water tank to lawn roller ideas needed...

/pine · Mar 20, 2016

I have a 30gal. galvanized water tank I would like to make into a 3ph (or pull behind) roller...
I want to be able to fill the tank with water for weight...I can exit the center of both ends of the tank with 3/4" pipe for axle ends...these can be capped off...but...I'm looking for the best way to attach the the beams to the 3/4" pipes...

Standard 3/4" pipe (galv. or black iron) has an OD of 1.05"...can I hone out 1" pillow block bearings to fit the pipe?...do I really need roller/ball bearings?...I've also considered using some milled oak timbers with bored holes...?
looking for some ideas...

bcp · Mar 20, 2016

I would probably use steel rod in bronze bushings. Still low cost but stronger than water pipe.

Maybe use 3pt hitch pins and bushings.

Bruce

/pine · Mar 20, 2016

bcp said:
I would probably use steel rod in bronze bushings. Still low cost but stronger than water pipe.

Maybe use 3pt hitch pins and bushings.

Bruce

The bottom of the cylinder extends about 8" (base) below the actual vessel...I also have to reduce the bottom center opening from 1.5" to 3/4"...as well as welding in some band iron spokes to support the 3/4" pipe at the bottom...

Depending on what I might glean from the collective brain trust of TBN...I'm considering some bored lignum vitae blocks bolted to whatever I may use for beams...

jenkinsph · Mar 20, 2016

Doesn't take much to grind off .05 of an inch off the pipe ends then use the pillow block flange bearings to fasten to the frame work. Much easier to grind the pipe down than the hardened bearings. Since the bearings inner race doesn't have to turn on the pipe and just mates with it precision isn't necessary.

Most of the 30 gallon sized plastic rollers do not have bearings at all. Don't over think it just build it

/pine · Mar 20, 2016

jenkinsph said:
Doesn't take much to grind off .05 of an inch off the pipe ends then use the pillow block flange bearings to fasten to the frame work. Much easier to grind the pipe down than the hardened bearings. Since the bearings inner race doesn't have to turn on the pipe and just mates with it precision isn't necessary.

Most of the 30 gallon sized plastic rollers do not have bearings at all. Don't over think it just build it

I get it...I'm actually considering just an oak frame with some through bolted iron brackets for just a pull behind version...

This is sort of a rush job so that I can get a small task* done and then improve on the frame and add 3ph pins/points...

* This is one of several attachments that I will be making/adapting/improvising for a much bigger project (landscaped putting green) that I've been clearing and cutting trees for...I've got it to the point where I'm ready to prepare some plots for testing different (bent) grass seed variates (mostly for shade tolerance)...I need a roller ASAP....

lamanated · Mar 21, 2016

One thing, My tank was a 200 gal?propane tank, the tractor BX2360, still has more weight on the ground contact area than the roller, so the tank roller doesnt push the tire imprint down.. i wish it did, so when i roll the driveway. its perfectly smooth

jenkinsph · Mar 21, 2016

I don't think a water tank or propane tank is a good choice for rolling a driveway. It can help a little but the tank wall is thin enough to flex enough that the contact area is increased enough to reduce compaction.

I am building a roller right now that is 18" steel pipe with a 1/2" wall and concrete filled. Even this will have limited value on a driveway. It will work for compacting soil though.