Weird broken caster

[bluedog225]

I noticed this the other day. This harbor freight tool box caster has just disintegrated.

It’s probably 10 years old and been stored out in the shop. Subject to hot and cold. Though the weight on it is only medium. As in about 1/2 full. Screwdrivers, wrenches, misc stuff. Nothing all that heavy.

And it’s lived in exactly 2 places. Moved once.

Weird.

 

[The Cobbler]

urethane or whatever the tire is made from disintegrated. there was another recent thread on here with the same thing

 

[Copymutt]

I’d wrap some sheet metal around it, clamp in place and mig it.

 

[The Cobbler]

knock off all the uretahne on all the wheels and you will have a somewhat useable caster again. just wont have the soft roll that it had

 

[bluedog225]

No need to knock it off. It’s doing that on its own.

 

[rsanter]

Mine have done that as well, and its not just the HF wheels.
I have some other wheels that are known brand that have done that after 15-20 years.

ypu can remove the wheel from the caster and do some measuring, and just replace the wheel

 

[racecougar]

This is exactly why I block the front of my boxes. A friend of mine had a caster fail like that, resulting in the box tipping forward and landing on his car.

 

[Hohn]

This is exactly why I block the front of my boxes. A friend of mine had a caster fail like that, resulting in the box tipping forward and landing on his car.

that's wild! I never would have thought of that and it certainly gives pause.

 

[Hooked]

ypu can remove the wheel from the caster and do some measuring, and just replace the wheel

My HF box did the same thing. I just replaced with new steel casters.

 

[4xdog]

A well-known and unfortunately too common problem with some polyurethane polymers.

It’s often referred to as hydrolysis, although I’m not sure it strictly is a breakdown caused by water as in typical hydrolysis — the term hydrolysis if often used to describe generally the degradation of polymers.

Yes, replacement with steel (or maybe real rubber) is a good solution. Another set of urethane wheels may or may not do it again. Perhaps it’s worthwhile to stay away from cheap casters, although that alone is no guarantee of anything.

 

[metalmagpie]

Take all the money you saved buying el cheapo casters and buy some new ones.

 

[RMERR]

Had at least 8 smaller caster tires crumble apart being in a storage locker for a few years. Same thing, baked in summers cold in winters.

 

[nadogail]

I buffed the plastic off the wheels and just roll the box on the steel wheels.

 

[theoldwizard1]

HF is actually carrying some DECENT casters, both fixed and swivel !

I bought a 25+ yo Craftsman table saw about 2 months ago. Casters and, more importantly, the mounts SUCKED ! Threw them away and bought new for HF. I'll bet it never rolled that well when it was new !

Same story on my 30+ you Craftsman shop vacuum. Swivel casters sucked from day one ! I needed swivel casters with a stud sticking up. The only ones HF had like that were too large. I bought one that were meant to bolt to a flat surface. Cut the corners off the mounting plate and to make it round (battery angle grinders are AWESOME!). Drilled a 5/16" hole through the stationary center of the ball bearing and installed a carriage bolt. Cut the head off (essentially I made a 3" piece of grade 2 thread rod). Rolls smooth and casters easily.

 

[rcktpwrd]

urethane or whatever the tire is made from disintegrated. there was another recent thread on here with the same thing

That was probably me a couple weeks ago

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/tool-chest-wheels.536608/#post-10810848

my tool chest is still perfectly stable, but I wouldn't want to move it.

 

[llaht]

had similar occurrence with a HF dead blow hammer opened toolbox drawer after being closed for years and all left was the internal metal core of the hammer. the outer was 'dust'....

have seen same with some casters ... that chinese plastic....

 

[dogdog]

had similar occurrence with a HF dead blow hammer opened toolbox drawer after being closed for years and all left was the internal metal core of the hammer. the outer was 'dust'....

have seen same with some casters ... that chinese plastic....

It dependents on your environment or chemicals floating around. If it make you feel any better here is a snap on you can read regarding dead blow hammer specific.

Snap on Dead blow!!! Is dead!!

My 120lbs wife was pounding 2 steel pegs in soft grass and the hammer blew apart. My dealer said they wont warranty it? The pegs were 3/4" round flat top. If the dead blows cant hold up to her using it i don't want another one anyway i guess. But I was kinda surprised with my dealers response.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[3baygarage]

Skateboard wheels did the same thing in Florida heat. Around a 25 year old skateboard from Kmart or similar. Probably not the best quality board wheels.

 

[Fixr]

It dependents on your environment or chemicals floating around. If it make you feel any better here is a snap on you can read regarding dead blow hammer specific.

Snap on Dead blow!!! Is dead!!

My 120lbs wife was pounding 2 steel pegs in soft grass and the hammer blew apart. My dealer said they wont warranty it? The pegs were 3/4" round flat top. If the dead blows cant hold up to her using it i don't want another one anyway i guess. But I was kinda surprised with my dealers response.

www.garagejournal.com

I've had two SO deadblow hammers replaced under warranty when they cracked and fell apart. Dealers who didn't know me just handed me a new one with no problem. I think i'd replace those casters with something other than urethane.

 

[Jon h]

I've had two SO deadblow hammers replaced under warranty when they cracked and fell apart. Dealers who didn't know me just handed me a new one with no problem. I think i'd replace those casters with something other than urethane.

Same here, I had 3 SO dead blows replaced after 15 years, the old orange ones.

 

[dogdog]

Same here, I had 3 SO dead blows replaced after 15 years, the old orange ones.

I've had two SO deadblow hammers replaced under warranty when they cracked and fell apart. Dealers who didn't know me just handed me a new one with no problem. I think i'd replace those casters with something other than urethane.

That is not the point, the point is for @llaht, even for your snap-on coo USA dead blow hammers or caster will deteriorate the same way. My hf dead blow hammer I got for $5.99 more than 10 years old now no issues fwiw.

 

[dogdog]

I noticed this the other day. This harbor freight tool box caster has just disintegrated.

It’s probably 10 years old and been stored out in the shop. Subject to hot and cold. Though the weight on it is only medium. As in about 1/2 full. Screwdrivers, wrenches, misc stuff. Nothing all that heavy.

And it’s lived in exactly 2 places. Moved once.

Weird.

There was a thread about those 6" caster from Grizzly that was on sale fits some HF tool carts.

6” Swivel Casters @ Grizzly $3.25 ea --NOW RAISED TO $8

Got my 16 delivered today. Gonna upgrade my custom welding cart wheels eventually. Thanks OP

www.garagejournal.com

nvm that was for a 5 draw cart.