Cheap Mower Wheels

CHDinCT · Nov 29, 2010

I was in my local hardware store last weekend and came across a decent selection of galvanized pipe. I had been thinking of a way to make axles and wheels for my 54" MMM so I can stand it up for winter storage in my shed. Gettin' tight in there as I add attachments, etc.

Anyway, they sell 8" and 10" threaded pipe in different diameters along with round flanges normally used to bolt or screw down the pipe to a header or base I guess. The pipe is sold in inside diameter sizes and the 3/4" pipe finished a little over an inch for the OD (I know because I tried using it and it would not fit in the 1" diameter holes where the anti-scalp roller axle fits.) 1/2" pipe finishes about 7/8" for the OD, so I used 10" sections of 1/2" pipe threaded on either end and two 4" flanges that screw on and came up with this for a mower axle. They only had two flanges in this size so I'll go back later this week to get the other two to make the second axle. I tried standing up the deck and rolling it in my garage and it works pretty good. I will add some grease to help it turn in the axle housing. Anyway, thought I'd pass this on for others to try or improve on.

Evil the Weasel · Nov 29, 2010

The problem with this method is you can't pin the pipe because the whole assembly needs to roll as opposed to just the "wheels". Hopefully the flanges do not unscrew themselves either. When you go to stand this up the mower will be able to slide 10" back and forth on the pipe which may or may not be an issue.

SandburRanch · Nov 29, 2010

That's a neat idea.

handirifle · Nov 29, 2010

Pardon my ignorance, and I've seen it before, but what is an "MMM"?

danktx · Nov 29, 2010

Handrifle, MMM is a mid-mount mower, a mower that mounts between the axles of the tractor.

RoMad · Nov 29, 2010

It looks like a pretty good idea for what you are doing. You could buy a piece of thin pipe that will slide over the existing pipe, cut in two pieces and put one on each side for spacers. Then your "wheels" will not wander back and forth when you are pushing it .
What I usually do when I start running out of room is add on to my shed :laughing:

CHDinCT · Nov 30, 2010

Evil the Weasel said:
The problem with this method is you can't pin the pipe because the whole assembly needs to roll as opposed to just the "wheels". Hopefully the flanges do not unscrew themselves either. When you go to stand this up the mower will be able to slide 10" back and forth on the pipe which may or may not be an issue.

Not sure I follow. In my brief trial in the garage, the pipe turned and wheels turned - or maybe you are saying the pipe shouldn't and only the wheels should turn. The flanges are on pretty tight and I don't think they'll unscrew very easily. I really don't plan on moving it around much.

I like the idea of spacers to keep the deck centered. Might see what I have around the house for PVC pipe. That's what I mean on improvements. Forgot to mention this will run me around $10 per axle. I like those axles Larry sells, but just couldn't justify the cost just to store the deck vertically. When I do put it away, I will secure the top edge to my shed wall just in case.

asylum575 · Nov 30, 2010

I have found that having a couple patio blocks to give me 3" or so inches in height is all I need at the base of a cheap handtruck.
I can then lift the MMM upright and secure it to the handtruck with bungees.
No hassle of swapping out pins and wheels and I happened to have an extra hand truck.

Tom_H · Nov 30, 2010

For those who may not be aware, Larry at Carrera,Cayman,BMW,Tow Hook License Plate,John Deere,Kubota (that's moweraxle dot com: scroll down the page to Mower Deck Stands) has been making and selling these for several years. The photos note "patent pending". Making them for yourself should not be a problem, but selling to others commercially would. I bought a set from Larry and they save space. Larry's are smooth solid brass which causes much less friction than galvanized pipe. A lot of rolling the unit around on galvanized pipe could create a little wear in the wheel mount and more wear inside the wheel, especially if you don't lube on some axle grease.

Larry also sells bearing inserts for MMM wheels that extend their lives significantly.

SandburRanch · Nov 30, 2010

CHDinCT said:
Not sure I follow. In my brief trial in the garage, the pipe turned and wheels turned - or maybe you are saying the pipe shouldn't and only the wheels should turn. The flanges are on pretty tight and I don't think they'll unscrew very easily. I really don't plan on moving it around much.

I like the idea of spacers to keep the deck centered. Might see what I have around the house for PVC pipe. That's what I mean on improvements. Forgot to mention this will run me around $10 per axle. I like those axles Larry sells, but just couldn't justify the cost just to store the deck vertically. When I do put it away, I will secure the top edge to my shed wall just in case.

