Exactly. I'm a saxophone repairman and have to cut threads a lot. Mostly I'm cutting very small diameter rods. But your advice is sound. I also cut a bevel to get the die started.
Just noticed that the new wheels jams when you tighten it. Try to use smaller washers on each side of the wheel to allow the bearing to be held only by the inner ring. this will stop the wheel wobble but let the wheel turn freely.
Nice to see you learn as you teach. Even nicer to see you give credit to konrad t for his suggestion! Pointing out the importance of cleaning up the mess to protect kids and pets earns you a thumbs up AND a thank you!!
👍 Phew, glad that worked out for you! (I actually didn't know you had a tap and die set when I wrote that comment, only found out watching the dowel video afterwards) Great job! Yea you gotta watch out for those funny warranty claims that might say thread lock made your engine blow up! lol Just tell them that's how you purchased the unit 😂
First off, Great Call out from you Konrad. Secondly, it takes a humble open minded individual to publicly take advice and then put together a video showing how your own idea was improved on while giving credit to the person who came up the the better idea.......Kudos to both of you!
I upgraded my wheels today using your example and it was easy and surprisingly sturdy. Cost was just under $50 as you mentioned. Thankyou and a thanks to Conrad as well!!
So I picked up my 3500 Predator generator from a pawnshop that had 24 hours on it and I did the wheel of grade like you see in the video the first time and now I'm going to do the second upgrade which is to thread the axle that looks like a much better job thanks guys
This randomly popped up in my home screen and I'm so glad it did!! I was at harbor freight yesterday looking at the wheels they sell trying to figure out a way to make the 2 front wheels swivel so it's easier to move around. Couldn't figure that out so I started looking at the furniture dollies and took measurements to see which one works best. You're video seems to be a heck of a lot faster than the time I spent trying to figure things out in the store. Thanks!!
I don't think I've ever left a comment on any video I've watched. I literally found your videos today after putting up porch posts, because I wanna know more about wood working. I thought the exact same thing when I saw the first video... Just thread it!! Haha glad you did! Really enjoy these videos keep it up. Also never bought a single product from harbour freight!
Nicely done 💪 look at it this way your old setup would have given you in time uneven wear on those little tires, a lot more wheel rotations would have been required 🤣😂
Wow I can't believe this generator is 103lbs! I just bought a 3500w/3200w genmax inverter generator and it comes in at 56lbs and it has a carrying handle(so you can carry it like a briefcase) and a wheel kit! Has dual fuel and remote start too! All for only $80 more than the predator.
I have 2 of these generators and found there is a cheaper way to do this. The perfect wheels for this are on a discarded push mower. I got one set of wheels off a Troybilt 200 mower and another off a John Deere mower. Both these mowers have half in axles and fit perfectly.
This video is great! I bought a Predator 3500 generator back in 2019 for a trip I took out to Sturgis for the motorcycle rally and then on to Yellowstone and the Tetons. I have a 7'x14' cargo trailer that has been converted to a toy hauler/camper and I kept the generator inside. When I wanted to use it I had to drop the rear door and haul out the generator. If there was loose dirt or stones it was a pain in the a$$. I took a moving cart from Harbor Freight and put a handle on it. I then would strap the generator to the moving cart which helped but the wheels on the cart were not much better. I was going to put bigger wheels on the cart but I like your idea "way" better. I am going to get a cargo carrier that slides into a hitch receiver so I can carry my generator on the back of my camper. Thank you for this video! I also have a couple of videos on my channel about breaking in the generator and the toy hauler/ camper if you want to check them out.
I bet you were that guy camped next to me running the generator all night. at Sturgis 19 were you camping at Vanocker campground? EDIT, just having some fun with you.
@@rodx5571 As they say in the FX/HULU tv show (What We Do In The Shadows) "It's That Fucking Guy"... LOL! I was camped at the Katmandu campground and didn't use the generator at all during Sturgis as they had electrical hookups.
