Wheel for spinner?

[str1der]

Does anyone sell or has anyone made a small (not full size) steering wheel atachment that would attach to a spinner? I think this would be a great idea for driving games

[neuromancer]

Does anyone sell or has anyone made a small (not full size) steering wheel atachment that would attach to a spinner? I think this would be a great idea for driving games

A year or so ago (maybe on the old board) Oscar went through the relavent mathematics, showing why this might not be such a good idea. For a full sized wheel, he calculated you need 3/8" steel rod, iirc.

I understand you're not talking about a full sized wheel. But the principal is the same, so if you do it make sure it comes off easy, instead of bending the shaft on your spinner. That would suck.

I have seen several people's cabs in the examples that have a small wheel that they made which attaches like you say. Usually lawnmower tires and the like.

Bob

[eightbit]

Just thinking out loud here but why not make a steering wheel that a smaller knob could be mounted to? Instead of a spinner that the wheel attaches to.

[OSCAR]

Hey Bob, you are showing your age... I believe that post you are referring to was closer to two years ago!  My calculation did show that 3/8" diameter steel would be the minimum "safe" design for a full size wheel.  However most of the ones I've come across have been around 1/2" to 3/4" diameter.  Good memory, BTW.  


Eightbit - A couple of reasons, which go hand-in-hand based on my experience with arcade steering wheels.

1. The shaft diameter would need to be larger, thus not lending itself to a very good free spin unless you had a much larger diameter flywheel.

2. Arcade steering wheels didn't have separate flywheels.  The steering wheel itself was the flywheel, with a good portion of the weight on the circumference.  If you take the steering wheel off, the unit itself spun very poorly.  Once I put a spinner knob on a steering wheel just to see how it would work (I do lots of crazy stuff like this...), and the spinner "action" just wasn't there.

In short, large shaft diameters (greater than 1/4", I mean) combined with lack of a flywheel do not make good spinners.  They make great steering wheels, though!

[str1der]

I guess my thought was to just increase the size of the spinner a little, perhaps 4-6", to decrease the sensitivity and provide something a little more substantial to hold onto when playing something like Ironman Stewart. I wouldn't want it permenant just something that would fit onto an Oscar. I thought I saw someone who had done this but I've looked at so many examples over the last month I don't remember where.

[neuromancer]

Hey Bob,
[...]
Good memory, BTW.  

It drives my wife nuts!

Bob