Trexler Wheels
07-10-2007 | 02:24 PM
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From: Somwhere,
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Trexler Wheels
I was wondering everybody's take on Trexler's Balloon wheels and to inquire about your experiences with them. I am looking to mount some on a Lazy Bee Special I just aquired and I am going to be doing a majority of my flying off a rough field. Are the wheels durable enough for this or would you recommend something else. Thanks for the help guys!
07-10-2007 | 03:07 PM
#2
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RE: Trexler Wheels
Yes, they will work. Just do not blow them up with your breath, use a pump of some kind. The moisture in your breath will soon deteriate the inside of the tires and ruin them. They are sometimes a problem to keep inflated, i.e. hard to always well seal the tube you inflate them through.
07-10-2007 | 06:40 PM
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From: Sarnia, ON, CANADA
RE: Trexler Wheels
Listen to Rodney! He is correct!!
Always remember the K.I.S.S. Principle ! (Keep It Simple! - Silly!
)
Light weight foam wheels work very well and need NO maintenance. (Check out the Dave Brown line of wheels)
You may not have the 'Perfect Bee' but that is one of the charms of being a Bee Keeper! - keep making them more unique!
Good Luck!
Always remember the K.I.S.S. Principle ! (Keep It Simple! - Silly!
)Light weight foam wheels work very well and need NO maintenance. (Check out the Dave Brown line of wheels)
You may not have the 'Perfect Bee' but that is one of the charms of being a Bee Keeper! - keep making them more unique!
Good Luck!
07-10-2007 | 08:17 PM
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From: Somwhere,
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RE: Trexler Wheels
How about the durability of the tires. Id like to take off and land on a dirt road and was wondering if they would hold out? I dont mind light maintainance once in a while (re-inflating) but I really dont want to have to replace them every weekend. Are there any other issues associated with the Trexlers?
07-10-2007 | 10:05 PM
#5
RE: Trexler Wheels
I patched mine with a bicycle tire patch kit until I got sick of it. They looked great, but bounced a lot and did not hold up to field stubble. It's a shame because I loved the look. Jim
07-11-2007 | 07:49 AM
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From: Keller, TX
RE: Trexler Wheels
Trexlers have been around since the beginning of recorded history. They have a unique look that many people like. However, when you start asking about durability, that's a whole different issue. If you like the look and are willing to do the maintenance and upkeep on them, go for it and enjoy your selection. I went through my "Trexler" period sometime ago and discovered I wasn't willing to spend so much time and attention to the wheels. I now use wheels that I expect to change or service only after several seasons of useage.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
07-11-2007 | 08:22 AM
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RE: Trexler Wheels
Yeah, they look cute but are a pain the butt. As pointed out here, absolutely do not use your breath to inflate them. On hard landings they deflate. And sitting on the shelf the air inflation tube tends to stick shut and you spend an evening trying to open them up.
07-11-2007 | 08:56 AM
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From: Sarnia, ON, CANADA
07-11-2007 | 11:20 AM
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From: Somwhere,
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RE: Trexler Wheels
So if the trexlers do spring a leak, you guys can repair them with a bicycle patch kit? I do like the dave brown simplicity idea, I just like the look of trexlers on a bee.
07-11-2007 | 12:00 PM
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RE: Trexler Wheels
ORIGINAL: Rodney
Yes, they will work. Just do not blow them up with your breath, use a pump of some kind. The moisture in your breath will soon deteriate the inside of the tires and ruin them. They are sometimes a problem to keep inflated, i.e. hard to always well seal the tube you inflate them through.
Yes, they will work. Just do not blow them up with your breath, use a pump of some kind. The moisture in your breath will soon deteriate the inside of the tires and ruin them. They are sometimes a problem to keep inflated, i.e. hard to always well seal the tube you inflate them through.
I have been inflating the same set since 1996 and am yet to see the problems in using lung power.
I use the ends of Robart hinge points as plugs rather than twisting the inflation tubes as they suggest. The tires do get punctured by sand burrs but a touch of thin ca on the puncture seems to do the trick. If you fly from wet grass or get the wooden hubs wet they will expand and clamp down on the axles until they dry out.
They are fun to use and have a unique appearence but they are one step ahead of the wagon wheel as far as technology goes.