@@rodx5571 After Sturgis I went to Yellowstone and the Tetons where it was in the high 90's during the day and low 30's at night. I was primitive camping at times and definitely used it then. It snowed in Yellowstone about a week after I left there.
The original wheels are useless for this 100+ lb generator. Having implemented this solution, I realized there is still one major deficiency - lack of steering ! To get this to turn you still have to yank it around corners. An alternative solution, I already a ~$10 H&F dolly with swingable caster wheels. By positioning the original wheels against the dolly crossbeam, with brakes applied, makes it easier to maneuver the generator around the yard etc
Awesome! I just did this and it works very well! Have you thought of any thing to use to brake the genny? The oem one doesn’t work anymore and now it rolls so well now lol
I went a step farther and put threads all the way to the welded washer on axle. Cut the axle off just behind where the pin for the old wheels went. This allows for the coupler nut to screw on all the way. Which in turn allows the wheel bolt to screw in farther putting the wheel closer to the generator. I got my wheels to about a half inch from generator. I think shortened axle will be ok. I'M not rough with my stuff to where I am going to put alot of stress on axles. Also, I used four inch wheels instead of six. So far so good.
Just bought everything for the conversion to bigger tires. Are those tires basic lawn mower type tires? If so I can yank the ones off my busted mower? Just subscribed fyi...
you sounded like the Macho Man Ricky Savage. Good thinking Konrad. Nice to have someone making good comments and then me looking at it in my world and commenting. I guess some people are just Normal and then you have me that's not.
If you only fill it with fuel to the red level tab in the neck, and never refuel while its running you'll get long life out of it. Change the oil and clean the spark arrestor every 100 hours and you'll be fine. Run it for at least 15 minutes once a month.
No lub on the die, great way to an early death. Back & forth cutting to clear the die also helps the die last longer. Use a deep shouldered bolt an put some grease on it because it is acting as a bearing.
Just viewed 2Daves channel on "HOW TO GET 55-70% INCREASED PERFORMANCE. HARBOR FREIGHT PREDATOR 3500 INVERTER GENERATOR." He says his Harbor Freight Predator 3500 Inverter Generator runs smooth at approximately 25% capacity 17+ hours per day after 3 years and 1274 hours of run time. Just watch his modifications to his generator, could be of benefit for yours as well.
Once threaded those axial will be weaken to resist road shock risking bend or break. Do something to make wheels clearance 1/8” or so from the generator.
This is a completely unnecessary modification. You can purchase inexpensive axle extensions for any size ball bearing wheel having a 1/2" ID or 5/8" ID bore. Add flat washers and a nylon insert nut and your done. It's a much easier method requiring less effort and better results. I installed 6" OD x 5/8" bore wheels, 1/2" X 5/8" arbor (axle) adapters, flat washers and nylon insert nuts for under $80 and didn't have to alter existing hardware. Total installation time took 15 minutes!
@@nanmer7135 Why in the world would you want to install 10" wheels? The 6" X 5/8" bore wheels that I used provided plenty of ground clearance and ease of transport. Not to mention, the slight increase in the overall generator height still fit under my tonneau cover of my 2500HD truck bed!
Use a lubricant when cutting threads. Also good practice is half a turn forward and a quarter turn back to remove the scurf..👍👍
This is correct
Exactly. I'm a saxophone repairman and have to cut threads a lot. Mostly I'm cutting very small diameter rods. But your advice is sound. I also cut a bevel to get the die started.
Just noticed that the new wheels jams when you tighten it. Try to use smaller washers on each side of the wheel to allow the bearing to be held only by the inner ring. this will stop the wheel wobble but let the wheel turn freely.
Nice to see you learn as you teach. Even nicer to see you give credit to konrad t for his suggestion! Pointing out the importance of cleaning up the mess to protect kids and pets earns you a thumbs up AND a thank you!!
