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Gallery, Projects and General => Gallery => Topic started by: AdeV on January 26, 2011, 06:45:38 AM

Title: Steerable castors
Post by: AdeV on January 26, 2011, 06:45:38 AM
Some time ago, I dropped on a proper eBay bargain, and snagged 18 5" castor wheels for a measly 20 squids delivered:

(http://lister-engine.com/pics/castor-01.jpg)

A few more squids were handed over to Bearing Station in return for a set of axial needle roller bearings; and the lathe was fired up for a bit of turning malarkey. The results are now in:

(http://lister-engine.com/pics/castor-02.jpg)

The red plate had a 25mm hole bored in it, followed by a 42x1.5mm recess for the bearing. The "spigot" was turned from a remnant of steel bar I had left over, and was turn to be a close sliding fit through the plate & bearing, and also through the centre hole of the castor plate. Drilled & tapped for an M6 bolt, which, in conjunction with a big washer, is used to hold the castor in place. It's not particularly tight, just tight enough to remove any slop.

Assembled:

(http://lister-engine.com/pics/castor-03.jpg)

The castor now swivels wonderfully :) The only problem is, because the axis of rotation is directly above the centre of the wheel, it's not self-steering.... No problem, Mk2 will be 2 plates sandwiching the bearing, with the castor bolted on at an offset, so it will steer exactly like a shopping trolley (i.e. anywhere but where you want it to go!  :D)
Title: Re: Steerable castors
Post by: Mike Cole on January 31, 2011, 01:57:01 PM
They look like good strong castors, are you planning to do all 18 and put your workshop on wheels :wave:.
Title: Re: Steerable castors
Post by: Jonny on January 31, 2011, 02:52:28 PM
Aaagh you had them, i bottled out couldnt lift more than 5 1/2"
A trip to the local woods proved even cheaper.
Title: Re: Steerable castors
Post by: AdeV on January 31, 2011, 08:00:47 PM
Mike:  :lol: I think I'd need a few more than 18 to move my workshop....

In fact, I only wanted 6 (to put under a heavy engine) & later thought of a use for another 4; I ended up with 18 because at 99p for 9 (2 auctions), I couldn't just ignore them... but some sod (Jonny?  :lol:) bid 9 quid on one of the 2 batches, which basically doubled the price I had to pay  :bang:

Still, at just over a quid each delivered, even a Yorkshireman ought to approve.

Title: Re: Steerable castors
Post by: Pete. on January 31, 2011, 10:34:51 PM
You know an easy way to make those self-steering would be to cut the forks off near the top of the flat section at say 10 degrees angle then flip them round and re-weld.
Title: Re: Steerable castors
Post by: Jonny on February 01, 2011, 06:43:35 AM
Dont think i actually bid Ade.

By the way the 2 supermarket trolley wheels were welded on to two plates, 4 each end, trouble is i cant left it to even get something under. No room to swing a cat.
Two weeks and back on the lathe setup.