While DMIL’s husband was here, he fixed the rubbing problem with my great wheel. Basically, we drilled out the pin holding the shaft to the wheel support arm, filled the pin hole, then re-drilled a pin hold about three-eighths of an inch closer to the end of the shaft. Then we carved a shim to fill the space under the shaft (both ends of the shaft are tapered) and re-seated a new pin.
The result is that the wheel sits about a half-inch farther from the support arm, and because of the shim, at a slight angle to the support arm (about 4 degrees, if I’m guessing right). We used all hand-tools (including a really nifty Japanese draw saw), and I’m thinking that we’ve truly preserved authenticity–this is how any
period repair would have been made (with the exception of the cordless drill we used…)
The drive band stays on well, although the wheel at present does not turn as freely as I think it can. I need to clean and lubricate the shaft and hub. I also need to clean and lubricate the minor’s head and find good drive band material before it will truly spin. Not having the kids around will mean that I can use my dining room table as a work surface and not have to worry about Luke putting a piece in his mouth…
Theoretically, I should be able to actually spin on the wheel as soon as Wednesday. Not bad. And even if it doesn’t spin like a dream, it is a wheel worth dreaming about. Or at least writing stories about.
Question for anyone who has a wheel with a minor’s head…is the whorl on the spindle fixed to the spindle, or does it turn freely? Mine turns freely now, but I’m thinking that it needs to be tight (glued?) on the spindle in order for everything to work properly.