👍 Phew, glad that worked out for you! (I actually didn't know you had a tap and die set when I wrote that comment, only found out watching the dowel video afterwards) Great job! Yea you gotta watch out for those funny warranty claims that might say thread lock made your engine blow up! lol Just tell them that's how you purchased the unit 😂
Thanks for the advice! 😄
oh and forget to mention, yes i'm a subscriber, so no hearts broken.
😂 I’ll sleep well now. Thanks
First off, Great Call out from you Konrad. Secondly, it takes a humble open minded individual to publicly take advice and then put together a video showing how your own idea was improved on while giving credit to the person who came up the the better idea.......Kudos to both of you!
Always use cutting oil when using a tap or dye
Very nice modification. Looks pro. Functions great. Many of us will follow your lead, standing on the shoulders of a giant. Great job brother.
Just bought this Generator and I knew the wheels have to go. So crappy. Glad I found this video. Thanks
I upgraded my wheels today using your example and it was easy and surprisingly sturdy. Cost was just under $50 as you mentioned. Thankyou and a thanks to Conrad as well!!
Cutting oil, dude, cutting oil. :-D
Yeah, when he started turning that die without thread cutting oil; I swear, I could feel my dad's work gloves slap me across the back of my head.
Hahah
And a lock nut between threaded nut and inner wheel.
Bolts are going to loosen and wheel fall off.
I like the remote start, dual fuel, and it is easy to move around. Great for the RV!
So I picked up my 3500 Predator generator from a pawnshop that had 24 hours on it and I did the wheel of grade like you see in the video the first time and now I'm going to do the second upgrade which is to thread the axle that looks like a much better job thanks guys
This randomly popped up in my home screen and I'm so glad it did!! I was at harbor freight yesterday looking at the wheels they sell trying to figure out a way to make the 2 front wheels swivel so it's easier to move around. Couldn't figure that out so I started looking at the furniture dollies and took measurements to see which one works best. You're video seems to be a heck of a lot faster than the time I spent trying to figure things out in the store. Thanks!!
Thanks! I’m glad you found it helpful.
Have you been able to figure something out for the built-in brake lock? Hopefully once you figure that out you can make a video of that too. Thanks.
@@canucha1985 No. I haven’t worked on that yet
Great Video!!! Thank you. 😁
They make oil for cutting threads .
Brother man, one drop of the blue lock tight!! That's all it takes, one drop!!
Genius. Thank you. How about a video for making a handle to push or pull around. This was a great video. Off to the man cave to try this out. 👍
Now you have me thinking on an idea for my 15 year old honda 6500!
I don't think I've ever left a comment on any video I've watched. I literally found your videos today after putting up porch posts, because I wanna know more about wood working. I thought the exact same thing when I saw the first video... Just thread it!! Haha glad you did! Really enjoy these videos keep it up. Also never bought a single product from harbour freight!
I’m honored. 😁 Thanks!
Heading to the store for bigger wheels and a threading kit now.
Cutting oil helps
UA-cam at its best! Nice job guys
Great project.
Simple and effective, I like it, but think I may want the wheels a tad closer to the housing
Nicely done 💪 look at it this way your old setup would have given you in time uneven wear on those little tires, a lot more wheel rotations would have been required 🤣😂
Great hack. I would do this to my 2 HF Inverter/Generators but then they would not fit in my camper generator box.
Hehe good stuff. I am lazy and would have just put a furniture dolly under it.
Technically that would be faster and more versatile. 😄
Holy cuttin oil skippy, that is much more better..👍👍🧡😎
I recently bought one of these generators, and that wheel kit is a great idea to move around this lunky 100+lb unit more easily.
Many thinks
Wow I can't believe this generator is 103lbs! I just bought a 3500w/3200w genmax inverter generator and it comes in at 56lbs and it has a carrying handle(so you can carry it like a briefcase) and a wheel kit! Has dual fuel and remote start too! All for only $80 more than the predator.
