Need a gearbox...

Not just any gearbox, mind you...

A neighbor, sort of a Redneck Jesuit (honest-to-Pete) has a pig roaster on which he has had a Rotisserie set-up which he cobbled up many years ago. It's rugged enough to handle a full-size pig, but after many years of loyal service his gearbox has seen one pig too many and gave up the oinker ghost last winter. Alas, it will turn no more.

So I'm trying to help him out and find a new gear box for him. He has been driving the old one with what looks like a washing machine motor which, I assume, is running at 1,750 rpm, which then goes into this gearbox and the result is about one rpm at the spit.

So I'm looking for something that will give me a 1,750 to 1 reduction, OR a complete unit - plug it in and get 1 rpm out of it with, say 25-50 ft/lbs of torque. Variable speed of .5 - 1.5 rpm would be a tremendous plus for this application. Also, it has to run on 110 VAC.

OK you builders out there.......

Any good ideas? Swine roasting season is upon us!!

Thanks, gn

And I thought I had heard everything.

Used Ferris wheel ....

Find some one with a WW Grainger account......They will probably have several "package" units to chose from......

I was thinking of a lawn tractor gearbox/rear end but that may get kinda klunky and he would like it easily portable. I'll check out grainger, but looking for something cheap.

This don't look cheap...But 1700 to 1 ratio. Plus "abundantly dimensioned roller bearings."
http://tinyurl.com/3jtpdp8

Ed: I'm thinking these aren't plug-n-play 110VAC units, not to mention astronomical $$$...just sayin'...

Gordon (if I understand your problem):
Found some visuals:
http://www.firepit-and-grilling-guru.com/hog-rotisserie.html
http://spitjack.com/product/SPIT_ROASTING/WHOLE-PIG-ROTISSERIE-P80.html
Call me crazy but would an electric ice-cream maker (motor/gear) be any kinda suggestion...? Garage door opener?...2nd link looks like a garage-door opener of sorts; can they handle continuous "duty"....? Just trying to think outside the fire-pit...
Add - check this out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crtS-tgsfiU

Ed:

Industrial strength, but really big $$$$$$$$ Looking for something in the $50 range, used. This guy is, ummmmmmm, "Frugal". Jesuits aren't noted for being especially wealthy of pocket.

BTW: "Abundantly Dimensioned Bearings" is engineering-speak for "Way Over Designed" or, "Should last way longer than your current marriage".

Scott: That's getting closer and maybe something I can copy on the cheap. Interesting that those rotate at 4 rpm - maybe a good thing? I think the chicken roasters at the grocery store rotate around 4 rpm, too.

Garage door openers have a business end that turns something like 2-3 rps (second), getting them into the 150 rpm range. (Boy! that pig would be SPINNIN!!!) So it would need further gear reduction. They could, potentially, handle the rotational torque needed (typically, 1/4 of the overall weight of the cooking specimen) so your out-of-the-pit idea is getting closer. I've bookmarked those sites - some great ideas there - and will keep looking.


Keep the ideas comin', folks!

Gordo-No disrespect on your name, but I just remembered that it's Cinco de Mayo, the holiday invented by the Tequila distillers...anyway...check out the YouTube thingie and the other related vids that pop up with it. Re: the ice cream maker, just kinda drifted outside (inside?) the "box"...add some pulleys and, well, you've become a sort of latter-day Gyro Gearloose.

Gordon.....If you can find a used DC gear motor ( around 1/4hp or better ), the speed becomes whatever you want it to be......Call some scrap yards and/or equipment salvage operations.... Good luck .....

I like that vid with the treadmill & bike wheel gear reduction. I picked up a free treadmill last year, took it apart to use the motor to make a potter's wheel for my wife.

Which didn't work (it WOULD have worked, really, if she hadn't got impatient & bought a real wheel used). But anyway.

Lots of good parts there. Old bikes are free too. Might consider a chain drive. And might not need as much gear reduction as video boy showed. The treadmill motor is hella strong & comes with potentiometer--in my case a computerized one--so the RPMs are pretty adjustable.

That's your main advantage of using a treadmill instead of an old washing machine, I suspect.

Got me thinkin' on that one!......

Grainger manufactures several fine low rpm motors that are very suitable for spit turning heavy applications. check their website.

What about one of the old motors we used to use to rotate a television antenna remotely from the console set?
I would think that would be easy and cheap.