07-11-2007 | 04:41 PM
#11
RE: Trexler Wheels
ORIGINAL: Gremlin Castle
How long does it take for the deterioration to affect the air holding capabilities of the tires?
I have been inflating the same set since 1996 and am yet to see the problems in using lung power.
I use the ends of Robart hinge points as plugs rather than twisting the inflation tubes as they suggest. The tires do get punctured by sand burrs but a touch of thin ca on the puncture seems to do the trick. If you fly from wet grass or get the wooden hubs wet they will expand and clamp down on the axles until they dry out.
They are fun to use and have a unique appearence but they are one step ahead of the wagon wheel as far as technology goes.
How long does it take for the deterioration to affect the air holding capabilities of the tires?
I have been inflating the same set since 1996 and am yet to see the problems in using lung power.
I use the ends of Robart hinge points as plugs rather than twisting the inflation tubes as they suggest. The tires do get punctured by sand burrs but a touch of thin ca on the puncture seems to do the trick. If you fly from wet grass or get the wooden hubs wet they will expand and clamp down on the axles until they dry out.
They are fun to use and have a unique appearence but they are one step ahead of the wagon wheel as far as technology goes.
I have a few Bee's and use the Trexlers. The Robart hinges work well for the mains, but for the tail wheel I have to fill it a few times a day to keep it inflated. My wheels are old and starting to crack, I guess I should have put some Armor-All on them at some time
. As far as durability, I have flown off grass, and pavement and they are still rolling, no problems.I like the look of the Trexlers but I would rather have a foam wheel with the same look. I have been thinking of getting some foam wheels and gluing them together then sanding them down to look like Trexlers. I might do this when my Trexlers finally give in.
07-11-2007 | 09:29 PM
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From: Arlington,
TX
RE: Trexler Wheels
ORIGINAL: bolar
I have a few Bee's and use the Trexlers. The Robart hinges work well for the mains, but for the tail wheel I have to fill it a few times a day to keep it inflated. My wheels are old and starting to crack, I guess I should have put some Armor-All on them at some time. As far as durability, I have flown off grass, and pavement and they are still rolling, no problems.
I like the look of the Trexlers but I would rather have a foam wheel with the same look. I have been thinking of getting some foam wheels and gluing them together then sanding them down to look like Trexlers. I might do this when my Trexlers finally give in.
ORIGINAL: Gremlin Castle
How long does it take for the deterioration to affect the air holding capabilities of the tires?
I have been inflating the same set since 1996 and am yet to see the problems in using lung power.
I use the ends of Robart hinge points as plugs rather than twisting the inflation tubes as they suggest. The tires do get punctured by sand burrs but a touch of thin ca on the puncture seems to do the trick. If you fly from wet grass or get the wooden hubs wet they will expand and clamp down on the axles until they dry out.
They are fun to use and have a unique appearence but they are one step ahead of the wagon wheel as far as technology goes.
How long does it take for the deterioration to affect the air holding capabilities of the tires?
I have been inflating the same set since 1996 and am yet to see the problems in using lung power.
I use the ends of Robart hinge points as plugs rather than twisting the inflation tubes as they suggest. The tires do get punctured by sand burrs but a touch of thin ca on the puncture seems to do the trick. If you fly from wet grass or get the wooden hubs wet they will expand and clamp down on the axles until they dry out.
They are fun to use and have a unique appearence but they are one step ahead of the wagon wheel as far as technology goes.
I have a few Bee's and use the Trexlers. The Robart hinges work well for the mains, but for the tail wheel I have to fill it a few times a day to keep it inflated. My wheels are old and starting to crack, I guess I should have put some Armor-All on them at some time
. As far as durability, I have flown off grass, and pavement and they are still rolling, no problems.I like the look of the Trexlers but I would rather have a foam wheel with the same look. I have been thinking of getting some foam wheels and gluing them together then sanding them down to look like Trexlers. I might do this when my Trexlers finally give in.
Don't know if it would work or even be worth the trouble but you might get credit for creating the first run flat Trexlers.
As for me I will just keep blowing mine up by mouth until they really do fail from all that moisture.
