Kettle Wheel Upgrade

[DirectDrive]

I'm not a fan of the OEM plastic wheels with their flimsy construction, inside spider pockets and Jeep tread.
I've seen where some have used golf cart wheels or lawnmower wheels for replacements, so I thought I'd give it a go.

I used these wheels...


The operating room...

Tools front to back...
Hubcap tool
Sharpie (not used)
Pen - used to mark cuts on shaft spacers
Mylar tape - used to shim shaft spacers
Small pry bar
Utility knife - for trimming Mylar tape
Scissors - for cutting tape
Pliers - for holding shaft spacers while cutting
Bastard file - for touching up OD of spacers
Chainsaw file - for touching up ID of spacers
4-1/2" angle grinder w/cut-off disk - for cutting shaft spacers


Re-used the Weber "hubcaps" (push nuts)
The wheels have two ball bearings per wheel. (overkill, but cool)


These wheels have a 1-1/2" long hub which is about the same as OEM but they have 1-3/4" wide tread which is 1/4" wider than OEM.
I used two nylon washers to space the wheels away from the legs.



Most of the lawmower wheels have a 1/2" ID bearing bore.
The kettle has a 3/8"OD axle so you need a 3/8" - 1/2" shaft spacer.
I ended up with low tech, "rolled" spacers which needed Mylar tape shimming on their OD to snug up to the bearings.
Mylar doesn't compress much so it makes good thin shimstock, where electrical tape would be a bad choice because of it softness.
My shaft spacers were too long and had to be cut down to match the hub length.

It was an easy mod and I'm happy with the stoutness and the look.
Kind of "Little Red Wagon" retro.

[AZ Monsoon]

Looking good!

[charred]

Pretty cool!

[captjoe06]

I love the look and the idea.  Really solid.  Nice work.

[haeffb]

What is the "hubcap tool?"

And what is the source of the shaft spacers?

[DirectDrive]

What is the "hubcap tool?"

The hub cap tool is the first tool in the pic.
It's an automotive tool, but also works well for removing the Weber hubcaps.
The small prybar in the pic and the hubcap tool are used together to get the Weber hubcap off.

A pair of "glazer's prybars" would probably be the ideal tools for getting the Weber hubcaps off.

And what is the source of the shaft spacers?

Seller : mowerpartsworldwide

[DarrenC]

Spectacular mod!  Thanks for sharing the idea!

[Hell Fire Grill]

I seen some wheels that looked very similar to those at Duck's the other day, but they'd probly need to have wheel bushings to. The bushings might be available at Wilco or Vancouver bolt.

[DirectDrive]

I seen some wheels that looked very similar to those at Duck's the other day, but they'd probly need to have wheel bushings to. The bushings might be available at Wilco or Vancouver bolt.

You're from my 'hood !

Parkrose Hardware has precision shaft spacers that are the correct length (1-1/2") but they would have required some "tuning" to get
them to fit.
They were tight on the Weber axle and tight into the wheel bearings.
Only .95 each, though.

"Arnold" brand lawnmower wheels are available at Lowe's but I didn't like the specs.
The hub length at 1-3/4" and the color (bluish gray) didn't fit my plan.
Very happy with the ones I used.