Need a source for flat dolly rubber

[oldpops]

Hello everyone ! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I came across a flat dolly/floor truck and the rubber on one of the wheels/casters is pretty chewed up. The wheels/caters are metal with rubber tires and I would love to just be able to put new rubber on all 4 casters/wheels. Anyone know of a source to buy just the rubber? I was able to get a quick picture of one of the caster/wheels before it was loaded on a truck, shown below. Unfortunately I was not able to get a picture of the caster with the chewed up rubber, nor the size, but I can get some more pictures if needed. Don't really want to buy all new casters if I can replace just the rubber cheaper. But if I can't do that, then I'll get new casters/wheels. Thought I would ask the folks here if anyone knows of a place to get just the rubber that can be glued to the metal caster/wheel surface. Thanks in advance to all who offer help, advice, and suggestions.

 

[Garcky]

Nope, I don't, but you can buy replacement wheels at this link:

Rubber on Aluminum Core Wheels

I'm sure they have an exact replacement wheel. Just measure.

 

[duneslider]

That rubber is vulcanized on there and not really a replaceable item. If it is really so bad it doesn't roll then best bet would be buying a new wheel like Garcky said. You should be able to find a replacement that matches.

 

[619DioFan]

I don't believe it is possible. Been in the moving and storage industry since 1981 and never heard of it being done. We just replace the whole damaged caster. If you have a good surplus type store near you you may find those style wheels without the caster assembly.

 

[lilredex]

At least it is not as worn as this one, from a floor jack.

 

[nadogail]

Nope, I don't, but you can buy replacement wheels at this link:

Rubber on Aluminum Core Wheels

I'm sure they have an exact replacement wheel. Just measure.

Thanks for posting the link, some of my US General tool box casters need replacement wheels or just plain replacing.

 

[Garcky]

Thanks for posting the link, some of my US General tool box casters need replacement wheels or just plain replacing.

I suspect that replacing just the wheels might just cost more than replacing the whole caster in many cases. Of course, if you have casters that aren't a standard, readily-available size, new wheels are probably the way to go.

Harbor Freight carries a pretty large range of casters, too.

I'd never seen that website before. Looks like a good source. I just searched for caster wheels on Google.

 

[brownbagg]

harbor freight cheaper, but tractor supply has them too. i did mine couple months ago

 

[4xdog]

There are companies that will redo rubber-covered rolls -- like BIG ones, used on paper machines up to thirty feet wide. Big bucks, and usually a dedicated rail car to get it there and back. It can be done, but not remotely cost effective.

If you had the time/energy you might be able to cast a new covering from one of the home-brew polyurethane kits, and then turn it down to the right diameter/roundness.

Another option -- a lot less likely to work -- would be to wrap the wheel with sheet rubber stock of the appropriate thickness, using some really good adhesive to ensure a good bond. Might work for a while.

If by some lucky coincidence, the OD of the wheel matched the ID of some readily available tubing (probably vinyl) one might cut a new covering from a section of tube and slip it on. Wouldn't last like rubber at all, but might work for a pinch.

Given the work involved in any of those approaches and the shaky potential for happy results, unless I was really looking for a challenge, I'd buy new casters.

 

[NUTTSGT]

harbor freight cheaper, but tractor supply has them too. i did mine couple months ago

The casters I just bought at Menards were half the price as TSC was. I'd be searching online before making a purchase, I bet you will save some cash unless you walk in some place and catch a random clearance sale.

 

[Snip's]

I use this company to recover my belt sanders contact wheels in the shop. https://www.contactrubber.com/
Expect to pay but their work is exceptional...
You would be much better off going to HF..... Probably

 

[The Cobbler]

I am in the buy new camp as well. I have seen casters by themselves without the fork or whatever it's called. ( just the wheel s)

 

[Wrench97]

I use to change those steel/rubber wheels on dock carts all the time, last ones I bought were back in the early 90's and they were $22 each back then. If you have a industrial supply house near you they should be able get them. The price has probably doubled but getting a seamless rubber ring vulcanized on old wheels is likely to run quite a bit more than that.

 

[no704]

I’d just replace the wheel, but if you’re determined you could clean off the old stuff, come up with a form, and fill it with windshield urethane.

 

[brownbagg]

I’d just replace the wheel, but if you’re determined you could clean off the old stuff, come up with a form, and fill it with windshield urethane.

no, i tried that, $7 is not that much at harbor freight

 

[larry_g]

The above is a vid of a man repairing a contact wheel. The process would be the same for your tire. That said just replace the wheel.

lg

 

[driftpin]

I went online to find a ~8" outside Dia. pneumatic wheel/tire w/heavy duty locking/swiveling casters on 2 & 2 fixed. Flat plate 4 hole horizontal mounts. The weight-bearing was something like 400 lbs apiece & I was making a dolly for a ~20 ft domestic steel car chassis. Good quality metal & plating, tires held air fine, tubed. L shaped Schrader valve stems for ease of filling. Think it was ~$90 shipped. They had hundreds of wheels & caster combos. The chemical resistant/food grade products were much more $. Shipping was quick.

 

[oldpops]

Thanks again everybody! When i grew up, my parents were survivors of the great Depression. Anyway, they couldn't afford to buy a new anything, so fixing things was the normal way of life for them. that's the way I was raised and it still sticks with me today. In any event, times have changed and it's normally cheaper to just replace things, than it is to repair them. But I still have the urge to fix things rather than replace them. Looks like a trip to Harbor Freight is coming up.