Here in the USA I can not find Fellshaw wheels. I will be running my land yacht on hard packed low tide sand. So do I have to go with fat wheels or can I use wheels that are 12. 1/2 inches X 2. 3/4 inches. These are these are high speed wheels off a scooter. I am not racing this, it is just for fun so I have no need to stay in any class guide lines. Any help would be great. Plus big score today I picked up 3 more wind surf sails and 2 more masts for free
. That bring me to a total of 7 sails and 5 masts to work with.
I admit I was checking out some scooter tyres. They look the goods but possibly a bit heavy and hard. Definitely worth trying
The main ones we see are 10" 12" 13" 14" 15" 16", haven't seen any 12.5"
If You're looking for fallshaw sized wheels/tires, a regular wheelbarrow wheel/tire is the same. The falshaws look a lot cooler, but i have painted the wheelbarrow wheels and have had them work quite well.
Dont know where You are in the US, but 'northern tool' ships everywhere... Make sure You get the 8" wheels with the 4" tires
Happy building!
I love the look of the scooter wheels plus they weigh less then a lot of other wheel I have looked at. I found some real nice ones for $29.00 U.S. and that includes the aluminum rim, bearings, tube and tire. Desertyank I am on the Maine seacoast and I have been looking at the wheels on northern tools site as I buy equipment from them. Have you used wheels from them and if so which ones? I see a couple 8"x4" and they are priced right. Again thanks for the help
Built 2 LLM's with these wheels on them:http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200330045_200330045
The bearings are crap, but the wheels are fairly light, and the tires work well on dry lakes/dirt roads.... I found a supplier that carries precision bearings for about $5.00 that I havn't broken yet. Some land sailers like the cheap bearings even better.... havn't tried them myself, tho.
good luck!
What about these ones you got desertyank?? I think they are about as good as you can get.
"This is a site for the wheels. I have no idea where You can get them in OZ, but I got them from a go-kart supplier here in CA.http://www.azusaeng.com/wheels/whls8a.html#anchor8inch%20alum
cheers, john"
Hi,
Just finished reading your queries about Wheels. I like the looks of those Alloy Rims myself. Do you have a WEB Address? I am thinking of replacing my wheels with the stronger 16" scooter wheels.
Now for the cheap Chinese Barrow Wheels. I have bought 3 and found them not too bad but the tires are not the greatest. The main problem with these wheels is that the central hub bearing bearing receiver area is purely designed for the Cheap Barrow style bearings i.e. they have a recess to receive a flanged bearing
. The remainder is virtually an unfinished through tube to the other side of the hub, this means, that you have to fit some kind of spacer tube to hold the higher quality bearings or machine the Bearing recess deeper
. You have to knock out the original bearing to find out how it works. I have wheelbarrow which I swapped the wheel and Tyre from, it looked identical until I removed the bearings and this wheel was properly recessed to receive a good bearing. Upshot; Watch what you are buying very carefully
Ron
. The remainder is virtually an unfinished through tube to the other side of the hub, this means, that you have to fit some kind of spacer tube to hold the higher quality bearings or machine the Bearing recess deeper. You have to knock out the original bearing to find out how it works. I have wheelbarrow which I swapped the wheel and Tyre from, it looked identical until I removed the bearings and this wheel was properly recessed to receive a good bearing. Upshot; Watch what you are buying very carefully
. The remainder is virtually an unfinished through tube to the other side of the hub, this means, that you have to fit some kind of spacer tube to hold the higher quality bearings or machine the Bearing recess deeper. You have to knock out the original bearing to find out how it works. I have wheelbarrow which I swapped the wheel and Tyre from, it looked identical until I removed the bearings and this wheel was properly recessed to receive a good bearing. Upshot; Watch what you are buying very carefully
here in the midwest US i have had luck finding and running these. they come from a chinese made adult four wheel pedal cart available at our local TSC (tractor supply ????)
20mm high speed bearings and enough shaft stock on frame to cobble shafts. $200 for four. found last one used for $80, $20 per wheel was not too bad.
Here is the site I found the scooter wheels on and they have a complete wheel set up rim, tube, tire and bearings for $29.00 U.S.www.electricscooterparts.com/wheels.html#pocketbikewheels I have also looked at go cart wheels and ATV wheel but they are pricey and this is my first build. My main thing is I am trying to build this land yacht from parts I get for free from Criags List or the dump, just to show people that stuff that they have no use for still has penty of uses for others. So here is a new question, Could I use small pedal bike tires as there are always some of those kids BMX bikes at the dump that have those 5 spoke glasse reinforced plastic rims?
