Making One Tire Into Two.

[Iplayfarmer]

I was once pronouced by a group of phychiatrists that I worked for in college to be the most sane person they knew. This thread may prove them wrong.

Here's what I want to do: I want to take a rear lawn mower tires in the first picture and make each one into two narrower tires. And, I want to do this without ever taking the tire off the rim or the rim off the axle.

Crazy, huh?

The whole purpose is to make drive wheels for the tracks in the second picture. It could work quite nicely. The wheels are the same width as the track, and the diameter of the wheels works real well with the size of the tracks to. All I need is a gap in the middle of each wheel for the chain in the middle of the track to ride in. The project is a small scale half track for the kids (and me) to drive around. I'm planning to use the transmission from the mower to drive the half track.

Here's how I plan to do it. I'll remove the valve stem and fill each tire with enough of some kind of resin or liquid something-that-hardens to make one side of the tire. I'll set the whole assembly on end to allow the stuff to cure. Then I'll flip the whole thing over and do it again. When everything has set, I'll cut the middle of the tire out. Voila! One tire is now two.

Here's the question: What kind of liquid something-that-hardens should I use?

 

[rambler]

I'd say just use the tire foam like a forklift or other type of punture proof tire would get.

But.

You are going to put a lot of stress on that middle gap. I'm not sure how the foam will handle that type of stress? The foam likes to have the old tire case holding it all together. Cut out thew middle stripe, and it might get all wobbly & not very tough any more....

--->Paul

 

[woodlandfarms]

good luck cutting the tire.. It is not easy...

 

[Redneck in training]

You might be better off to glue two rings in example made from tires of larger diameter to the tire to create the gap. Or make new smooth inside tracks by cutting sides of large tractor tire off.

 

[bobodu]

Use some space saver spares from cars...

 

[mcd176]

What are you putting the tracks on?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I thought of the foam, but I had similar concerns as Rambler. Whatever I use is going to need some serious durability to withstand the friction and the forces of the center cleat. I've also considered covering the molded tire halves with something after the fact to protect them. Possibly something replaceable. It would be nice if there were some kind of liquid galvanized rubber that sets up nicely at room temperature, but I think that would be asking too much.

I may glue some kind of strip on the outside of the tire. The center part of those tracks is abotu 3 inches tall. I'd have to probably use multiple layers of some kind of rubber. The problem there is that it increases the diameter of the end result by 6 inches. No a deal killer, but I kind of like how the halftrack would look with the diameter of the tires as they are.

If I were to glue strips on the outside of the tires, what kind of glue would you recommend?

Space saver tires from cars would be way too big. The actual O.D. of these tires I'm going to use is only 16".

 

[bigtiller]

It sounds like some Unobtainium would be the perfect fix for your project.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

It sounds like some Unobtainium would be the perfect fix for your project.

I would love to get some.

In the mean time, isn't there some kind of liquid resin or epoxy that would fit the bill? I have time on my side as we'll be taking a few months to make the frame, get the engine running, etc. Cure time is not an issue.

 

[BrentD]

Epoxy resin should do the trick nicely. You can buy it by the 5-gallon bucket. (or equivalent. It's 2-part stuff) If you want extra strength out of it, shred some fiberglass mat into the mix before pouring into the tire.