07-12-2007 | 06:50 PM
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From: Somwhere,
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RE: Trexler Wheels
What would happen if you filled them with that tire fix solution like goop that they use to fix bike tires? Despite the weight, do you think it would work
07-12-2007 | 07:44 PM
#15
My Feedback: (102)
RE: Trexler Wheels
RS, these are foam filled very light, very tough and rounder than most. I've got em on nearly every plane I fly, I had those Trexlers on my Big Mama and they are heavy. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFV60&P=SM
Check out the Kavan's here they very cool looking even lighter than the Sullivans and tough too. http://www.hobby-lobby.com/wheels.htm
Check out the Kavan's here they very cool looking even lighter than the Sullivans and tough too. http://www.hobby-lobby.com/wheels.htm
07-20-2007 | 03:06 PM
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From: Somwhere,
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RE: Trexler Wheels
I do like the idea the of cutting them open and stuffing them with a foam insert. I am just half tempted to try that or some type of run flat goop on the inside. I appriciate all the different suggestions for other tires but they all fall well short of the trexler toy wheel look.
04-05-2009 | 01:59 PM
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From: Osoyoos, BC, CANADA
RE: Trexler Wheels
ORIGINAL: bolar
I have a few Bee's and use the Trexlers. The Robart hinges work well for the mains, but for the tail wheel I have to fill it a few times a day to keep it inflated. My wheels are old and starting to crack, I guess I should have put some Armor-All on them at some time. As far as durability, I have flown off grass, and pavement and they are still rolling, no problems.
I like the look of the Trexlers but I would rather have a foam wheel with the same look. I have been thinking of getting some foam wheels and gluing them together then sanding them down to look like Trexlers. I might do this when my Trexlers finally give in.
ORIGINAL: Gremlin Castle
How long does it take for the deterioration to affect the air holding capabilities of the tires?
I have been inflating the same set since 1996 and am yet to see the problems in using lung power.
I use the ends of Robart hinge points as plugs rather than twisting the inflation tubes as they suggest. The tires do get punctured by sand burrs but a touch of thin ca on the puncture seems to do the trick. If you fly from wet grass or get the wooden hubs wet they will expand and clamp down on the axles until they dry out.
They are fun to use and have a unique appearence but they are one step ahead of the wagon wheel as far as technology goes.
How long does it take for the deterioration to affect the air holding capabilities of the tires?
I have been inflating the same set since 1996 and am yet to see the problems in using lung power.
I use the ends of Robart hinge points as plugs rather than twisting the inflation tubes as they suggest. The tires do get punctured by sand burrs but a touch of thin ca on the puncture seems to do the trick. If you fly from wet grass or get the wooden hubs wet they will expand and clamp down on the axles until they dry out.
They are fun to use and have a unique appearence but they are one step ahead of the wagon wheel as far as technology goes.
I have a few Bee's and use the Trexlers. The Robart hinges work well for the mains, but for the tail wheel I have to fill it a few times a day to keep it inflated. My wheels are old and starting to crack, I guess I should have put some Armor-All on them at some time
. As far as durability, I have flown off grass, and pavement and they are still rolling, no problems.I like the look of the Trexlers but I would rather have a foam wheel with the same look. I have been thinking of getting some foam wheels and gluing them together then sanding them down to look like Trexlers. I might do this when my Trexlers finally give in.
Bolar, did you ever try glueing foam wheels together and sanding them? What glue would work well on this type of foam.
I think putting a foam insert in Trexlers would defeat the function of them being able to absorb rough fields.
I got some of the round polyethylene foam filler from the hardware store to try to make a lite wheel with the balloon tire look, but it's not easy to glue together and needs a special glue. I thot about trying to melt the ends together, but need to make some kind of flat plat to mount on a soldering gun, so you can melt the ends when you slide the heated plate out.
I wonder why Trexler doens't update thier wheels with better rubber and a lite plastic hub. Trexlers would be the perfect rough field wheel if they had puncture proof rubber. They have the look and functionality. They will bounce of you over inflate them. The trick is to get a larger size wheel and inflate it less. I saw where someone took them off the rim, peeled them open and narrowed the center and glued it back together. He made a new plastic styrene tube hub, which is lighter and works better. I wonder if you peeled them open and put a thin layer of that rubber coating you use for dipping tool handles would work. Just make sure you don't get the inflation tube clogged. You might be able to permanantly seal with rubber cement after you inflate them, but you would have to make sure they won't get leaks first.
