Harbor Freight bead roller mods - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

screamin_c10 · 02-04-2015, 04:21 AM

As many of you know the HF bead roller is a good starting point if you want to build an inexpensive bead roller. For ~80.00 you get the frame, shafts, gears, a crank handle, and an assortment of dies. The 18" deep throat design and pure Chinesium construction allows the main frame to twist when rolling beads on thicker gauge materials. Out of the box it works well for thin aluminum.

I had four goals for this tool:

1. Single man operation, which meant motorizing it with a speed and directional control.
2. Reinforcing the main frame to eliminate flex and twist.
3. Automating some of the features and making the set-points repeatable.
4. Building in a modular "quick connect" stand mount so it can be interchanged with other stand mounted heavy tools such as a tubing bender, etc.

After unpacking and assembling it I decided to start my installing a HF 110V winch motor I had picked up for this purpose. The most difficult part of this mod was connecting the motor to the drive shaft.

I'm a pack rat and tend to keep parts laying around for re-purposing. I happened to have a SBC timing chain hanging on the wall that fit the bill.
After pulling the cable spool off the winch I found that the shaft was a 5/8 hex. I grabbed a cheap six point socket and welded it into the crank sprocket of the TC set, slid it over the winch shaft and voila...
The crank handle was removed from the collar and a nut welded in, then I simply bolted the top sprocket on.

More to follow:

Frizzle Fry · 02-07-2015, 02:16 PM

In!

screamin_c10 · 02-20-2015, 03:09 AM

Got some work done on the HF bead roller today... The foot pedals are wired in, with forward and reverse. Guide rails and mount welded on. And of course the timing cover.. safety first! ready for final dis-assembly, paint and powder.
We also modified an extra engine stand I had laying about as a mobile mount. I'll be able to mount the bead roller, tubing bender, vice, etc. to it as needed.

NONHOG · 02-20-2015, 07:08 PM

Cool! Your mind is going to be coming up with reasons to use that over and over.

screamin_c10 · 02-22-2015, 01:28 AM

fini'

lofly'a · 02-22-2015, 03:26 AM

Very cool, putting this on my list of to do's.

swamp rat · 02-22-2015, 06:39 AM

Is the foot pedal HF also? Nice work!

screamin_c10 · 02-22-2015, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Is the foot pedal HF also? Nice work!

No, I got them off fleabay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321665091116...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thanks!

02-04-2015, 04:21 AM	#1
screamin_c10 I dun gradjiated collij!!! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Helens Oregon Posts: 1,750	Harbor Freight bead roller mods As many of you know the HF bead roller is a good starting point if you want to build an inexpensive bead roller. For ~80.00 you get the frame, shafts, gears, a crank handle, and an assortment of dies. The 18" deep throat design and pure Chinesium construction allows the main frame to twist when rolling beads on thicker gauge materials. Out of the box it works well for thin aluminum. I had four goals for this tool: 1. Single man operation, which meant motorizing it with a speed and directional control. 2. Reinforcing the main frame to eliminate flex and twist. 3. Automating some of the features and making the set-points repeatable. 4. Building in a modular "quick connect" stand mount so it can be interchanged with other stand mounted heavy tools such as a tubing bender, etc. After unpacking and assembling it I decided to start my installing a HF 110V winch motor I had picked up for this purpose. The most difficult part of this mod was connecting the motor to the drive shaft. I'm a pack rat and tend to keep parts laying around for re-purposing. I happened to have a SBC timing chain hanging on the wall that fit the bill. After pulling the cable spool off the winch I found that the shaft was a 5/8 hex. I grabbed a cheap six point socket and welded it into the crank sprocket of the TC set, slid it over the winch shaft and voila... The crank handle was removed from the collar and a nut welded in, then I simply bolted the top sprocket on. More to follow: Attached Images __________________ Built NOT Bought. Viper Red 1971 LWB C10 355 Vortec W/700R4 4/5 drop AKA Screamin' You are missed! 2006 F150 XLT 5.4L Triton Rollin' on 22s the "F1" 67 C20 PS/AC/327/TH400 we call 'er "Bessie" 67 Malibu PS/ZR1-LS1 Brakes/350 Vortec/700R4 2/2 drop on 18" 338s - Tracy's "Boo" Boosted '67 Cougar EFI 5.0 HO roller motor/T5/8.8 Tracloc/ 4 wheel disks - "Project Panther" 79 Honda Z50 - stretched, cafe'd and hotrodded 125CC Lifan/5spd FEAR THE MONKEY! Last edited by screamin_c10; 02-04-2015 at 04:40 AM.

