would like to put a motor on it. Does any one
> know what and the how to go about it. I am not seeming to find any
> information that is helpful. Thank you.

Oh . . . that would indeed be a great shame. The Leach-style treadle wheel
is a wonderful exercise in the mechanical efficiency of a human-powered
device. I cannot imagine a practical way to apply a motor to a Leach wheel,
because under motor power, the treadle would be slapping back and forth,
trying to whack you in the leg. If you want a motorized wheel, I suggest
you buy a motorized wheel and keep the Leach wheel to be used as it was
intended.
Good luck -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/

Brian Gracia on sat 6 aug 05


At 02:11 PM 8/6/2005, you wrote:

>I have a leach wheel and would like to put a motor on it. Does any one
>know what and the how to go about it. I am not seeming to find any
>information that is helpful. Thank you.

Well, I would first call around and find out what size HP motor most have
on their wheels. I would then use a little algebra, geometry and trig to
take the diameter of the kick wheel then use the RPM of the motor and
select or make a traction gear that rides against the kick wheel. You can
get foot pedals for on/off and speed regulator switches that control the
speed of the motor. The motor should have a mounting plate on the
side. You can then wire the motor for cw/ccw rotation.

Brian G.


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Tom at Hutchtel.net on mon 8 aug 05


I would suspect one of the issues you'd have in putting a motor on a Leach
wheel, it it is a real one, is that the wheel has a wood, quite light
flywheel. 1. the wheel would wear very rapidly, 2. with no momentum, the
power would have to be pretty much full time.

I have to agree with Marcia, why would ou want to. I'm looking forward to
throwing all weekend on mine at the Forest City Stockade. The rythm and
feel of the wheel would be ruined by a motor.

JMO (just my opinion

Tom Wirt