What's the ground clearance? Had the igniter module short out while with stock wheels
I have 2 of these generators and found there is a cheaper way to do this. The perfect wheels for this are on a discarded push mower. I got one set of wheels off a Troybilt 200 mower and another off a John Deere mower. Both these mowers have half in axles and fit perfectly.
Another very informative video ... thank you! Please let us know later whether the blue thread locker holds up over time given the vibrations.
Thanks! Will do.
This video is great! I bought a Predator 3500 generator back in 2019 for a trip I took out to Sturgis for the motorcycle rally and then on to Yellowstone and the Tetons. I have a 7'x14' cargo trailer that has been converted to a toy hauler/camper and I kept the generator inside. When I wanted to use it I had to drop the rear door and haul out the generator. If there was loose dirt or stones it was a pain in the a$$. I took a moving cart from Harbor Freight and put a handle on it. I then would strap the generator to the moving cart which helped but the wheels on the cart were not much better. I was going to put bigger wheels on the cart but I like your idea "way" better. I am going to get a cargo carrier that slides into a hitch receiver so I can carry my generator on the back of my camper. Thank you for this video! I also have a couple of videos on my channel about breaking in the generator and the toy hauler/ camper if you want to check them out.
I bet you were that guy camped next to me running the generator all night. at Sturgis 19 were you camping at Vanocker campground? EDIT, just having some fun with you.
@@rodx5571 As they say in the FX/HULU tv show (What We Do In The Shadows) "It's That Fucking Guy"... LOL! I was camped at the Katmandu campground and didn't use the generator at all during Sturgis as they had electrical hookups.
@@retiredguyadventures6211 when I am there I do a tent and an air mattress. No need for AC, in August anyway.
@@rodx5571 After Sturgis I went to Yellowstone and the Tetons where it was in the high 90's during the day and low 30's at night. I was primitive camping at times and definitely used it then. It snowed in Yellowstone about a week after I left there.
Now we’re talking! Hooray for Conrad! 🥳
The original wheels are useless for this 100+ lb generator. Having implemented this solution, I realized there is still one major deficiency - lack of steering ! To get this to turn you still have to yank it around corners.
An alternative solution, I already a ~$10 H&F dolly with swingable caster wheels. By positioning the original wheels against the dolly crossbeam, with brakes applied, makes it easier to maneuver the generator around the yard etc
how has it held up?
Does anyone know where you can get parts for Predator(s) ?
Did you have to modify the brake?
Does anyone know if this voids your warranty?
It would really help to use some proper cutting oil... if I do a mod like this I am going to use a bit larger, more flotation type tire.
Awesome! I just did this and it works very well! Have you thought of any thing to use to brake the genny? The oem one doesn’t work anymore and now it rolls so well now lol
I went a step farther and put threads all the way to the welded washer on axle. Cut the axle off just behind where the pin for the old wheels went. This allows for the coupler nut to screw on all the way. Which in turn allows the wheel bolt to screw in farther putting the wheel closer to the generator. I got my wheels to about a half inch from generator. I think shortened axle will be ok. I'M not rough with my stuff to where I am going to put alot of stress on axles. Also, I used four inch wheels instead of six. So far so good.
What size are the wheels ?
Next time, use oil while you cut the threads. They actually sell 'cutting oil'. Try motor oil, it works and it makes life easier.
It works better if you put in a socket and put in a drill I did mine
Just bought everything for the conversion to bigger tires. Are those tires basic lawn mower type tires? If so I can yank the ones off my busted mower? Just subscribed fyi...
Yes. All that matters is that the hub fits the axle.
When did Russell Crowe start a tool channel? :D good show, man
you sounded like the Macho Man Ricky Savage. Good thinking Konrad. Nice to have someone making good comments and then me looking at it in my world and commenting. I guess some people are just Normal and then you have me that's not.
