What a difference wheels make! I've been manhandling my rotary cutter around my shop for some time. I knew that if I kept this up, I'd eventually hurt myself, so the other day I got the bright idea to buy a furniture dolly for the front of it while visiting TSC. This made a huge difference. I was able to slide her out of the way against the wall with relative ease. So this got me to thinking. What if I got serious and built a dolly for each piece of equipment. My first attempt was to create one for the tiller.
I knew the tiller weighs in at around 500 lbs, so I picked up four 3" wheels, each rated at 225 lbs. These I fastened to two 2x8's each at 2 1/2' long. Then I boxed in the 2x8 with 2x4's creating the rectangle needed. I reinforced the inside of the 2x8 with a second 2x4 on each end. So it looks like a big open rectangle with the ends heavily reinforced, since that is where all the weight sits.
To keep the tiller from tipping forward or backwards, I anchored it to the dolly with a rachet strap. Despite the fact that it sits of skids, it has a tendency to tip, even if sitting on the floor.
It works quite well. I'm pleased with it for a first attempt, but I now think that larger wheels would have been better. These roll easily enough. However, they are a little stiff when spinning the tiller around to be rolled in a new direction.
So when I start on my next, I'll try the 4 or maybe even 5" wheels.
I'm hooked on this. I had to hook up the tiller, unhook, and roll it away several times just for the joy of it. No more snatching, kicking, or rocking the tractor.
I knew the tiller weighs in at around 500 lbs, so I picked up four 3" wheels, each rated at 225 lbs. These I fastened to two 2x8's each at 2 1/2' long. Then I boxed in the 2x8 with 2x4's creating the rectangle needed. I reinforced the inside of the 2x8 with a second 2x4 on each end. So it looks like a big open rectangle with the ends heavily reinforced, since that is where all the weight sits.
To keep the tiller from tipping forward or backwards, I anchored it to the dolly with a rachet strap. Despite the fact that it sits of skids, it has a tendency to tip, even if sitting on the floor.
It works quite well. I'm pleased with it for a first attempt, but I now think that larger wheels would have been better. These roll easily enough. However, they are a little stiff when spinning the tiller around to be rolled in a new direction.
So when I start on my next, I'll try the 4 or maybe even 5" wheels.
I'm hooked on this. I had to hook up the tiller, unhook, and roll it away several times just for the joy of it. No more snatching, kicking, or rocking the tractor.
