So, I added wheels to the WSM, but...


 

GB King

New member
...when I got through, the thing didn't sit level and doesn't want to roll. I purchased the 3" swivel casters w/brakes at Harbor Freight that I saw recommended in another thread, and used a center finder and tape measure to place the holes in the legs. It appears that the caster stems are not parallel so when I try to roll the thing it wobbles and resists moving in a straight line. Going out today to purchase a package of flat washers to use as shims to try to level the bowl. Probably not that big a deal that it sits 3/8" out of level, but the surveyor in me deosn't like anything that sits out of plumb. Anybody else have this probelm?
 
This is what I did when mine was brand new.

I installed the legs, cinched them tightly, then took just that assembly out to the garage. I rested it on the garage floor and just rotated the assembly a few times, so the rough concret sanded marks across the foot of the legs indicating where the abosolute center of the foot was. I then just had to center the center punch between the width of the leg, and walla. I did however, use a nut first on the caster, then a large stainless washer, to ensure a stable mount, then a washer, lock washer, and nut on the end. It rolls perfectly.
 
Scott has the right solution. If the casters are out of plumb than slightly reaming the hole and adding nuts and lock washers on both sides will hold it true . 3/8 out of level could just mean you didn't hit that exact center point on the leg bend or that one or two of the legs are skewed out or inward (plumb) which can cause out of level. (just like the tripod legs on a transit)
I went a different way on adding wheels on mine, but that should be an easy fix cause nothin worse than having a mobile WSM acting like a K-mart shopping cart.:)

Tim
 

 

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