The problem with building/fabricating is, what's known in mathematical circles as, "Exponential Issue Decay."
Your first iteration solves 80% or so of the problems you wanted to eliminate. It also creates new problems. It may, on occasions, solve problems you didn't anticipate.
The second fabrication iteration halves the 20% issues you missed the first time. The third go-around halves the halve from the second go-around... If you're a perfectionist, life is going to be mighty disappointing, because the exponential decay curve never truly reaches zero or anywhere near due to time/resource constraints.
A number of years ago, I replaced the friction skids on my machines with angle iron outriggers and plastic casters. After a season of use, I found the wear characteristics of the plastic wheels to be lacking. I replaced the casters with cast iron wheel examples. The cast iron versions have been a joy!
All would be well if I just stuck to my relatively flat and level driveways and sidewalks. But, I blow snow for many of the neighbors and usually clear a couple of miles of sidewalk nearby. Many of these out-and-about clearing efforts encounter sharp ledges of concrete that bang in to the wheels or edge of the intake scoop with a rather sudden and aggressive jolt. Many times as I'm tooling along clearing the sidewalks at a brisk pace, a ledge has stopped the forward travel of the blower to an instant halt. I keep walking and end up taking the control panel of the machine right in the muff puff.
Now, an iteration work-up of the effort to mitigate the issue.
The casters are 2". Making them larger in diameter would certainly curtail the sharper edges they encounter. But, the effort of fabricating a structurally solid axle at the increased height would be prohibitive. I'm thinking a 45° angled deflector on the front of the angle iron would allow for the machine to ski up over the edge with far less sudden stop effects.
Welcome to the journey of issue mitigation iteration #3!
Stay tuned!
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Here's a photo of the first-pass iteration with the plastic caster. The angle iron remained unchanged as I swapped out the plastic wheel for a cast iron version.
The crash bumper roller skid angle iron will need to be longer for the front end to match up with the front of the blower scoop.
Your first iteration solves 80% or so of the problems you wanted to eliminate. It also creates new problems. It may, on occasions, solve problems you didn't anticipate.
The second fabrication iteration halves the 20% issues you missed the first time. The third go-around halves the halve from the second go-around... If you're a perfectionist, life is going to be mighty disappointing, because the exponential decay curve never truly reaches zero or anywhere near due to time/resource constraints.
A number of years ago, I replaced the friction skids on my machines with angle iron outriggers and plastic casters. After a season of use, I found the wear characteristics of the plastic wheels to be lacking. I replaced the casters with cast iron wheel examples. The cast iron versions have been a joy!
All would be well if I just stuck to my relatively flat and level driveways and sidewalks. But, I blow snow for many of the neighbors and usually clear a couple of miles of sidewalk nearby. Many of these out-and-about clearing efforts encounter sharp ledges of concrete that bang in to the wheels or edge of the intake scoop with a rather sudden and aggressive jolt. Many times as I'm tooling along clearing the sidewalks at a brisk pace, a ledge has stopped the forward travel of the blower to an instant halt. I keep walking and end up taking the control panel of the machine right in the muff puff.
Now, an iteration work-up of the effort to mitigate the issue.
The casters are 2". Making them larger in diameter would certainly curtail the sharper edges they encounter. But, the effort of fabricating a structurally solid axle at the increased height would be prohibitive. I'm thinking a 45° angled deflector on the front of the angle iron would allow for the machine to ski up over the edge with far less sudden stop effects.
Welcome to the journey of issue mitigation iteration #3!
Stay tuned!
------
Here's a photo of the first-pass iteration with the plastic caster. The angle iron remained unchanged as I swapped out the plastic wheel for a cast iron version.
The crash bumper roller skid angle iron will need to be longer for the front end to match up with the front of the blower scoop.