# Backyard mechanics I need a little help (Mounting a wheel to an electric motor) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-mechanics-i-need-a-little-help-mounting-a-wheel-to-an-electric-motor/927219 "2020-12-04T18:45:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-mechanics-i-need-a-little-help-mounting-a-wheel-to-an-electric-motor/927219/1 "2020-12-04T18:45:25Z")
I’m looking to make a DIY pitching machine for my kids and dog. I have an old Westinghouse 1/2 HP, 1725 RPM motor with a 5/8ths shaft and 3/16 keyway. I would like to mount a 8-12” wheel and tire to the motor. I thought this would be easy, but I’m learning I don’t even speak the language. Problem #1: Every wheel I find in that size has internal bearings. The motor would just spin the bearing assembly and the wheel wouldn’t move. The smallest center bore without bearings I can find is 3” for golf carts and Go Karts. Problem #2: I don’t even speak the language to Google things. Do I need a bushing? Do I need a hub? There must be a different setup for drive wheels vs wheels that just have to roll. Does that thing have a name? Problem #3: I don’t know if I’m going down the wrong path. There might be an easier solution and I’m overthinking. Any help would be great, Thanks ---
**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-mechanics-i-need-a-little-help-mounting-a-wheel-to-an-electric-motor/927219/2 "2020-12-04T22:52:07Z")
Don’t know if this will help, but I’d try looking for a pulley, not a wheel, to attach to the motor shaft, because pulleys are designed for this. It will make the device larger, but you should then be able to mount a rubber rimmed tire in contact with the pulley to spin it, and maybe even have a lever to disengage the wheel so you can control things, i.e. disengage the wheel, start the electric motor, load the hopper, engage the wheel and so on. With a judicious choice of pulley and wheel diameters you also get control over the ejection speed of the balls. Just keep in mind that the wheel and the pulley will be spinning in opposite directions, so you will have to mount the motor on the correct side of the wheel to have it fire the balls in the direction you want. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-mechanics-i-need-a-little-help-mounting-a-wheel-to-an-electric-motor/927219/3 "2020-12-05T19:25:48Z")
I assume you need a flange like the sort that holds the bolts which connect a tire/rim to the car; and that would mount on the shaft. Then you don’t need the whole wheel rim/tire assembly to also have a axle hole specifically the right size. Bolt the wheel you choose to the flange. If necessary, drill bolt holes. The pulley thing is also a good idea. A lot of pulleys have the right kind of axle hole. But you are back to figuring out how to also connect a pulley on the wheel to drive it with a fan belt. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-mechanics-i-need-a-little-help-mounting-a-wheel-to-an-electric-motor/927219/4 "2020-12-05T19:45:11Z")
I wonder if the bearings from a wheelbarrow or pushcart wheel couldn’t be simply pushed out? Like this: > **[Uline Pneumatic Wheel - 350 lb Capacity, 10](https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-3359/Casters-and-Wheels/Uline-Pneumatic-Wheel-350-lb-Capacity-10)** > > Keep your hand trucks rolling smoothly with replacement wheels. Protect loads over the roughest surfaces. Fits all Uline Hand Trucks .ULINE offers over 38,500 boxes, plastic poly bags, mailing tubes, warehouse supplies and bubble wrap for your... ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-mechanics-i-need-a-little-help-mounting-a-wheel-to-an-electric-motor/927219/5 "2020-12-05T20:30:28Z")
Look at some Youtube videos on “build pitching machine”. Hopefully you will get some ideas. [https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=build+pitching+machine&search=Search](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=build+pitching+machine&search=Search) For example: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7TgjLPJ4a_w/maxresdefault.jpg "homemade baseball pitching machine") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TgjLPJ4a_w) ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-mechanics-i-need-a-little-help-mounting-a-wheel-to-an-electric-motor/927219/6 "2020-12-06T19:18:21Z")
Thanks everyone, I found a 5/8 bore universal sprocket that I think I can drill and bolt to a wheel. The pulley idea was great and is my backup. I think I’ve seen that before on a Mythbusters type show, but forgot until it was mentioned in his thread.