Using a Wench as a power source

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:27 pm

So I welded my bicycles into a four wheel contraption and I am considering an alternative power source to pedals. Harbour Freight sells 2000lb wenches fairly cheap and if it can pull 2000lbs then why can't it push 500? It only has one speed but I don't want to win a race, I just want to move accross the playa peacefully. It has a remote on switch which is handy and it runs off a battery that can be recharged with a solar panel.

Do think it will work?

Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:32 pm

I would like a wench to move me.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:41 pm

They are already geared down.I would make sure they can take continuous use.
You might just look for a used motor.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:32 pm

You know how we wenches are - but a 2000lb one would be a bit more than most could handle....

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:36 pm

Okay - yeah I spelled it wrong but I'm really hung over today and yeah I know that's my own fault too. So let me have it. Thanks

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:45 pm

It's OK CS, I still think you're hot....

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:49 pm

gyre wrote:They are already geared down.I would make sure they can take continuous use.You might just look for a used motor.

99% of portable/car/12volt winces (lol)are very limited duty cycle, like car starter motors. I would estimate about 1 mile maybe less before it turned into a burning sculpture.

You would be far better off with a wheelchair motor and gearbox

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:16 pm

You could also look into golf cart motors (electric), or look for a "Etek" motor. A bit pricy, but all the power you'd need.

Badger

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:25 pm

A pwm controller on a winch motor might make it run okay.
Even a golf cart motor would benefit from this sort of control.

There is a guy who built a bike with a standard dc motor run through a gearset to give it more flexibility.
I like this setup.
Even a strong internal gearset helps.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 9:23 am

Wenches? What? Ah, nuts, false alarm....

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:53 am

Speaking of gearboxes, who can suggest a good one for a vehicle? My good friend Sparkzy VERY generously gifted me two nice treadmill motors, both with control boards, AND produced a homemade instructional DVD describing the hookup procedure...They've got 1/2" output shafts, and each motor is about the size of a can of Chunky soup. I have several nice gearboxes from Power WheelzTM cars, but the motors that they run off of are teensy and there's no way to adapt 'em. (They DO make awesome robot parts, though.) Thoughts?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 1:44 pm

How about a bike gearset from crank to rear?

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 2:23 pm

Can you get a treadmill motor to produce enough torque to push 500lbs? I have access to an old treadmill motor.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 4:24 pm

Cabana Springs wrote:Can you get a treadmill motor to produce enough torque to push 500lbs? I have access to an old treadmill motor.

Geared right I would think it would work pretty good. wondering if it was DC or AC to make them variable speed. But yeah - worth a try, I would think... esp if the price is right...

bb

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:43 pm

Cabana Springs wrote:..... 2000lb wenches....Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

Ok, I just saw this and naturally I couldn't pass it up. Them sum big girls. Being the year of the green man and going to get all green at the local pub, wenches can pull just about anything they like. specially burningman hotties.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:49 pm

wedeliver wrote:
Cabana Springs wrote:..... 2000lb wenches....Thanks in advance for all suggestions.
Ok, I just saw this and naturally I couldn't pass it up. Them sum big girls. Being the year of the green man and going to get all green at the local pub, wenches can pull just about anything they like. specially burningman hotties.

Aw, man! You beat me to it!

B.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:09 am

Cabana Springs wrote:Can you get a treadmill motor to produce enough torque to push 500lbs? I have access to an old treadmill motor.

I'm almost half of that, and our treadmill doesn't complain....The problem is getting the wheels turning initially- I've tried several bike gear and drivebelt iterations with no success.

One daydream-project is to build a "tugboat" device that could be connected to a bike or small Art Vehicle, or just ridden as is...I have been tempted on more than one occasion to hijack those cool little parking lot shopping cart tugs that bibbox retailers use. UPS has great little electric carts, too. And don't get me started about airport toys!

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:48 am

robotland wrote:And don't get me started about airport toys!

...there is a small airplane tug for sale (propane powered) near my house... I have been eyeballing it for years.

Robotland - how about a photo showing your wheels and frame and stuff to give us a better idea what can be done?

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:48 am

Two problems- A) Can't post a picture directly, so I'd have to email it to you to be shared...2) Wheels? Frame? No gots! I'm building from the inside out, with the intent of making the actual body of the vehicle as light as it has to be in order to be moved by my little motors...
I KNOW this is doable, after examining the motors for those Powel Wheelz cars. Each motor (there are two) is the size of a D battery, but with them both running in their little plastic gearboxes they can push almost a hundred pounds around. The nearest adult-size version that I can think of is a wheelchair drive system.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:25 am

dragonfly Jafe wrote:
...there is a small airplane tug for sale (propane powered) near my house... I have been eyeballing it for years.

\/
I want I want..In 05 this guy unhooked his Airstream on the street..Hooked up his tug and parked his trailer in with his buddy Airstreamers..It lookked home made..Maybe a"wench"drive:)

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:01 pm

A friend told me he built an offroad transfer case out of industrial v-belts.
Worked with all off the shelf parts.
He says not to underestimate v-belts.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:40 pm

I just found an aircrraft tug that is powered by an 18 or 24 volt cordless drill. The asd says it will tow up to 3,000 pounds. I think Sporty's carries it.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:15 am

mojo wrote:I just found an aircrraft tug that is powered by an 18 or 24 volt cordless drill. The asd says it will tow up to 3,000 pounds. I think Sporty's carries it.

Hey, why not? If you can make rollerskates out of a pair of power sanders...

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:53 am

They make some electric things for moving around trailers.
Is that what you guys mean by a tug?

Using a Wench as a power source

Using a Wench as a power source

Re: Using a Wench as a power source

Re: Using a Wench as a power source