Nighttide,
This is getting past a joke.
I must admit I am spending a little more cash than you are, though your build is to a different purpose. Mine is purely a self gratification thing and something to keep me and The Grey "Mush" occupied.
Just thought I'd throw this in for the Hell Of It. Parallel or what?? I also play about with a home built furnace Perhaps I should look to casting my own wheels?? Mind you I will have to start saving my Beer Cans
suggest you use low magnesium mags and old hang glider spars (that what I used to cast the rudder boxes on my taipan-possible to harden to about T6 maybe more), cans are too pure but good to adjust heat of the melt. Might even be worth considering incorporating a boss to mount a push bike or pocket rocket disc-brake
Now you're talkin' Landyacht. You 're Font of knowledge but sometimes we just have to keep prying to get it out of you. Now for a little local research at the local Airfield. I have been trawling the web for 16 to 20 inch light weight Alloy wheels and they seem to be as scarce as Hens teeth. I have sussed the E Scooter wheels and though they are small there are a couple that look strong enough to work but DIAMETER is what we need. I could probably have them made in China...............Ah! ..................That is if a was to have 50pairs made. Hmmmm! I wonder what I would do with the other 497pr????
Nighttide,
Fallshaws may only be a local brand name the thing is who makes these rims for Fallshaws???? Is there a similar wheel available to you yanks that is made under another name? Trawling and research is the only way to find out. I don't know about the States but we make very little in Australia as the Chinese make it all,,,,,if not the Chinese then someone in the Greater Asia. Us Aussies would be lucky to make a good sized Turd now that we have given it all away
I had best not go further with this line.. Only that I remember Vietnam!!!
Desertyank,
I don't know where you got those Wheels? Hows-about you share the dope with us? They would fit the bill nicely if they are 400x8's They certainly look "Well Big Enough" When I Blow them Up to the Max' on screen 
Good night gentlemen I have a big day in front of me tomorrow. Trip to Laun'y
to pick up the Epigen 907 kit and then on up to the Lakes Country and bring home a couple of nice Trout for tea
Ron
Couple of things'
Check out the "new rule" for minis.
I am sure that you will find that the stiff wall of scooter tyres will hurt the performance. There is a difference between 2 and 4 ply tyres.
It's ONLY the cycle industry (ie pedal cycles) that use the overall diameter, nothing motorised except the markings on drag and speedway tyres. 15" rim for everything is 15" where the tyre seats. (as is 8", 10" etc)
They would fit the bill nicely if they are 400x8's They certainly look "Well Big Enough" When I Blow them Up to the Max' on screen
Nighttide,
Well I guess you are starting to regret having asked about wheels.
Somewhere along the track Landyacht got involved, mentioning Aircraft tires and Go Kart Rims.
I did my research and finished up at my local Airfield after having inquired at the Launceston Airport yesterday (Goose).
I have 3 tires of which I will add pic's there also a couple of pic's of Chinese Barrow Wheel construction one of which could be possibly useful. The other------well it would take a bit of engineering but both tires will need a lot of safety testing to be sure. Dang! Landyacht! I hate it when you always seem to be right.
Please note that the Air Trac tyre has bee chalked to show important detail. The Air Trac is a softer 6 ply and after having looked et other brands I would suggest they would be too hard in the side wall and could just about run airless.
]
The Wheels are as pictured the one with the Fluted center is the best the other has less material in the hub and could workharden and crack up.
Ron
I am by no means an expert here, but the light aircraft tyres certainly look the business. (I can't believe I didn't think of that being a has been GA pilot). I know there is a reason not to use them comming, but surely..........
If you lay your hands on 6"x6" gocart rims they will fit a 6" centred aircraft tyre which are often available free from aerodromes To paraphrase Mr Landyacht about half a dozen back
If he doesn't know then I'm going to have a Hell-uv-a-Stuff-up on my hands.. and I doubt there will be any stuff ups.
Going on what has gone before I gather that a soft ride is needed, not having piloted one of these Beasts as yet so I can't be sure but I should imagine a chat with Swami Landyacht 
will make you "Full Bottle" Ok? That Air Trac Feels realy nice and should be the ticket as a soft sided 6 ply, is alls I'm saying.
