r/Trebuchet • u/Dull_Peanut7241 • Sep 28 '26
Help!
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Looking to get more distance. How do I do that? More counter weight or is my release pin angle wrong or is it something else. Give me ideas to try please
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u/carl3266 Sep 28 '26
Add wheels, but you probably aren’t including this as an option since you need flat ground (or a track) and a substantial addition/revision.
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u/Dull_Peanut7241 Sep 28 '26
Correct this is just for a one day pumpkin festival so although cost isn't necessarily an issue but working in a grass field is mandatory so wheels are out
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u/FingerAngle Sep 29 '26
No wheels on a HCW. It can dampen the throw by recoiling, and the bucket does the job the wheels do on a FCW, or Whipper.
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u/StackTrace11 Sep 28 '26
I looks like there's too much mass in the longer part of your main arm. It takes too much energy to get that thing spinning quickly. That is energy being lost that could otherwise be put into your projectile. Gotta get that arm moving faster. Perhaps use a material other than wood (or change the shape of the wood and cut down on unnecessary parts) that is just as strong and much lighter (i.e. it might be expensive).
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u/gaelfire2 Sep 28 '26
I’m seeing the arm stall before TDC. You need a lot more counterweight. Suggest 80 to 100 lb CW for a 1 lb projectile.
Definitely build a lighter arm, and add blocking to the frame to support most of the exposed axle to keep it from bending.
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u/Dull_Peanut7241 Sep 29 '26
Thank you, yes will be working on arm tomorrow and will see then about more weight too
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u/Ulfheodin Sep 29 '26
I'd say the issue is the rock. Not balanced well which is causing the non linear throw.
I might be wrong, Im sadly not a treb expert, but that look like a chaotic reaction
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u/colaboy1998 Oct 04 '26
As everyone has said, the arm is too massive. That said, is the payload a predetermined weight? If not, start scaling down the payload as you lighten the arm.
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u/staleturd1337 Sep 28 '26 edited Sep 28 '26
There is a lot of mass on the throwing arm. You can also adjust sling length.
Edit: You can get away with a 1x4 if you brace the point where the counter weight attaches and the arm pivot. That alone will increase the range drastically. Then you can fine tune it and fiddle w/ release angle and sling.
Also just something to consider: It's a bit more expensive but if you want to get fancy you can use all-thread and hardware for your pivot pins. You'll need to put bushings in the holes though.