Axle Mod

[tommykendall]

After farking with a tire mod a couple times, I finally did the axle mod last night. Hoisted the Bandera, removed tires and axle, drilled holes at each end of the axle, reassembled and secured with pins.

Guess what? - I betcha it doesn't last long. The farking pins are already bent to turds, and because of the pin length I think they'll start digging well into the plastic wheel. And NO ONE better tell me to try using those dumb ass metal rimmed lawnmower wheels from Home Depot.

Guess we'll have to wait and see but I ain't optimistic. [/img]

Frog Mod is next. :roll:

[willkat98]

I still like the "digging and grinding into the driveway" visual you told us about with the wheel experiment.

[nthole]

There have got to be some solid usable wheels from somewhere we can replace these things with.

Someone get one that...

[chathorne]

?? ? ? ? what is wrong with the lawnmower wheels ??

[chad]

Both Northern Tools www.northerntool.com and Harbor Freight www.harborfreight.com have utility wheels/tires. Obviously the weight of the Bandera has to be considered but they've had some wheels used for utility carts that should work. If I was having your problems I'd consider going to an 8" wheelbarrow wheel even if I had to up the size of the casters on the firebox end.

Good luck in the search.

[tommykendall]

?? ? ? ? what is wrong with the lawnmower wheels ??

Oh my god - my farking head is going to explode. :shock:

If I only had a digital camera at the time. The weight of the smoker creates a lot of pressure between the ground (driveway) and the steel rim of the tire. This causes the rubber to buckle, especially during the higher temperature months. The top of my driveway is on a very slight incline, so when factoring in heat and weight, the rubber section of the tire buckles so badly, one section of the tire is basically metal rim to the driveway.

You would have to be perfectly level to prevent it.

[Mark]

I would approach the wheel mod issue based upon how often you need to move the BD, what type surfaces you need to cross and how far. Most folk just park it and forget it or just move it out of the garage and on the the driveway. No need to do anything really. Maybe consider getting some more "industrial" hard rubber casters. Plenty on ebay. Assuming you cater or something and need to move the BD across lawns and such then pneumatic-type wheel barrow tires could be adapted. Plenty on ebay as well. The problem is such tires are prone to leak. Then the BD won't be level.

As an alternative to all the above, if your circumstances warrant, consider removing all the wheels from the BD and place it on a steel mesh garden cart such as this one at harbor freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=54419

Plenty of stuff like this on ebay too. For example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2349816575&category=3186

Mark (STL)

[tommykendall]

Wagon mod (had to beat Bill to it)

[badger]

The problem is such tires are prone to leak. Then the BD won't be level.

As an alternative to all the above, if your circumstances warrant, consider removing all the wheels from the BD and place it on a steel mesh garden cart such as this one at harbor freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=54419


Mark,

I agree that these tires are prone to leak, leaving the BD at different levels. But even if you place the Bandera on this "steel mesh garden cart" since there are four 10 " pneumatic tires mounted to the cart that are prone to leakage, I don't know if this is any better?

Am I thinking correctly? or did I miss something?

John

[SoCalCraigster]

A couple of things:

-the garden cart is a cool idea. Lowes has them for $69 bucks. Would have to modify the base cus the firebox would be a shoulder height. I figure that I would look like a hobit standing next to it.

-I bet whatever wheel Klose uses would be easily adaptable to the dera.

[Oldtimer]

Hell I need a step ladder to load wood now guess you other farkers will have to get on the ladder wagon.

[chad]

agree that these tires are prone to leak, leaving the BD at different levels. But even if you place the Bandera on this "steel mesh garden cart" since there are four 10 " pneumatic tires mounted to the cart that are prone to leakage, I don't know if this is any better?


I'm taking a wild guess that nobody's heard of Slime and/or a freakin' air pump??

We sound like a bunch of farking engineers -- ask what time it is and get a discussion on how to build a watch! :D

[Mark]

I resemble that comment David but take no offense. Actually, wheel mods are silly for the average BD owner. My suggestions are for folk who really need to transport their BD frequently.

Lets take a poll;
1. how many of you have wheelbarrows whose tires hold air?
2. how many of you relish the idea of pumping up your bandera before every use?

The way I would do it (if I really had the need to) would be to:
1. take the wheels of the BD and trash them
2. Buy the steel mesh garden cart (seems like Lowes has the best price) and use it as such.
3. If and when I need to move my BD, load it on the cart.

Having said that, I could see a handle mod on the side of the smoke box for lifting purposes and perhaps some way to help secure the wheel-less BD to the cart since its a rather top-heavy SOB.

Mark (STL)

[chad]

I don't think the discussion is silly! Really :D

1. my tires don't go flat and if they do I pump 'em up -- that's what Slime is for :D
2. if they went flat I'd leave 'em flat until I had to move the thing

It's just that we are over analyzing the situation. If TK can find appropriately weight rated wheels, preferably solid (everyone seems to freak about losing air :D), then his problem should be solved. Well, Phil's BYC weighs a heck of a lot more than the Bandera -- hence why not replace the Bandera wheels with something similar to what Klose uses.

That's all.

If it was me I'd use 8" wheel barrow wheels -- like I used when I built my canoe carrier -- I didn't have to deal with the weight but had to deal with making something to "carry" my canoe .25 or .50 miles down a trail to the river. They're inexpensive, 5/8" axle hole with bearings, etc.

The cart idea would work but the Bandera is top heavy as it is. I'd be real careful loading it on a cart -- but there I go over-analyzing the situation again, sorry!

Just my $.02 worth -- wasn't trying to dis anyone in particular :D

[badger]

agree that these tires are prone to leak, leaving the BD at different levels. But even if you place the Bandera on this "steel mesh garden cart" since there are four 10 " pneumatic tires mounted to the cart that are prone to leakage, I don't know if this is any better?


I'm taking a wild guess that nobody's heard of Slime and/or a freakin' air pump??

We sound like a bunch of farking engineers -- ask what time it is and get a discussion on how to build a watch! :D

Slime will prevent slow leaks from small punctures, but it does not prevent the inevitable loss of air from tires that sit for long periods of time. An air pump? what in the fark is a air pump? :lol: That would mean I would have two or four more tires to keep up on air pressure. :( I have too many chores as it is.

John

[chad]

So don't do the mod :D Or leave 'em flat until you have to move the thing.

I guess it's because I'm getting old, am a redneck backyard shade tree mechanic from way back, I can overbuild a brick wall and, oh yeah, I am too cheap to hire anything done but I'd just find the best wheels/tires/casters I could get and install the bastages -- it'll either work or it won't :D If it doesn't work -- look for something better.

[badger]

DFLittle,

This is nothing against you or your methods of madness. :)

I am simply pointing out my experiences for other members (not just you) to learn from, and apply the best method they feel that would fit there needs.

I too over engineer and over build things. If I had it my way all my BBQ's would sit like a Hummer (H1 not the ****ty H2). :lol:

[Mark]

I'm actually considering buying one of those steel mesh garden carts; but mainly for gardening and moving heavy loads of **** like firewood. I'd use it to move my BD too if the need ever arose.

I also considered buying some pneumatic tractor or dolly tires off ebay. Unless you have the parts that David just mentioned , tools (like a welder) and experience putting it all together right, dont do it at all because you will probably just **** up a decent BD.

Mark (STL)

PS having said all that, mounting four 12" rototiller tires would make the BD the somker equivalent of the legendary 4wd bigfoot; might look pretty cool.

[chad]

Heck, mount the engine, too.

Self-propelled Bandera :D