Cheap Wheels

Discussion area for builders of Pietenpol aircraft, both beginners and experienced folks. Share ideas, ask questions and help build the Pietenpol community.
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danoliver
Posts: 89
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:58 am
Location: Cincinnati

Cheap Wheels

Post by danoliver »

Hey just passing this on.
I just bought a set of 21" rims and spokes from BMI Karts in Versailles, OH. https://www.bmikarts.com/
The rims are $20 ea. and a set of spokes is $30.
The guy said they bought some huge quantity of these things from a bankruptcy and now they're just trying to get them off the shelf.
I was skeptical at that price but they seem pretty nice.
I weighed the rims (bathroom scale) 6.4 lbs ea.
Spokes and nipples 3 lbs per set.
The steel thickness on the rims (including chrome of course) measures .075".
The spokes measure .158" dia with 10-32 threads.

Rather than make hubs first and then order special spokes to match, I'm hoping I can make my hubs to match these spokes. Wish me luck.
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tom kreiner
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:49 am

Re: Cheap Wheels

Post by tom kreiner »

Dan,

I'd like to suggest you read up on the wheel topic by reviewing this link: http://www.westcoastpiet.com/wire_wheels.htm There's quite a bit of discussion on the WCP site about wheels from several guys, including Mike Cuy, whose plane is top notch.

While it's a nice thought to use the spokes that come with the rims, and save a few bucks, they may not work. Unlike a motorcycle, airplane wheels have significant side loads, which in turn require a significantly different angle to support. This has been widely discussed, and I think both sites will have searchable threads to read up on the subject.
EAB4
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 2:08 pm

Re: Cheap Wheels

Post by EAB4 »

Dan

I second what Tom said, a lot of good info in those pages from people that have been there and have planes that work.
(the only thing I would disagree with is straight-laced spokes. While they do look "original" they make a wheel that is
weaker in side loads than a cross-laced wheel whether using brakes or not)

I can fully understand wanting to save money on these projects, but I think you would be better off waiting to find some quality rims
and spokes.
danoliver
Posts: 89
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:58 am
Location: Cincinnati

Re: Cheap Wheels

Post by danoliver »

Fellas, thanks for your concern. Criticism is always welcome, especially when it's safety related. I guess I misrepresented my intentions. I do plan on going with the 6" wide hubs hacked from 4130 steel, I'm just hoping to adjust the spoke hole locations to accommodate the standard length spokes. The difference between where they land on a motorcycle width hub and a 6" wide hub looks like only about 5/16" with an angular difference of around 8 deg. Seems like small potatoes to me, at least in theory. I'll let you know if the geometry works out in practice once I've tried building one.
EAB4
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 2:08 pm

Re: Cheap Wheels

Post by EAB4 »

Dan,

My concern was not in how you are planning on making the wheels but the quality of parts you are using.
Yes, you are going to use 4130 for the hub, but then you have the unknown Chinese steel in the rims and spokes.

But, this is experimental aviation and we all have our own level of safety and acceptable risk and you can use whatever you like on your aircraft,
but they are not of the quality I would recommend for an aircraft wheel.
CuBob
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 6:36 pm

Re: Cheap Wheels

Post by CuBob »

Does anyone have a source for hubs.
EAB4
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 2:08 pm

Re: Cheap Wheels

Post by EAB4 »

adapting motorcycle hubs, or making your own are the most common sources
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