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For anything under turnpike speed it'll be just fine like it is. But if you want to solve the axle movement problem, grind a couple grooves opposite each other with a dremel cut off tool etc. and install a wire spring clip in the notches. And please hold the speed down to a dull roar so no citations have to be issued.:laughing:

kennyd · Nov 30, 2010

Tom_H said:
For those who may not be aware, Larry at Carrera,Cayman,BMW,Tow Hook License Plate,John Deere,Kubota (that's moweraxle dot com: scroll down the page to Mower Deck Stands) has been making and selling these for several years. The photos note "patent pending". Making them for yourself should not be a problem, but selling to others commercially would. I bought a set from Larry and they save space. Larry's are smooth solid brass which causes much less friction than galvanized pipe. A lot of rolling the unit around on galvanized pipe could create a little wear in the wheel mount and more wear inside the wheel, especially if you don't lube on some axle grease.

Larry also sells bearing inserts for MMM wheels that extend their lives significantly.

I have had Larry's axles for about 5 years now-they are indeed a quality product.

FYI though...The axles are solid steel with a yellow chromate finish, not brass.

kennyd · Nov 30, 2010

CHDinCT said:
Not sure I follow. In my brief trial in the garage, the pipe turned and wheels turned - or maybe you are saying the pipe shouldn't and only the wheels should turn. The flanges are on pretty tight and I don't think they'll unscrew very easily. I really don't plan on moving it around much.

I like the idea of spacers to keep the deck centered. Might see what I have around the house for PVC pipe. That's what I mean on improvements. Forgot to mention this will run me around $10 per axle. I like those axles Larry sells, but just couldn't justify the cost just to store the deck vertically. When I do put it away, I will secure the top edge to my shed wall just in case.

The main point about pinning the axle is so it can't wander to one side causing the deck to fall over while your moving it.

CHDinCT · Nov 30, 2010

kennyd said:
The main point about pinning the axle is so it can't wander to one side causing the deck to fall over while your moving it.

Yes, I agree and will make that mod. Now I'm thinking of drilling cross holes and adding a spring clip on either side of the sleeve on the deck - saw that rec. on another site. Really not planning on moving this around too much so the cost benefit of getting a set of axle wheels from Larry didn't work for me. And I have no intention of selling these to anyone (and don't even think I could since it's made of simple, off the shelve parts).

ljellio · Nov 30, 2010

I like the idea my decks are small enough to hang on the wall but I like the concept what if you were to find pipe to fit over the pipe you have easily put a piece over each end so they stick out past the center pipe a few inches . Now drill 1 hole through both pipes on both side to pin them together .this will keep them centered and you don't have to take flags off basically you can pit on and take off with no tools . Could also pin through to keep the whole assembly from turning and get so heavy duty bolt on casters for each corner. Just some thoughts

funwithahoe · Nov 30, 2010

Thanks for the posts - Great ideas. I am no patent attorney but I not 100% sure you can patent a steel bar with wheels attached to it.

Nonetheless, Larry's product does look like a very fine one and useful. If you aren't going to roll it too much or over 35 MPH this likes like a great alternative. I have the 60 inch deck so would have to use the other side to slide the axles through. On that side I think I would have to use larger "wheels".

Has anyone done this?

Thanks to everyone for sharing!!

Tom_H · Nov 30, 2010

kennyd said:
I have had Larry's axles for about 5 years now-they are indeed a quality product.

FYI though...The axles are solid steel with a yellow chromate finish, not brass.

Thanks for the correction.

CHDinCT · Dec 1, 2010

funwithahoe said:
Thanks for the posts - Great ideas. I am no patent attorney but I not 100% sure you can patent a steel bar with wheels attached to it.

Nonetheless, Larry's product does look like a very fine one and useful. If you aren't going to roll it too much or over 35 MPH this likes like a great alternative. I have the 60 inch deck so would have to use the other side to slide the axles through. On that side I think I would have to use larger "wheels".

Has anyone done this?

Thanks to everyone for sharing!!

Just a thought that I had when scheming this up - the flanges have pre-drilled holes to bolt or screw them down to a fixed object and I was thinking of using an 8" hole saw to make 8" wooden wheels and screwing those to the flanges if I needed larger wheels, but these look like they'll work as is. You could take almost any wheel with a large enough hub an bolt them to the flanges if necessary.