Landyacht when I'm done with you you will have the whole planet following you about wanting to Kiss your Butt.
This is Earth to Swami Landyacht, landyacht "Come In"
Gees! I kill me [}:)]
in a thread maybe a year ago actual tire weight was discussed, heavier tires being slow to accelerate. i landyacht only on asphalt and can definitely feel a difference between a light 2 ply and heavier 4 ply. 2 ply feels responsive to the wind (squirty), where a heavier tire has a lag feeling to it and i dont feel the acceleration near as well. give me cheap 2 ply and 30-35 psi please.
bought tires yesterday. found a 2ply that fits 8 inch rim called Hi-Run. definitely heavier than i like, but is 18" in diameter. waiting for some wind.
Hey! Now we have a Forum Discussion!!.
This recent set of posts hit on a few points with which I concur. Previously I mentioned Air Trac, pic's included. I have rough weighed the AirTrac against the full Wheel Barrow wheel and found it to be quite a bit lighter, however this needs to be done again as a wheel complete and I doubt there will be much difference except in price. Price = Free against $$20 or so + Free every time.
I would think that Pressed Steel or Alloy Go Cart Rims would be light weight against the Heavy Plastic ones. Any one got the Precise Gen??
I also mentioned that the Likes of Goodyear, Michelin etc are way heavy and could probably run airless on the side walls. Yep! They are HEAVY and STIFF and Unsuitable-----------Unless of course you are building a Super Heavy Weight 40footer
A lot depends on what you aim to do in Land Yachting Fun Machines on rough ground may well need a heavier Tyre, How ever competitive Racing and maneuvering disciplines would really need the Light Weight Large Dia' Wheels. The Lighter the entire LY altogether the better. Like you say OldMixer "Squirt y" But then again one needs experience to use these things to great effect. I ain't no Boffin in these things but Common Sense would say so. Truthfully speaking though none of it means a thing to me as I think the Sport is about having fun and enjoying what life we may have left.
The Gladiators Saying "Eat, Drink and be Merry, fore Tomorrow we may Die"
I also believe that driving on City Roads has become a "Gladiators Sport"
Finally.
This sort of Info needs puting in a permanent File or fixing so that it can be directly referred to easily for us Newby's etc. Is there a way we can do this??
Ron
To see what aero tyres look like on a yacht have a look at this thread on a trip along the Coorong National Park....
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Yacht-Sailing/Events-Competitions/Beach-Blast/
Bill Finch often used Aero tyres with success on his "Hot Stuff" yachts in the 80's
You will notice is the steering set up with almost upright forks which shuddered and jumped on sharp turns, this was well before the use of layover steering. And also notice the suspension just in front of the mast which comprised of 2 tubes hinged and wrapped with bungee cord, [works well].
PS. Nikrum, you might be missing the point with your statement "How ever competitive Racing and maneuvering disciplines would really need the Light Weight Large Dia' Wheels."
Lets say you have 2 wheels the same weight 1 a large Dia. the other say 1/2 the Dia. While the large wheel will roll easier, it takes longer to get to maximum speed, it also creates a flywheel effect the makes it want to roll straight forward [gyroscope] but will be harder to turn in a tight circuit.
The small wheel is harder to roll, gets to max speed easier and is easier to turn due to a smaller flywheel effect.
Which is best ???? land sailing is a sport of compromise.....
Nikrum-
I think those airtrak tyres might be speed rated a bit low for what you need..
Wheel barrow wheels are not for highway use(referencing speed?) But we still use them. [}:)]
They are like what was used to use on class 5 "Faze5" style yachts... solid but RUST VERY BADLY, that's why the plastic "Fallshaws" are better.
Don't worry about the maximum speed rating to much, and if you can find 2 ply tyres all the better....
I am still having trouble with the "Point" as both the Barrow Wheels and the Air Trac Wheel Tyre are the same diameter but the later is a deal wider which would make them great on soft sand. A Go Cart Rim, I would have thought would be lighter, especially Alloy ones.
Layover Steering is where I'm going, using Push Bike Steering Heads and altered front forks. The bearing part of which will be fitted with solid Rod or Steam Pipe. Experimenting again. Hey! So I reinvent the wheel I got the time---------I hope.
Ron
Foot Note; the Carbon Bug is looking good, the internal Mast Step is now fitted but has yet to be Carbon Taped, (Still waiting for that to come in from the States)
