Specialized Wheels
 

I need some wheels that are narrow width-wise (no more than 3 in at widest) but are large in diameter like 14-20" Also, they need to have a keyway bore in the hub. Ideally, they would have pneumatic tires. I only need two. I talked to Skyway and they can only mass produce them. They will only sell people small quantities of what is currently in production. And what is currently in production isn't really ideal for my project.

There's a lot of nice Skyway bicycle wheels for sale on eBay but they have bicycle bearing type hubs.

So, any other suggestions or sources short of machining them myself?

I just did a little searching at McMaster-Carr's website, and I think I might have found some things you might be interested in.

I couldn't find any information about wheels with keyways precut in them, but here's what I did find:
http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/html/1198.html
http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/109/html/1200.html

They aren't too cheap, and they don't seem to be keyed, so you probably won't go with them, but McMaster seems to be a pretty good suplier, generally.

Sorry I can't be of more help, right now...

Those are somewhat too wide and the other things you mentioned. Anyone have anything else?

You might be focusing your search in the wrong direction. Try searching for a keyway hub with a pneumatic tire instead.
Rarely will you find a wheel with a built-in keyway, but a hub is a separate attachment that provides the appropriate shaft connections (usually bolted onto the rim).

GoKart tires might work. Check this out...


Better yet, look at this. The moped tire (2 1/4" x 16") would work perfectly. Then get the Keyway type hub on page 8 for it.
Now where to order...

From the looks of it, your best bet is going to be 80's/90's era moped tires. Those are usually the large bicycle-style tires you're looking for. Most modern mopeds have those midget tires that are useless to you. You should be able to find a moped tire with a rim that has bolt holes. Check your local junk yard(s). The only problem is finding identical tires...

You can always make your own hub to bolt onto the rim. Either machine it out of aluminum, or you could take a keyed steel gear, and find someone to weld it to a 1/8" steel plate. Then calculate and drill the bolt holes and drill out your bore (plate only!). It's a poor substitute, but it should work fine for prototyping purposes... Of course it's easier said than done, the hard part is lining the bolt holes up so the shaft is dead center...

We're getting closer. That moped tire would be great but I didn't see it nor a wheel for it further down in the document where the part numbers are. I think maybe it was just an example. The 16" tires in there with part numbers would all be too wide for my application. I need something narrower.

For tires, something liek a small bicycle tire would be perfect but I have yet to find a rim that narrow with a jeyway bore.

Without having something custom-made, chances are slim you're going to find something with an actual keyed bore.

You're better off visiting junk yards and/or moped repair shops. Ask them if they can get any moped tires with boltable rims. Then do what I said above and make your own hub to bolt onto it.

Well, I haven't really seen any mopeds with boltable rims either. Yes that hub will work but I do still need a rim to bolt it too. Do mopeds have boltable rims?

How about Northern's wheels?
 

Take a look here:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...Id=200 199574

They have 8", 12", 16" and 20" five spoke Skyway like wheels with Pneumatic tires....Cheap! We have used the 12" version and the quality is very good. You would have to push out the bearings and make a keyed hub.

Re: How about Northern's wheels?
 

[size=3]That is nearly exactly what I'm looking for! And the price!. I'm willing to machine a hub. Could you tell me how exactly I would fit the hub so it locks in with the wheel? I don't thing I could just press it in where the bearings are; there needs to be something more rigid.

Your new hub
 

This is how it would look if I were making a hub like you need for the wheels we have on the KnightKrawler (similar). The hub not only would have a slight pressfit on all diameters but would be held by screws into the hub through the wheel in twelve places as shown. Does that sound do-able to you?

You wouldn't happen to have another (side I guess) view of that would you? Or perhaps sketch one really quick. That would be great.

Hub Closeup
 

Yeah, that was a little sketchy on the details, This should show the wrenching slots and the keyway slot is cut through one side,
if you have a corrosponding slot in your drive axle you can slip the hub on the drive axle, put the close fitting key in place and slide the wheel on which will capture the key. The key will keep
the wheel on as well as drive it! Finally tighten the end nut with a spanner or a "screwdriver like" tool made from 3/16 sheet steel held with an adjustable wrench. If all parts are made to fit snug
you may get away without using screws to fasten the wheel to the hub preventing slippage in rotation.

good luck!

suggestion
 

Look in the grainger catalog Grainger for shaft sleeves to fit inside the existing hole.
These are made to adapt say 5/8" shafts to 3/4" bores (other sizes too).
Choose the right size, then have a keyway pushed through the wheel hub. The shaft sleeve adds strength and has the keyway already in it so the key can protrude into the wheel hub. You may need to make the key yourself.
Note there are pneuamtic wheelchair wheels that are close to your dimensions and which have 5/8" or 3/4" axles.