Hello This wheel barrel approx 30 years old. The wheel bearing broke and to my surprise, the inexpensive 13" replacement wheels for $12.99 with standard 5/8" diameter hole for standard 5/8" axle will not fit! So is there a cheap fix here??? There are universal replacement wheels with a few different plastic bearings but for $30-$32 dollars. I did see a universal tire with a nice metal bearing that looks like it would fit my shaft which is about 11/16" in diameter but the wheel was 10" in diameter and I need a wheel that is 13" in diameter. Also the axle rod on my wheel barrel was very worn and measures approx 9.5 inches long. There is a wheel barrel hardware kit that has more parts than I need and costs $35-$45 dollars with the shipping. A new wheel barrel is $70-$100 dollars. So I decided to purchase a piece of 5/8" steel round 13.5" long and take a chance for only $5.48 5/8" Steel Shaft for Rubber Rollers Redline Boat Trailer Parts 408400 This shaft fits the new wheels perfectly! So I purchased this one from Harbor Freight! 13 in. Heavy Duty Pneumatic Tire with White Hub However when placed in the wheel barrel axle rod end holders the slightly smaller diameter allows it to slip past the stops and fall out. Therefore, I took an Awl and hammer to the stop and banged it in further so it worked for the new axle rod! Also cutting down the new rod with an air cutter took about 15 mins with grinding and wire brushing! See pics below! Cost of fix $12.99 for new standard wheel from Harbor Freight $5.48 for standard 5/8" Steel round for new standard axle $17.48 Total plus few dollars shipping for the axle! - Cheap!!! Anyone else have this problem??? Pic 1 - Old wheel and axle left and new standard 5/8" wheel &!axle on right Part # of new axle rod is 86041 Pic 2 - new shaft goes beyond stop Pic 3 - Hammer stop so it sticks inside more and prevents new shaft from falling out. Pic 4 - cutting new steel rod down to axle size Pic 5 - Grinding down cut end smooth Pic 6 - New wheel fits and works fine! Pic 7 - 8 Old red wheel barrel works like new! Click on pics to Enlarge:
I need to come up with a cheap wheel for my 2 wheel dolly. It has 6" x 2" solid rubber wheels/tires and one side broke. I can't seem to find a reasonably priced replacement. Either the OD is wrong, ID is wrong, not wide enough, too wide, too low load capacity, to expensive, etc, etc. Thought I found one but then got it home and the ID was 1/2", not the 5/8" needed. About ready to just move the axle and use 8" OD wheels...but then I gotta buy two...lotta hassle for a dolly that was only $20 new! (got it at one of those traveling tool tent sales 15 years ago...and they had a blowout price on 'em!)
TSC has the 15 inch universal wheel for $49.99 yikes! Wrong size and way too much money! Doing it this way I have the new 5/8" standard and it can be fixed easily and cheap next time! Arnold 15 in. Universal Lawn Tractor Front Wheel - For Life Out Here
The next best fix is the new axle and holders for 19.95 and then a new wheel for $12.95 for a total of $32.94 but almost double the cost of my fix. No cutting so a bit easier. Axle and holders $19.95 Amazon.com : WHEELBARROW TIRE AXLE SHAFT WITH BRACKET 5/8"DIAMETER X 9 1/2" LONG : Patio, Lawn & Garden Wheel $12.99 Wheel at Harbor Freight 13 in. Heavy Duty Pneumatic Tire with White Hub
