My Fave Metal Fabrication Item

[Timbone]

Man, I couldn’t do this without My Favorite Thing: the 6” fence coupling! These things are perfect for so many things.

This will be my front hub, chopped down to 3”. These things are super strong, good for welding, have perfect dimensions (1 3/8” ID x 1 1/2” OD). It’s easy to find high quality bearings for 1/2” axles with 1 3/8” OD. I think I can find a hub adapter for 1 1/2”.

Lowe’s has these couplings as well as these wonderful 14 gauge flanges. The hard part is drilling out all the holes.

I have a great idea for affixing a disk to this front hub. I am going to chop a freewheel thread off an old bicycle hub, bring it down to square and weld it onto the end of my hub. I will order some disk adapters that screw right on to freewheel threads. Placed on the left side, the force of the turning hub will hold the disk into place.

My flange holes are pilots. May drill out for 12 gauge...

 

[mattrgray]

Danm that's pretty ingenuitive, I gotta try this!

 

[Timbone]

I just welded up a new front hub using one of these fence couplings. Distance between hub flanges will be 3”. You can make any size hub you want and insert 1/2” x 1 3/8” sealed bearings and you are good to go!

 

[mattrgray]

What gets me is having that big heavy axle!

 

[Timbone]

The bigger the axle, the safer the rider!

Here are some pics showing my idea for fixing disk brakes to the hub.

First, you can see my very rough welded hub.

Second, you can see the freewheel thread I cut off an old bicycle hub.

Third, you can see the brake disk adapter. I will weld the freewheel thread to the hub. Then, I’ll thread the disk adapter right onto the freewheel thread. May add in a thick washer to add a little heft and give me something very solid to weld to.