Off-Road Bits – Part 7: Wheels

by betty.k

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This time ’round we’re gonna turn the humble Lego wheel into a very effective and (I think) aesthetically pleasing off-road wheel set. If you haven’t already sold all your Lego as a teen to buy a triple chamber bong, then hunt down these types of wheels. And remember kiddies, drugs are bad, mm’kaaay?!

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Remove the axles (good luck, Lego made things to LAST!), and find some way of holding the wheel while you drill into it, like a vice. I just use a big Lego wheel to hold it, but this is pretty dangerous, so be careful. Find a drill bit that’s as big as or bigger than the wheel diameter. You’re going to drill into the side the axle was on, that’s going to be the new outside.

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Basically you want to use the drill to countersink into the wheel. Don’t go much further than this. Don’t force the drill into it; just let the bit and weight of the drill do the work. just go a little at a time. If it’s a bit lopsided, lean the drill towards the thicker side. Just remember, a bit at a time, if it takes you 5 min to do 1 wheel, that’s better than destroying one in 5 seconds.

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You’ll need to make a hole in all 4 wheels, the size of the axle you plan on using. Get this as straight as you can. with a file or sand paper, file down the writing on the knob as level as you can on 3 of the wheels. put one aside, that will be the right rear wheel.

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With the wheel that’s still got the writing, you want to remove the knob that’s protruding, so it’s level with the main part, you can see what I mean with the right wheel in this pic. Again, try to smooth it down level.

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For the front wheels, I add a little bushing that’s perfect for a front axle. And there’s not enough plastic for the wheel to run true once attached to the knuckle. You could also use some tubing from a WD40 can; you may have to widen the internal diameter with a drill bit. do this by hand. You need to drill a hole the same diameter as the bushing you’re using into the wheels. Poke the bushing into the (new) inside of the wheel as shown.

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As I’m using these bushings, I’m drilling a hole the same diameter as the flanged part. The bushing is going to be the other way around when completed. But I leave it in this way as a guide when drilling. Do this with both front wheels. Tidy up the edges of the holes with a hobby knife and make sure the inside of the wheel is smooth and level.

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And that’s it. This is the outside of the wheels. front wheels top, left and right rear wheels bottom. These front wheels are a bit messy, but you get the idea. Just so long as the wheels run true.

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…and the inside, same order again. As you can see, the top right wheel is a bit wonky. It does run true, but you really want it to look like the top left one.

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Here are the rear wheels, mounted. You need to make a spacer about 1mm wide for the right side so they stick out the same amount both sides when attached to a chassis. The left wheel should be flush against the gear wheel, the gear wheel fits nicely inside the tire when it’s on.

Next: Off-Road Bits – Part 8: Tires

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