Skater Dolly Delay

[rayz28]

Ok so I built a skater dolly this past weekend. 2x2 wood with the steel flanges and the whole deal. After it was built I started doing some tests and it wasn't very smooth at all. I tried 3/4 pvc and 1inch pvc tracks, both were new with no big dents or scratches.

The only way I can describe the delay in my motion on the dolly is like a hump during the rotations. I've just started to oil the bearings and wheels but I was thinking that it may be the spacers I've placed between the wheel and the steel angles.

Most of the skater dolly's I've seen on here don't use spacers but how are all of you getting a smooth shot with the wheel grinding up against the steel?

hope you all can help, thanks.

[rayz28]

Ok, just an update. I have replaced the plastic spacers with a metal nut and the wheels are flying now. I'll post results later.

[rayz28]

I need help , nothing works its still wobbling like a pos. I've tried so many things.
Can anyone give me any insight.

[rayz28]

Alright, I inverted the wheels and increased the size of the pvc and then set the wheels side by side instead of off set. It works pretty good now. Funny thing is when your pushing the dolly you notice the bumps but when watching the footage on tv its like its not there...

Anyway, thanks for the 93 views and no input.

[tlorenzo]

But thanks for sharing with us anyway. I guess the reason why there hasn't been any replys to your post is that very few of us have actually begun making our own dollys yet... I've got my own in the works, but I'm still waiting for the metal pieces (I'm making mine in Dural Aluminum).

[Luis Caffesse]

Anyway, thanks for the 93 views and no input.

Without pictures or footage or something to look at that would give anyone a specific idea of what the problem is... well...there just wasn't much to say.

Thanks for the updates - post some shots when you get a chance, and next time make your questions more specific.

[rayz28]

I was looking for input from people who have built them. They may have run into similar problems, and if they have built them they should know what im talking about when I refer to specific parts. So a picture would probably draw the wrong crowd with assumptions and no hands on answers.

I'll post some pics of the final construct this week.

thanks for the reply though.

[newtodvx100a]

Sorry I can't help. I'm trying to learn also. :-)

[PixrCtr]

I've built a skater dolly, and have no clue what you mean about inverting wheels or why you are grinding against steel :)
The "humping" you describe couldn't be from the wheels themselves if they have good bearings, so my guess is that your wheels aren't running in perfect parallel. If this is true, they will continually try to (slightly) climb up one PVC pipe or the other, and then slide back down -- making a small "hump." If you watch the pvc while rolling the dolly, check to see if it looks like it's wanting to twist or roll.
I use wheels from scooters because the larger diameter is more forgiving of little bumps and nicks, and I also use larger PVC (2" I think). As for getting the wheels free to spin, I mounted mine, with washers, on a piece of angle iron, and then mounted the angle iron onto wood sections that separated the angle iron from the bottom of the sled. This gave enough room for wheels underneath. I used lag bolts to hold the wood together and to attach the iron to the wood since there is a tremendous amount of pressure once you stand on the sled.
It easily holds two people, and is smooth as butter, too.
So, does this help? LOL

Glen