Adding motor to hand crank honey extractor

[Tommy]

I have a Vivo BEE-V004 manual 4/8 frame honey extractor and would like to put a motor on it.   Any suggestions other than buy one with a motor??!!!!  Does anyone have experience doing this that can share any pointers with me, like where to get a motor, how long did it last,  is it even worth trying to do this?

[divemaster1963]

You can get a 1/4 or half HP electric motor and use pullies with belts or cogs and chains. Or if you can mount it directly to shaft with Lovejoy connection. I use a 1/2 HP electric with belts and a router speed controller. This works great for my homebuilt six deep frame radial extractor.

John

[Barhopper]

Did you check with Vivo to see if they had a kit?

[nella]

Find a tread mill for free that has a working motor and a mechanic or machinist if you need one that likes honey .

[Acebird]

My first question is how much honey (cycles) do you expect to do?  The simplest thing to do is to use a variable speed drill and just clamp in on the hand crank shaft.  But if you have fifty hives then you will probably want hands free.

[herbhome]

You can get a 1/4 or half HP electric motor and use pullies with belts or cogs and chains. Or if you can mount it directly to shaft with Lovejoy connection. I use a 1/2 HP electric with belts and a router speed controller. This works great for my homebuilt six deep frame radial extractor.

John

I would think the speed controller is key because to want the speed to ramp up evenly

[Joe D]

Hi Tommy, I am over in Whitfield Community, near Ovett.  I have a tread mill motor on the extractor I have.  I got part of the guts from The Bizz, that used to see on here, and have them in a food grade 55 gal. drum.  Got the tread mill from Dirt cheap in Petal several years ago for $5.00. Had a new shaft made for it.  You can get all the speed you can want, when I first got it going cranked it up with 8 new medium frames in it and one came apart.  Don't go that fast.  last 4 of ph# 7389 listed in Ovett.  Give me a holler.

Good luck to you and your bees

Joe D

[Tommy]

Thanks to all for your help. Vivo could not help me with a motor. I am getting one from King Honey and thanks again. 

[Wombat2]

My first question is how much honey (cycles) do you expect to do?  The simplest thing to do is to use a variable speed drill and just clamp in on the hand crank shaft.  But if you have fifty hives then you will probably want hands free.

When I built my 9 frame radial they wanted $AUS1300 - $AUS1800 for a variable speed extractor specific motor.

Brought a high torque, low speed (550rpm max) variable speed  reversible drill designed to stir paint for $AUS64. Works a treat. Did rig up a holder and trigger clamp but needs to be modified to be more user friendly 

[divemaster1963]

My first question is how much honey (cycles) do you expect to do?  The simplest thing to do is to use a variable speed drill and just clamp in on the hand crank shaft.  But if you have fifty hives then you will probably want hands free.

When I built my 9 frame radial they wanted $AUS1300 - $AUS1800 for a variable speed extractor specific motor.

Brought a high torque, low speed (550rpm max) variable speed  reversible drill designed to stir paint for $AUS64. Works a treat. Did rig up a holder and trigger clamp but needs to be modified to be more user friendly 

We if you can find a foot pedal speed controller for a sewing machine or a dial speed controller for a router. That will allow you to have free control of speed and your hands free t work the frames or keep the extractor stedy.

John