I'm definitely part of the not normal crowd. ooooohhhhh yeeeeaaaaahhhhh
How do you like the predator 3500 so far. Looking at getting one due to the reviews it has. I would just like a personal opinion.✌️
If you only fill it with fuel to the red level tab in the neck, and never refuel while its running you'll get long life out of it. Change the oil and clean the spark arrestor every 100 hours and you'll be fine. Run it for at least 15 minutes once a month.
Couldn't you use the washers to get the wheel lock pushed back to where it needs to be?
did you remove your spark arrestor from the exhaust pipe? if so why?
No I didn’t mess with any of that.
What size die?
I would've just cut a piece of plywood and attached 4 casters to it.
Thats a nice, muscly tap and dyeing arm you got there, why dont you come on down to the basement and grab yourself a popsicle?
😂
Next time try filing a small lead on the axle and use a small amount of lubricant/easing oil on the die.
Thanks for the tip!
No lub on the die, great way to an early death. Back & forth cutting to clear the die also helps the die last longer. Use a deep shouldered bolt an put some grease on it because it is acting as a bearing.
Any regrets on your choice of wheel size? I think I'll do this mod with 8" wheels. Thanks for the update and kudos to Conrad!
The main reason I went with this size was it would still fit under my truck bed cover. If that's not a concern I would definitely go bigger.
Just viewed 2Daves channel on "HOW TO GET 55-70% INCREASED PERFORMANCE. HARBOR FREIGHT PREDATOR 3500 INVERTER GENERATOR." He says his Harbor Freight Predator 3500 Inverter Generator runs smooth at approximately 25% capacity 17+ hours per day after 3 years and 1274 hours of run time.
Just watch his modifications to his generator, could be of benefit for yours as well.
Just a thought, all thread 1/2 ??? Cheaper and faster
I didn't get WHY I/we shouldn't use red thread locker from Locktite ... I don't have blue (don't know where to find it ... ) I only have red / green
Dang! That Kobalt set is not longer available.
Never use Green Lock tight, if you do, you will need a Gas Wrench to get that off.
8:58 When you think quality, you think Harbor Freight.
Suggested video appears in corner:Tool tests and comparisons.
Nice mod, but it won't fit under my tonneau cover in my truck.
Oh it's on...
BONESAW IS READY
ROFL - "When you think quality. You think Harbor Freight."
Not gonna lie...I cringed watching the first one. But life finds a way. You've done much better - we all learn as we go. Well done.
Careful when doing this. The poop welds underneath snapped while trying to create the thread.
Je voudrais l'avoir en français
Does he not know about to use cutting oil when you cut threads?
Could’ve used allthread
Your wheels would not wobble in your original hack if you had used a 31/64 bit instead of the 1/2 inch
Once threaded those axial will be weaken to resist road shock risking bend or break. Do something to make wheels clearance 1/8” or so from the generator.
Should have just gone with the WEN inverter generator. Better tires and performs about the same.
First thing I did was replace those pitiful wheels.
Instead of putting all that junk on the threaded rod, jus put a nut and washer on front and back of the wheel
Good work but why in hell should it be necessary to do all this? Predator should supply correct wheels.
This is a completely unnecessary modification. You can purchase inexpensive axle extensions for any size ball bearing wheel having a 1/2" ID or 5/8" ID bore. Add flat washers and a nylon insert nut and your done. It's a much easier method requiring less effort and better results. I installed 6" OD x 5/8" bore wheels, 1/2" X 5/8" arbor (axle) adapters, flat washers and nylon insert nuts for under $80 and didn't have to alter existing hardware. Total installation time took 15 minutes!
Those extensions don't work on 10 inch wheels.
@@nanmer7135 Why in the world would you want to install 10" wheels? The 6" X 5/8" bore wheels that I used provided plenty of ground clearance and ease of transport. Not to mention, the slight increase in the overall generator height still fit under my tonneau cover of my 2500HD truck bed!
Links to parts would be awesome SC.. :)
He's wearing a long sleeve shirt with sleeves down under his long sleeve shirt with rolled up ...