Motorizing my Bead Roller..Cheap

[tony b]

Hi Everybody,
Here’s how I motorized my Bead Roller, using $30 HF drill as the power source. It seems to have plenty of power, even at the slowest RPM.
Thanks for looking!

[DIYer]

Thanks tony b! We've added your Motorized Bead Roller to our Bead Rollers category,
as well as to your builder page: tony b's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Motorized Bead Roller by tony b

tags: bead roller, motor

[metric_taper]

Clever use of a flywheel ring gear and starter pinion. I have the HF version of this, and also want to motorize it. I'm thinking maybe replace the 3/8" steel "C" structure with something made from a piece of 6x1 or 6x2 hot rolled bar. I've seen other YT videos of all sorts of structure to stiffen these. As the roller shaft bearing blocks are bolted on, they could be reused. I bet that becomes the next structural weak point.

[tony b]

Clever use of a flywheel ring gear and starter pinion. I have the HF version of this, and also want to motorize it. I'm thinking maybe replace the 3/8" steel "C" structure with something made from a piece of 6x1 or 6x2 hot rolled bar. I've seen other YT videos of all sorts of structure to stiffen these. As the roller shaft bearing blocks are bolted on, they could be reused. I bet that becomes the next structural weak point.

Thank you. The Flywheel and starter pinion seem to be working well. I picked those up new on eBay. $32 for the flywheel and $13 for the pinion, all with free shipping.
Yes, the frame is the weak link on these cheap bead rollers. I’ll probably add some stiffening ribs to mine, but if you already have the heavy HR bar, that would be a nice upgrade.

[Saltfever]

Nice, Tony! The breakthrough for me was you pointing out what I can do with all of the useless SBC flex plates I have laying around. Very creative application . . . Thanks.

[metric_taper]

I was at a swap meet yesterday, the ring gears were going for $10 new, but I could not find a pinion gear. This has to be the lowest cost gear reduction, just need to figure out where to get a pinion.

[tony b]

Thanks Saltfever! I didn’t have one, so I paid $32 for a brand new one on eBay with free shipping.
Thanks Metric_taper. Search eBay for “Chevy SB/BB Mini Starter Pinion Tipton MSD QM” $13.99. I had to aneal the shank so that I could turn it down to 1/2” diameter.

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[tony b]

I just made a follow up video with a few more improvements, if anyone is interested.
Thanks for looking!

[blkadder]

This is a great idea. I have been contemplating picking up the HF version, and I have an old flywheel from an MGB laying around. I wonder if using a junkyard gear reduction starter might work. Maybe with a foot pedal the speed could be controlled.

[tony b]

This is a great idea. I have been contemplating picking up the HF version, and I have an old flywheel from an MGB laying around. I wonder if using a junkyard gear reduction starter might work. Maybe with a foot pedal the speed could be controlled.

Thanks!
A gear reduction starter could work, but it supplies much more torque than is needed. When you factor in a DC power supply, speed control and reversing switch, the cost creeps up. Of course, if you already have the components, you could give it a try.