04-05-2009 | 02:53 PM
#18
RE: Trexler Wheels
ORIGINAL: zoomzoooie
Bolar, did you ever try glueing foam wheels together and sanding them? What glue would work well on this type of foam.
I think putting a foam insert in Trexlers would defeat the function of them being able to absorb rough fields.
I got some of the round polyethylene foam filler from the hardware store to try to make a lite wheel with the balloon tire look, but it's not easy to glue together and needs a special glue. I thot about trying to melt the ends together, but need to make some kind of flat plat to mount on a soldering gun, so you can melt the ends when you slide the heated plate out.
I wonder why Trexler doens't update thier wheels with better rubber and a lite plastic hub. Trexlers would be the perfect rough field wheel if they had puncture proof rubber. They have the look and functionality. They will bounce of you over inflate them. The trick is to get a larger size wheel and inflate it less. I saw where someone took them off the rim, peeled them open and narrowed the center and glued it back together. He made a new plastic styrene tube hub, which is lighter and works better. I wonder if you peeled them open and put a thin layer of that rubber coating you use for dipping tool handles would work. Just make sure you don't get the inflation tube clogged. You might be able to permanantly seal with rubber cement after you inflate them, but you would have to make sure they won't get leaks first.
Bolar, did you ever try glueing foam wheels together and sanding them? What glue would work well on this type of foam.
I think putting a foam insert in Trexlers would defeat the function of them being able to absorb rough fields.
I got some of the round polyethylene foam filler from the hardware store to try to make a lite wheel with the balloon tire look, but it's not easy to glue together and needs a special glue. I thot about trying to melt the ends together, but need to make some kind of flat plat to mount on a soldering gun, so you can melt the ends when you slide the heated plate out.
I wonder why Trexler doens't update thier wheels with better rubber and a lite plastic hub. Trexlers would be the perfect rough field wheel if they had puncture proof rubber. They have the look and functionality. They will bounce of you over inflate them. The trick is to get a larger size wheel and inflate it less. I saw where someone took them off the rim, peeled them open and narrowed the center and glued it back together. He made a new plastic styrene tube hub, which is lighter and works better. I wonder if you peeled them open and put a thin layer of that rubber coating you use for dipping tool handles would work. Just make sure you don't get the inflation tube clogged. You might be able to permanantly seal with rubber cement after you inflate them, but you would have to make sure they won't get leaks first.
As a matter of fact I did sand down some foam wheels and they work great. I got some Dave Brown 4" wheels (two packages, four wheels), the big square ones, pulled (more like broke) the plastic hubs out then guled two together with Zap a dap a goo. I then chucked the wheels in my drill press, then spun the corners off until I had a nice round wheel. Painted the Trexler hub and pushed it inside the wheel, they look pretty good. I did the same thing with the tail wheel, although I don't remember what size it was.
I don't have any before and after weights. I know they weigh a little more than the original Trexlers but not much. Certainly nothing noticeable while flying. I flew with them most of last summer and they are working fine.
Sorry for the dirty plane, it's next for "Spring Cleaning".
04-05-2009 | 05:42 PM
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From: Osoyoos, BC, CANADA
RE: Trexler Wheels
Bolar, they look great, I didn't think about putting them on a Trexler rim, but it's a good idea if you not a scale guy. I plan to use them for a 48" Super Cub using the rim they came on. How well do they work on rough ground? I imagine there is little bounce. My gear will have scale suspension which should work well.
It's too bad the wheel makers don't make a foam wheel that looks like the Trexlers instead of the flat sided ones. Does anyone know what type of foam they use for making these tires? If we could get some wider we could make our own balloon foamy tires.
It's too bad the wheel makers don't make a foam wheel that looks like the Trexlers instead of the flat sided ones. Does anyone know what type of foam they use for making these tires? If we could get some wider we could make our own balloon foamy tires.
04-06-2009 | 03:44 PM
#20
RE: Trexler Wheels
I fly off a grass field so I don't notice much of a bounce on landing. Anyhow, a bounce is a bounce and the wheels don't make much of a difference on a bad landing. Since your putting a working scale supspension in, that is what will keep you from bouncing more than the wheels.
Post some pictures when you make your wheels.
Post some pictures when you make your wheels.
