Toy truck restoration.

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DuRaNdAl^

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  • #1
    So the below truck was built by my father, some 20-25 years ago. He built it for me, and I played quite a bit around with it. Since I'm going to be a father for the first time (twice!) in april, I'd like to fix it up to be able to offer it to my children.

    Fair warning: I am no carpenter, or wood worker. I have not too many tools to work wood with.

    The most important order of business, to me, is to fix the wheels. Wooden axles and wheels are not too great to push the truck around. The axles (especially) and wheels break easily, and since the wheels have no cushioning its hard on the truck itself. So I'm wondering if any of you have any idea if it would be possible to replace the wheels with something else? The wheels are about 10 cm in diameter (about 3 inches and 4/5, if that's possible :p I'm canadian ;) )

    I'm thinking something like wheels for dollies and the like. I'm also wondering how to fit the axles.

    Any thoughts on how to get this started is greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to bring this back into shape so they can have an awesome heirloom.


    Thanks!
    IMG_4384.jpgIMG_4385.jpgIMG_4386.jpgIMG_4387.jpg
     
    Scifigod

    Scifigod

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  • #2
    Oh wow that's cool! Personally I think it'd be a shame to lose the charm of the wooden wheels. If you wanted something a bit more free spinning you could get some small bearing inserts and glue/epoxy them into the wheels. No idea of the "correct" size but I'm thinking of something like these sized appropriately:
    View: https://www.amazon.com/FOCMKEAS-688-2RS-Industrial-Mechanical-Equipment/dp/B0B6WRCJLJ/ref=sr_1_4

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...recision-Bearing-and-Reducer-838778/204859867
    I'd think a plain hardwood dowel would hold up pretty well but you could always swap in a steel rod.
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...-Steel-Cold-Rolled-Round-Rod-801567/204273942
    Otherwise maybe check out a hobby store that deals in RC parts?
     
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    OrangeCream

    OrangeCream

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  • #3
    View: https://www.amazon.com/ANTWHEEL-All-Terrain-Longboard-Electric-Skateboard/dp/B09FLYZJ48/


    You can see how they are attached to axles by examining trucks:
    View: https://www.amazon.com/ANTWHEEL-Sidewinder-Longboard-Skateboard-Hardware/dp/B0B7BSLKJX/


    There's a bolt that screws into the axle; I assume a regular 180mm axel isn't wide enough.
    This video goes over how to make a cart:

    View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CNkf_PmfDQ


    Of course if you think using longboard ball bearings will make the truck too fast you can do something far more similar to the handmade cart and not using ball bearings, instead using:
    View: https://www.amazon.com/Neoprene-Tires-Robot-Industrial-Robots/dp/B08JXGP4NW/ref=sr_1_38?crid=2MXZ92E3XM99I&keywords=100mm+wheel&qid=1699749215&sprefix=100mm+wheel%2Caps%2C238&sr=8-38
     
    D

    DuRaNdAl^

    Ars Scholae Palatinae
    874
  • #4
    Scifigod said:
    Oh wow that's cool! Personally I think it'd be a shame to lose the charm of the wooden wheels. If you wanted something a bit more free spinning you could get some small bearing inserts and glue/epoxy them into the wheels. No idea of the "correct" size but I'm thinking of something like these sized appropriately:
    View: https://www.amazon.com/FOCMKEAS-688-2RS-Industrial-Mechanical-Equipment/dp/B0B6WRCJLJ/ref=sr_1_4

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...recision-Bearing-and-Reducer-838778/204859867
    I'd think a plain hardwood dowel would hold up pretty well but you could always swap in a steel rod.
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...-Steel-Cold-Rolled-Round-Rod-801567/204273942
    Otherwise maybe check out a hobby store that deals in RC parts?
    Click to expand...
    Thanks for the suggestions! I also like the idea of wooden wheels, but the ones that were made are not perfectly round, and I don't have the tools to make them (my dad hand-made them way back when).

    Maybe I could wrap the wheels in rubber?
    OrangeCream said:
    Of course if you think using longboard ball bearings will make the truck too fast you can do something far more similar to the handmade cart and not using ball bearings, instead using:
    View: https://www.amazon.com/Neoprene-Tires-Robot-Industrial-Robots/dp/B08JXGP4NW/ref=sr_1_38?crid=2MXZ92E3XM99I&keywords=100mm+wheel&qid=1699749215&sprefix=100mm+wheel%2Caps%2C238&sr=8-38
    Click to expand...
    Those second wheels may be interesting... I just screw them into an axle that turns?

    I might also need to "strengthen" the hole that contains the axle, on the truck. The wear and tear there I can see from my past usage.
     
    OrangeCream

    OrangeCream

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  • #5
    DuRaNdAl^ said:
    Thanks for the suggestions! I also like the idea of wooden wheels, but the ones that were made are not perfectly round, and I don't have the tools to make them (my dad hand-made them way back when).

    Maybe I could wrap the wheels in rubber?

    Those second wheels may be interesting... I just screw them into an axle that turns?

    I might also need to "strengthen" the hole that contains the axle, on the truck. The wear and tear there I can see from my past usage.
    Click to expand...
    That’s why I linked to the video with the cart, where they use a hollow metal tube with metal brackets as the axel structure.
     
    headache

    headache

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    Scifigod

    Scifigod

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