Automobile Hubs and Axles

[Kane]

Hello all!

I've been around here for some time now, but I would like to ask a question if I may. I have next to zero knowledge about car axles, tires and hubs. I would like to take a trip down to the wreckers and see if I could find some wheels and axles to use on my mill, but I haven't a clue what I'd be looking for. I realize I need 18" plus wheels on axles of 1 1/2" diameter. What vehicles should I go looking for them under? Do I need front or rear axles, or both; do I need drive wheels or just the slaves?

I'd like to be able to get the axle and hub all in one piece so hopefully I won't have to get them balanced or anything. Is it out of the question to expect to find something like this? Can anybody point me in the correct direction?

Thanks so much, Brent

[r.man]

Greetings Kane and welcome. When using pneumatic tires for band wheels you have three common possibilities at least. The first is to use tires, rims and axles from a vehicle. This involves adding bearings to the axles and sizing a drive pulley for one of the axles. The second is to use non axle tires and rims that have their own bearing. This set-up requires you to either add a pulley to the inside of one of the rims or drive the one tire with a belt directly on the tire. The third common method is the same as the second except trailer hubs with stub axles are used. This is my preference because of availability, for me, as well as size, weight, ease of use etc. The hubs I am using came off a rusted out tent trailer from New Jersey. Small world. Hope this helps and if I haven't been clear enough then speak up and ask. That is what is so good about this forum. I think it is Trents mill in the gallery that uses non axle car tires and an added pulley to the rim. The gallery is invaluable. One commercial manufacturer uses the trailer set up. Turner I think. Good luck.

[r.man]

Brent, just did a little memory refreshing in the gallery etc. It is Turner that uses trailer wheels, just search Turner Sawmill. Trents gallery pics show his non axle hubs with the added pulley mounted on the rim and at the end of Jaws gallery after the pics of a beautiful little mill are pics of his homemade log arch which says it uses Honda Civic hubs that appear to be bolt on stubs. Hope that helps.

[wm49]

Welcome Kane,
If you can find a VW Jetta at a junk yard and buy both rear axle/hub assemblies with the rims and tires you will have what I believe to be one of the best ways to start a band saw. I bough mine for $90. for all. I would have paid $150. but when the man said $90. I paid him real fast before he changed his mind. If you read my previous post you will find directions to Grizzly.com and there you will find a parts list that shows how to use this type of assembly. Please keep in mind that you will be using the wheels and tires from the VW. I am out of time but I hope this helps.
William

[Kane]

r.man:

Where would I begin to look for trailer hubs and stub axles? The wrecker, or would it be better to search for this item new? I'm in small-town Canada, and finding stuff is a pain in the butt. I can find trailer tires with rims at Canadian Tire, but don't know where to look for the hubs and stub axles...

Thanks for the help... Brent

[jtbartlett]

As with everything, you get what you pay for. Goto the wrecker and see what they have. Sometimes you get lucky. I seldom get anything junked that doesn't require additional time and money to make reliably functional. If I were building on tires and stub axles I would buy new. No wear, replacement parts easily available. Try someone like Northern Tool & Equipment to compare prices. There are probably large dealers in Canada who sell the same items. If you get a good deal from the junkyard, great!, but Check and recheck everything.

[r.man]

Brent, define small town Canada. If you want new you could try Princess Auto or most auto parts store. When I think cheap and used I mean really cheap as in someone gives it to me. I almost turned down the trailer that my hubs came from until I saw that it had almost new tires, rims and lights with harness so I changed my mind and retrieved it. It was going into the local dump so I was actually doing the woman a favour by saving her some work. Originally I was taking it to the dump until I saw the rims and lights. I am not concerned about potential wear since with my design swapping stub axles will be fairly easy. If you do look for trailer hubs try for 12 inch rims although one of the saws in the gallery used the smaller rims. I think it was Billsmill. The only real drawback with the smaller tires is band life. Potentially an expensive problem over the long term but not bad in the short. Good luck in your search.

[Kane]

Small-town Canada is 5000 people I suppose... lol!

Ahhh, thanks so much for the help r.man! I found an old tent trailer on Craig's list for $300 bucks... an old "Sportscraft" the guy says it is. Perhaps I will go take a peek at it and see if it's got the axles I can use.

I do have to wonder about the axle thicknesses on these tent trailers... perhaps I should go with a truck axle...

I wonder what size/thickness steel they normally use for a tent-trailer frame? Perhaps I could use it for my saw carriage...

Do you have a gallery r/man? I'd like to see your setup...

Okay, thanks! Brent

[r.man]

Brent, I don't have a gallery, so far pictures posting has been hit and miss with me. I am only about half done or less since I don't know how long the rest will take. Haven't been able to do anything lately partly due to work and partly to a problem with my track steel. This heat wave hasn't helped either, just want to be in front of a fan. Brutal humidity. Yesterday I was doing a very physical job for the first part of the day and then had to work in the sun on a step ladder for the last of the day. Hopefully the heat will break in a few days and I will be able to get back to building my saw.

[Kane]

I'm wondering if somebody would be able to tell me the correct name for the hubs with a through-bore in them so the axle can be supported on either side of the tires? A hub with a 4 or 5 bolt pattern and an inside bore of 1 7/16" or greater? Perhaps if I know what they're called I can source some parts... Thanks. Brent

[dozer326]

Are you talking about pillow block bearings?? Or are you talking about something else?