Wild Willy Front to Rear Wheel Conversion

[30YrsL8r]

As I needed an additional two rear wheels for my TL-01 4WD Wild Willy, instead of the two front wheels I had spare, and because I'm cheap and didn't want to buy some, I devised a cunning plan to convert the front rims into rear ones. I thought I'd share the process in case anyone else needs to do it.

1:

File a groove across a plastic bearing and then drill four 2mm holes around the remaining rim

2:

Get a diff half that fits into the inner diameter of the wheel's axle hole (the one that's narrower than the bearing hole)

Cut it down so that, when it's inserted into the wheel, it leaves a void before the bearing lip but covers about 5mm of thread

Insert a length of plastic tube that has an inner diameter that's the same as the threaded portion of the axle

3:

Drill four 3mm holes through the wall of the wheel from the inside, avoiding the ribs

4:

Find a washer that has the same outside diameter as the inner hole in the wheel and inside diameter of the axle thread

Place the 10mm shaft into the hole in the axle, the modified plastic bearing onto it and insert this assembly into the wheel

Place the wheel on the counter with the outside uppermost, standing on the drive cup end of the axle

5:

Heat some polymorph in boiling water

Shape the polymorph roughly into a sausage and insert it into the hole in the middle of the wheel, pushing in until full

Place the washer onto the polymorph and push it slightly into the hole

Insert the diff half and push down VERY firmly so that the polymorph is squeezed through the drilled wheel and bearing holes

6:

Invert the wheel and check that the polymorph has passed through the wheel holes and filled the bearing holes

If this is not the case, press harder on the diff half. If the polymorph has set, submerge the wheel in the hot water to melt it

7:

Rinse the wheel in cold water to set the polymorph

8:

Using a pair of pliers, turn the diff half from side to side to work it out of the wheel

9:

The diff half is a VERY tight fit, and will have cut through the excess polymorph on top of the wheel, allowing it to be removed

10:

It is likely that the axle cannot be removed from the wheel at this point; heat ONLY the drive cup in hot water, then pull it out

11:

The wheel can now be installed at the rear of the TL-01 chassis

12:

You will need to file down the diameter of a Tamiya box wrench to fit inside the axle hole in order to tighten the nut

13:

The modified wheels have a slightly wider track than the standard Wild Willy 2 rear wheels (which are now on the front)

14:

Feel pretty pleased with yourself for figuring this one out and actually getting it to work in practice