Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Easy Rolling Wheel

Trying to document how to make my Easy Rolling Wheel. Need not follow exactly, just achieve the functionality. You might also like to read about some other similar products that I have come across.

Materials: Some anti slip materialElastic string,Normal string (thicker type)A paper clip (optional),some scotch tapeSome double sided tape (thicker better)A washerFurniture caster wheelSome unwanted cloth, furry and thick would be better, and Water hose.

This is one of the way to reduce the slanting angle of the caster wheel.
Thickering the caster wheel stem: Cut out two pieces from the water hose about the length of the caster wheel stem. Cut a small segment out from one of them..

Coil the cut piece reversely and insert it into the other piece.

Pass the elastic string through the hose piece.
Tie the elastic string with an adjustable loop on to the base of the caster wheel stem.

Position the elastic string at the gap of the cut hose in the outer hose.
Press the hose piece on to the caster wheel stem. 
It should be quite tight.
Note: 
1) This design might need to be adjusted depending on the bottom cap of the seat post.
2) A longer section of the hose might be better.

That's it if your seat post allow the elastic string to be pulled through from the top and tie on to the saddle frame. Otherwise, you'll need to find a way to secure the top end of the elastic string inside the seat post. Below shows the way I did it.

To make something that will press on the "stopper" (see further below), ideally with some outward forces when the elastic string is being pulled.
Cut a small piece of cloth. Size depends on its thickness.

Coil up the cloth, with the elastic string passing through it, to a diameter thicker than the inner diameter of the seat post. Having a small narrow tube (e.g. pen body) at the center of the cloth for the string to pass through is better.
Use scotch tape to keep the cloth in place.

Estimate length of elastic string such that it is about 90% taut when it is stretched an extra length of the distance the bottom of your seat post to the bottom of the seat tube when seat post is at your riding height. 
Here half length of the straw was the distance I needed. Optionally, can use paper clip to connect two elastic strings for easier adjustment and removal of caster wheel.

Length of the elastic string.

To make the "stopper": Cut another two small section of the water hose out. Further cut open them.

Join the two together, using double side tape at a portion of the overlapping area. Tie the normal string at the overlapping part tightly. Can cut a small groove at both sides to avoid string from being displaced. Normal string might not be necessary as stronger pull on the elastic string should also get the whole thing out.
Tie the other end of the elastic string tightly to a washer so that it can't be easily pulled out from the cloth.



Insert a small piece of anti slip mat into the two pieces of hose, and through the normal string. Coil the hose and anti slip material reversely so that the anti slip material is outside, and insert it into the seat post. Here is an illustration when inserted into something similar to a seat post.
Alternatively (I haven't tried), use a less stiff hose, and with larger diameter, one piece might be sufficient, and the outward force from uncoiling might be sufficient. Using less stiff type of hose will make installation much easier.


Tie the elastic string tightly to a washer.

Illustration when installed. In actual situation, the seat post would cover until the base of the caster wheel stem, and the elastic string should be slightly stretched.

Illustration when installed, viewing from the top, inside the "seat post".

Illustration when installed.

Testing: When stretched to near maximum, the inserted part should stay in place.

Illustration when installed, dangling, for comparison with the previous stretched pic.


The "stopper" before reversely coiled.

Completed product.

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