Need help with wheels for my chicken run-tractor

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Peregrine

Peregrine

Songster
10 Years
May 28, 2009
107
2
111
North Georgia
I need a little engineering-design help here. A few weeks ago I built a 6x6 ft. run for my new, growing chicks, and I'm having trouble with wheels so that I can move it around. The object is to pick it up on one side (where I've already installed a bar to lift) and roll it from place to place on the wheels installed on the opposite side. I put on 4 casters, but they present two problems: the wheel is to narrow and they dig into the ground, especially after a rain; and if I turn the casters down, they flip to the side as soon as I pick up the opposite end, but if I turn them up, I need to pick the opposite end up really high before the wheels will touch the ground, making it heavy and awkward.

So I put on some old bicycle tires from a kid's bike (that got run over in the driveway:/) with some brackets on the sides. But the brackets are too weak and the wheels turn outward.

How do I attach these wheels and still keep the bottom of the frame flush with the ground? Or does anyone have any better ideas?

32733_img_5976.jpg
 
Thank you SOOOOOO much for the link to that post--it is so helpful! I'm going shopping today, so I'm gonna see if I can make it work!
 
Thanks, Burbs. That does help a bunch. Now I just need to find the bearings. I tried looking for Northern Tool and Supply online with no luck. Maybe I can just google the bearings themselves. What exactly are they called?

Is it possible to just put a bolt straight through the 4x4 and let the bar pivot on that?

And on a side note, I'm trying to get an avatar to post with my name. How do I reduce the picture to less than 15 kb?
 
Last edited:
Here is the link to all of the bearings. You can just match to the bolt size that you plan to use.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial
With a 4X4 I would think that you could just drill a oversized hole (a little larger than the bolt you plan to use), back it with large washers and accomplish the same thing.
On the avatar issue......you need a photo editor. Change the size of the photo to less than 100 pix X 100 pix and change it to a higher resolution. I know thats vague but I don't know what editor you have.
 
Thanks again! I am in your debt. I think I'll try it with just the bolt first, and if that doesn't work I'll buy the bearings. I'll need a hole in the 4x4 anyway. I'll post some pics when I get it working!
fl.gif
 
I GOT IT WORKING!!!
wee.gif


Well, for the most part.

I didn't need the bearings; a bolt through the 4x4 worked just fine. And I was able to use a single aluminum square tubing piece 4' long instead of two pieces.

32733_img_6113.jpg


I drilled a hole and inserted a pin to hold it down at the other end.

32733_img_6114.jpg


32733_img_6117.jpg


I positioned the pivot point slightly off center, so that I can lift it with the bar on the other side. This may look like a towel bar, but it is actually a handicap safety bar for bathrooms. (I know from experience that towel bars aren't strong enough
big_smile.png
) It's a little low, but there was no other good place to put it. So in order to save my back I thread a strap through it and loop it over my shoulder. Then the weight is on my legs, and both hands are free to help manouver the run.

32733_img_6116.jpg


There ARE a few kinks to work out. For one, it looks like the bicycle tires from the kid's bike are not strong enough. I'll try to get ahold of some used riding lawnmower or wheelbarrow tires before these give out totally.

32733_img_6121.jpg


Other than that, my back is feeling better already! I plan on using the same system to move the coop, which I still need to build, and which will move separately from the run. What fun!
 

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