02-07-2015, 02:16 PM	#2
Frizzle Fry Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hillsboro Oregon Posts: 6,449	Re: Harbor Freight bead roller mods In!

02-20-2015, 03:09 AM	#3
screamin_c10 I dun gradjiated collij!!! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Helens Oregon Posts: 1,750	Re: Harbor Freight bead roller mods Got some work done on the HF bead roller today... The foot pedals are wired in, with forward and reverse. Guide rails and mount welded on. And of course the timing cover.. safety first! ready for final dis-assembly, paint and powder. We also modified an extra engine stand I had laying about as a mobile mount. I'll be able to mount the bead roller, tubing bender, vice, etc. to it as needed. Attached Images __________________ Built NOT Bought. Viper Red 1971 LWB C10 355 Vortec W/700R4 4/5 drop AKA Screamin' You are missed! 2006 F150 XLT 5.4L Triton Rollin' on 22s the "F1" 67 C20 PS/AC/327/TH400 we call 'er "Bessie" 67 Malibu PS/ZR1-LS1 Brakes/350 Vortec/700R4 2/2 drop on 18" 338s - Tracy's "Boo" Boosted '67 Cougar EFI 5.0 HO roller motor/T5/8.8 Tracloc/ 4 wheel disks - "Project Panther" 79 Honda Z50 - stretched, cafe'd and hotrodded 125CC Lifan/5spd FEAR THE MONKEY!

02-20-2015, 07:08 PM	#4
NONHOG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Marana, Arizona Posts: 3,416	Re: Harbor Freight bead roller mods Cool! Your mind is going to be coming up with reasons to use that over and over. __________________ "I feel the need for speed!"... as soon as I am done with my nap.

02-22-2015, 01:28 AM	#5
screamin_c10 I dun gradjiated collij!!! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Helens Oregon Posts: 1,750	Re: Harbor Freight bead roller mods fini' Attached Images __________________ Built NOT Bought. Viper Red 1971 LWB C10 355 Vortec W/700R4 4/5 drop AKA Screamin' You are missed! 2006 F150 XLT 5.4L Triton Rollin' on 22s the "F1" 67 C20 PS/AC/327/TH400 we call 'er "Bessie" 67 Malibu PS/ZR1-LS1 Brakes/350 Vortec/700R4 2/2 drop on 18" 338s - Tracy's "Boo" Boosted '67 Cougar EFI 5.0 HO roller motor/T5/8.8 Tracloc/ 4 wheel disks - "Project Panther" 79 Honda Z50 - stretched, cafe'd and hotrodded 125CC Lifan/5spd FEAR THE MONKEY!

02-22-2015, 03:26 AM	#6
lofly'a Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Alexandria, LA 71301 Posts: 1,451	Re: Harbor Freight bead roller mods Very cool, putting this on my list of to do's. __________________ -02 avalanche (daily driver) -66 gto ragtop 389/400 (garage queen, hand-me-down from dad) -72 Tribute Trans Am (6.0LS/T56 6-speed) in progress -2003 YUKON (Wife's) -71 gmc swb fleet (current project, gonna shave everything, bags, stuff w/ 20's, gen III powertrain) -48 3100 SWB - 12/31/23 LONG TERM Project

02-22-2015, 06:39 AM	#7
swamp rat Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spanaway Posts: 8,451	Re: Harbor Freight bead roller mods Is the foot pedal HF also? Nice work! __________________ Mike. Swamp Rat build thread : http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=595019 72 3/4T 4X4 4" BDS Lift 33" BFG's



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