Wooden Wagon Axle Skeins size question- see pic

fpappal · Jul 25, 2018

I am in the process of making wooden axles for an old farm wagon. While working on the second axle I noticed the skeins are not the same size. Two of the skeins are 2 7/8 inches wide, and two of the skeins are 3 1/4 inches wide. My question is which axle should go in front? The one with the wider skeins or the narrower skeins? The height is the same for all 4. What was the reason for the different size skeins?
Thanks

Leroy · Jul 25, 2018

That is parts of two different wagon gears. One axle broke and was substutided with a different one. Or more likely the complete front or rear end was used from a different one. Any name on the iron parts any place?

Farmallb · Jul 26, 2018

It shouldn't matter which goes where. They were both made, perhaps with different ideas as how to make them, BUT both were made to carry the same load.

Bill M. From Illinois · Jul 26, 2018

I've found there are a lot of different size skeins and wheel hub sizes. There didn't seem to be a standard size or taper in my experience or at least lots of different setups.

Leroy · Jul 27, 2018

Actually there were a few standard sizes that replacement wheels would fit without going to a custom size that had to be made. I just don't have those figures handy. And the bigger the skein the heavier the load they could handle. A skein was measured with the largest part of the round area for inner end, smallest part for outer end and length of taper. And usually the rear wheels were a bigger diameter than the front so the tops of the boulsters sat level.Same size and back one would be lower to ground, a few wagons were made with same size but the back bolster was made taller to level the top of the bolsters so the bed sat level. So if your wheels are different diameter then the big ones should be on the back. But if you had any of the wood left to use as a pattern it would tell you witch skein was on front and back. Have at least 4 or possibly more skein wagons here as of now. 2 I know are IHC.

Bill M. From Illinois · Jul 27, 2018

Smaller wheels on front also allow a little sharper turning without wheel interfering with bed. I have maybe 6 pairs of axles and you think maybe 2 would be same but there not. Sometimes old wagon parts wind up at auction but I have never found a match to something I have which seems a little odd. I know there where lots of different manufacturers of wagons back in the day.

Wooden Wagon Axle Skeins size question- see pic

fpappal

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Leroy

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Farmallb

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Bill M. From Illinois

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Leroy

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Bill M. From Illinois

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