traction engine wheels

This topic has 12 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 2 December 2018 at 08:02 by David Bothwell 1.

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29 November 2018 at 16:34 #382925
David Bothwell 1
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@davidbothwell1
I have just bought a set of wheels for a 2" traction engine, I agreed to take them without the inner rings fitted. I am scratching my head as to the best way to fix the rings. My idea was to drill from the outer of the wheel into the ring and fix with small (6ba or 8ba) countersunk screws. They are too big for silver solder, but any suggestion/advice would be most helpful, I will be covering the wheels with rubber tyres (hopefully)
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29 November 2018 at 16:34 #33319
David Bothwell 1
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@davidbothwell1
fixing inner rings
29 November 2018 at 17:46 #382942
JasonB
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@jasonb
Welding is the usual way, just watch that you don't put a curve into the rim.
29 November 2018 at 18:09 #382951
David Bothwell 1
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@davidbothwell1
Thanks Jason, I have an arc welder, need to brush up my skills
29 November 2018 at 19:24 #382961
Anonymous
I don't think (small) screws would last five minutes. As JasonB says welding is the way to go. I arc welded my 4" rims, messy but they aren't going to come apart. Some of the professionally welded wheels I've seen have been very neatly done with MIG. At 2" scale I'd be tempted to try TIG welding. I did try TIG on some samples before I chose to arc weld my rims, but the sections were too heavy for my level of skill. I did manage to get a banana shaped rim, although JasonB was kind enough not to point it out when he saw my wheels last weekend. But if you're going to get rubber tyres fitted it doesn't really matter.

Andrew
29 November 2018 at 19:26 #382963
David Bothwell 1
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@davidbothwell1
Many thanks Andrew, I am coming round to welding, I did Mig welding in kitchen equipment a long time ago (pre 1980) may even try Tig
29 November 2018 at 20:48 #382976
Paul Lousick
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@paullousick59116
For small wheels, silver solderring/brazing is another option
29 November 2018 at 21:31 #382981
DMB
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@dmb
Mig and Tig welds are rather different in that one leaves a convex finish and the other, concave, the latter looking much better. Go for Tig. As for banana rims, they will deform the rubber tyres to the same shape but after some use causing wear in the middle it will become less obvious
30 November 2018 at 07:16 #383009
David Bothwell 1
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@davidbothwell1
Thanks for the very useful advice. Thinking of sending out to a pro welder
30 November 2018 at 07:43 #383012
JasonB
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@jasonb
You may get away with silver soldering the fronts, the main problem that I have found when soldering something into a ring is that the ring tends to expand more than the disc inside so the joint gap gets too big for the solder to bridge.

Largest I have done were from 140mm tube for some engine cart wheels.

I thought I had a picture of some nicely tig welded rims but can't fine it now. You may get away with having then done in small sections rather than fully welded all round which would keep the costs down if farming it out. Don't know where abouts you are but these people weld the rims for one of the ME suppliers
30 November 2018 at 08:29 #383015
David Bothwell 1
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@davidbothwell1
Thanks Jason, I think the firm you mentioned is a bit far from me, but I have found a local welding firm, awaiting a quote, I am in West Yorkshire, so by the time postage there and back would be prohibitive
1 December 2018 at 20:22 #383261
vintage engineer
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@vintageengineer
You can drill hole trough the outer rim an spot weld them with a mig welder. This will cut down distortion
2 December 2018 at 08:02 #383290
David Bothwell 1
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@davidbothwell1
Thanks Vintage, that seems a very good idea, might have to but a MIG welder
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