Cast Rubber Block Strakes Version 2

Comments Received – Summary

After emailing to the Announcement List members details of my proposed cast rubber block strakes as detailed of that page I received a copule of comments from my friends and they have far more experience of driving traction engines that I do, so I respect their opinion and revised my proposed design, even though I had questions about their comments

My friends comments and my responses to them are below, but first let’s look at how I revised my design. Essentislly they said that the gap between strakes would lead to a bumpy ride and that a continous strip of rubber around the perimeter of the wheel is what is required.

Revised Design Of Rubber Block Strakes

This is my own (simplified and without dimensions) updated CAD drawing of the Cast Solid Rubber Block Strakes (Version 2):-

Note how the rubber strake extends to fill the gap between the steel strakes.

This gives a continous band 70 mm (2.8″) wide (around the periphery of the wheel. These blocks still only screws to the strakes though so there might be a flip-flop sound or a drumming sound as the engine moves forward, baybe until the blocks have worn smooth.

The wheel itself will look like this:-

Getting The Molds Made

Next I took the new drawing to dicuss with Teera and he said no problem, can do.

The next day I received a lovely 3D CAD drawing from Teera by email and it looks perfect. Here is an extract from the 3D CAD drawing from which the casting moul;d will be made:-

NOTE: Two moulds will be required as the rubber blocks are handed for left and right side wheels.

So at the moment I’m waiting on Teera to get a quote from the rubber casting company and then to move on to make the moulds and get the blocks cast.

My Questions Arising From Comments On The Previous Version

Still under consideration.