What to do about wheel traction???

[nyu500]

The WBL Beartronics team recently purchased the tread for the tires that were advertised through FIRST, and can be purchased through IFI Robotics. We had plans to simply rivet the tread onto the stock wheels, but it seems to be an inch short. Does anyone know how to solve this dilemma? Also, if no other solution can be solved, does anyone know how to remove the original treading from the KOP wheels? They wheels tread was molded onto a plastic T attached to the base, so if we were to cut all of the tread off, it would cut off that T as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[David]

thats odd we never had that problem, but measure it and contact ifi if it is the wrong size. if it turns out to be the right size, make sure the tread wraps around the wheel and is not too far off in any stop.

[Joe Ross]

The problem is that you bought tread that was cut for different wheels then you tried to apply it to.

The 6" IFI Traction wheels have a 5.6638" OD, while the 6" AndyMark FIRST Wheels have a 6" OD. Thus, the circumference of the AndyMark wheel is about 1" longer then the IFI wheel.

I can think of a bunch of different solutions:
Cut/grind the rubber from the AndyMark FIRST wheel to 5.6638" OD
Buy the 6" IFI Traction wheel and use the tread you already purchased
Buy the tread material directly from McMaster Carr and cut to size.
Buy either the AndyMark traction wheels or performance wheels

[Justin M.]

I don't think trying to fit IFI tread on the AndyMark KOP wheels is worth the effort, not to mention you might ruin a set of perfectly good wheels in the process. Go for the IFI traction wheels, and keep the AndyMark wheels as a spare.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by nyu500

Also, if no other solution can be solved, does anyone know how to remove the original treading from the KOP wheels? They wheels tread was molded onto a plastic T attached to the base, so if we were to cut all of the tread off, it would cut off that T as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Now this is something that we on 1618 have some expertise with. Consider:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/26437
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/26439

We cut the tread off on a bandsaw with no real problems to the wheels. Just cut carefully, and remember that the area of the cut is going to be H-O-T HOT. (I'm finally just about recovered from the burn. It was not enjoyable at all.)

From there, drill holes and rivet.