Pololu Aluminum Scooter Wheel Adapter for 1/4″ Shaft Pololu

This two-part aluminum assembly mounts directly to 1/4 inch diameter motor output shafts like those on our NEMA 23 stepper motors and allows you to drive most scooter, skateboard, inline skate, and other common wheels that are compatible with popular 608 ball bearings. Two M4 set screws are included for securing the threaded adapter piece to a motor shaft, and three 14 mm M3 screws are included for clamping the wheel between the threaded adapter piece and the washer.

Overview

This compact aluminum adapter assembly makes it easy to use many common scooter, skateboard, and inline skate wheels with motors with 0.25″ (6.35 mm) diameter output shafts, enabling many more wheel options for your project. It works with most wheels that are compatible with standard 608 bearings, such as our selection of scooter/skate wheels.

The adapter consists of two main components: a machined piece with threaded holes that mounts to the motor shaft using the two included M4 set screws, and a flat washer that clamps the wheel to the machined piece using the three included 14 mm M3 screws. The washer has a hole in the center that allows the motor’s output shaft to optionally pass through for added flexibility in wheel placement on the shaft, and the low profile of the machined piece lets it work with wheels that have as little as 6 mm of space between where the 608 bearings normally fit.

We also carry versions of this adapter for 4 mm motor shafts, for 5 mm motor shafts, and for 6 mm motor shafts.

Using the adapter

The adapter is straightforward to use when assembled in the proper order. First, slide the threaded shaft mount onto your motor’s output shaft with the narrower part facing away from the motor and tighten the set screws. (If your motor has a D-shaft, make sure you align the set screws with the flattened portion of the shaft.) Once this piece is secured, press the wheel directly onto it. Next, align the holes of the washer with the threaded holes of the shaft mount and press the washer into the recess on the other side of the wheel. The diameter of the washer is slightly smaller than that of the threaded shaft mount, so the orientation of the washer should be easier to adjust if the holes are not quite aligned. Finally, insert and tighten the M3 machine screws, making sure to tighten them evenly rather than one at a time. The two pictures below show the 6 mm adapter version on one of our 37D mm gearmotors.

Note: For some wheels, it might be difficult to push the washer into the wheel with your bare hands. In such cases, an alternative approach is to initially use longer M3 screws to engage the threads of the machined piece. You can then tighten the parts together, making sure to tighten the three screws evenly so that the washer stays parallel to the threaded piece. When the longer M3 screws cannot be tightened further, you can replace them with the included 14 mm screws and finish the assembly.

Dimensions

This adapter is intended to work with motors with 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) diameter output shafts, and it fits most wheels that are compatible with standard 608 ball bearings. Please see the dimensions below to confirm that it will work with a particular wheel.

These drawings are also available as a downloadable pdf (191k pdf).