Building gauge wheels..??

[Sully2]

I need to make up a pair of gauge wheels.

Anyone have any "plans"..."sketches"..etc they could send me a copy of?? I have the general concept not only in my "pea brain" but also various pics of, but dont know for sure what to use for "bearings" and "brg housings" ( if thats the proper term??) and the shafts etc.

The wheels themselves are easy enough to buy ( they use 5/8's axles) but not even sure what to use for the axles themselves??

Any idea anyone could give me would sure be appreciated!

( They are to be bolted to a landscape rake...and they have to be adjustable for height control)

 

[schmism]

they arnt that complicated....

you build a U frame (thats offset) .... weld a solid 1" (or whatver) rod to the top with a series of holes drilled in it for adjustment.... use washers and pins on either side of a carrier with bushings. they are free to rotate with no complicated bearing assembly. (cept a bit of grease)

(you can fine tune the height with mulitpul washers on the bottom and useing the next closest hole on the top)

 

[Sully2]

they arnt that complicated....

you build a U frame (thats offset) .... weld a solid 1" (or whatver) rod to the top with a series of holes drilled in it for adjustment.... use washers and pins on either side of a carrier with bushings. they are free to rotate with no complicated bearing assembly. (cept a bit of grease)

(you can fine tune the height with mulitpul washers on the bottom and useing the next closest hole on the top)

Well...sort of!! But things like the wheel AXLE?? Wheels I can get, that say they use a 5/8's axle...but they dont have axles??

The "verticle" adjustable "rod". Runs inside of a "tube" How close of a fit does that need to be? Or do you just start trying various sizes rods and get a slip fit to go inside "X" size pipe?? (Meaning a true 1" diameter rod..inside a 2" ID piece of pipe...aint going to work worth doodlie squat)


Its that sort of thing that has me stumped??

 

[Sully2]

they arnt that complicated....

Hey! Thanks for the reply and especially the pic. A guy called me that had seen my post here and gave me more info than I thought I even needed...lol

I appreciate the input!!

 

[schmism]

seems a simple wheel barrow tire would suffice... then its standard 5/8" or whatever rod passed through holes drilled inthe U with cotter pins in the ends.

the rod that comes off the top can pass through some 1" bushings, the closer the fit the better, but 1" sintered bronze bushing are standard at granger and the like....

 

[MadReferee]

Here are threads of two different styles of gauge wheels that I have built. One was for my landscape rake and another was for one of my customers who had a 3pt dethatcher that I built. Each build had their own unique requirements and design. In addition have built several sets of the axle forks for TBN'ers.

Gauge wheels for landscape rake

Light duty gauge wheels

 

[Sully2]

Here are threads of two different styles of gauge wheels that I have built. One was for my landscape rake and another was for one of my customers who had a 3pt dethatcher that I built. Each build had their own unique requirements and design. In addition have built several sets of the axle forks for TBN'ers.

Gauge wheels for landscape rake

Light duty gauge wheels

MUCHO thanks! I've saved every pic... I did a search and your name popped up several times..but every time I clicked on a link you had posted..??..it brought me right back to the homepage?? I guess the stuff had been deleated or ??

Mind if i asked what you used for wheel "Axles"..? They "look" to be hex headed bolts??

Again...mucho thanks

 

[MadReferee]

MUCHO thanks! I've saved every pic... I did a search and your name popped up several times..but every time I clicked on a link you had posted..??..it brought me right back to the homepage?? I guess the stuff had been deleated or ??

Mind if i asked what you used for wheel "Axles"..? They "look" to be hex headed bolts??

Again...mucho thanks

When TBN was upgraded links embedded in existing posts were made unusable. The posts are still there you just have to manually search for them.

The axles on the landscape rake wheels are simply grade 8 bolts. Readily available and not that expensive. It was cheaper for me to buy the bolts than make regular axles on my lathe. Time=money.

The axles on the dethatcher wheels are just plain old grade 5 bolts. The extra strength of a grade 8 bolt was not needed.

 

[3RRL]

If you wanted a little better axle, you can use "shoulder bolts" or "shoulder screws". You can get them with a Ø5/8" shoulder and use hardened washers to space the axle holder from the wheel.
Here is a link to MacMaster Carr but Graingers and a number of other places also carry them. Type in shoulder bolt or screw and click on the picture to see what the look like.
McMaster Carr
Just figure out the length of the shoulder you need. Hold on with a Nylock nut. The nut jams against the end of the shoulder so it doesn't "pinch" the forks shut.
Here is what one looks like with washers in the shoulder part.





You can get them in various diameters and lengths. Get the shoulder length so it is longer than the width of your axle fork, so the shoulder goes completely through both sides. Then space the slop with washers. They work great.

 

[regor66]

Hey MadRef - Could you post the particulars for the landscape rake axle forks? In particular I'm interested in how much angle and how you put the angle in. I'm guessing the verticals are angle cut at the top and the horizontal is welded to them which angles the post??