Anyone make their own spoked wheels?

andy65

New User
Hello all-tried some searching but came up short. I'm trying to help my father fabricate some new rear wheels for his 38' john deere A. It is a converted steel wheel tractor so it has flat spokes. Question I have is: What is the traditional way to perfectly center the hub within the rim before welding? has anyone ever tackled this? Build a fixture? any advice is greatly appreciated.
 
I did.I actually made a complete set of 'cutoffs'. Set the wheel on a sheet of plywood set on sawhorses. Set the hub on a block of wood at the right 'level'. Using a tape measure, cut, measure centering,equal distance of rim/spoke height.... Tack weld as you go.When it is right weld it solid. Mine came out perfect. Key is to measure twice. Cut,tack once.
 
We have a local guy weld these up for us. The rims are widened to 18" and the spokes are made of pipe.
cvphoto4820.png
 
On an '36 JD-A tractor, the rims and half the spokes were shot, so I improvised with some flat stock and a couple farmall rims. Made a concentric circle template on a
sheet of plywood. Measured carefully. I supported the spokes during welding on the cut off cylinders from buckets and from a 55 gal barrel. Tricky low amp welding and
'spensive rod welding to the cast hub. Had to test them- held my breath the first time when I pulled a 2 bottom JD plow with it....no issues. Sometimes you just gotta'
say no to $2000 round spoke wheels.
cvphoto4821.jpg
 
Pat Detwiler in Colby Wi. rebuilds John Deere wheels. He will rerim back to original if you want.
 
I?ve still got Pa?s wheel jig from the blacksmith shop. It?s a 3
legged spider with a center threaded rod with 2 conical guides
on that rod. Those 2 are adjusted for height to center the hub.
The 3 legs of the spider are channel with slots that carry
threaded rods adjusted for height and center of the rim. With
all this as Delta said measure, measure, measure.
 
What size rims were put on last time? If 36" were used a 38" drop center rim from should fit on your spokes,I like to leave the wheels on the
tractor, put my torch or plasma cutter in stationery bracket and turn the spokes to it to clean them up all the same length. i then use wood shims
to center rim on spokes
 
I was told a long time ago by an old timer that back in the day when welding on rims with flat spokes they kinked the last spoke a we bit so when welded it had a wee bit of give. I don't know, never welded on spoke wheels.
 
The way I have done it is to take the inside diameter of the rim and divide it in half. I clamp a steel bar over the spokes out that measurement from the center of the hub. I then rotate the spokes and cut or add to the spokes so each one just rubs the gage bar. I then set the rim over the spokes on center. I then clamp thr gage bar so it just rubs the outer edge of the rim. I tack one spoke and rotate half way and tac another spoke. I then tac at 90 degrees making sure the gage bar is rubbing even all the way around and weld solid when I am sure it does not wobble. Here is a picture of a plow wheel I did years ago showing the steel bar I used on the edge of the rim.

2vEmgdmrxevZ4.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 19:40:56 02/10/20) could you just replace one spoke at a time ? a pic of your project would be helpful
well, the wheels are hammered also, so I am only reusing the hub... and for some reason the original work has doubled up flatstock on one side and singe on the other... :?
 
Great ideas! thank you all! I love the thought of ordering reproduction round spokes but they are $1900, we scored the tractor for $350. It has 36" rims now but i was able to score a set of 38's at a local farm show. Ill have to get the wheels removed so i can start my set up. Thank you all so much!!
 
Welll....if you have Mennonite anywhere close many of them convert their
tractors to steel wheels. You might want to give them a look. They make almost
anything you can think of. Just an idea.
 

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