We have a house on stilts. The house has a cargo lift that's basically a metal cage that rides up another metal cage from the ground up to the living floor (about 25 foot rise) by way of a chain hoist. The inner cage runs along the outer cage and is kept in line by 2 inch wheels - two on each corner at 90 degrees from each other. The wheels are starting to break down. They appear to be rubber with no bearings. Direct Florida sun for part of the day. The lift is pretty rough / jerky. Watching it run it appears to be a combo of the deteriorating wheels and rusty /dry chain on the hoist. Looking to replace the wheels what material would you use and would you use a bearing?
Comments
35mmsteve OP t1_iuihnrn wrote
I am having a hard time finding urethane or nylong 2 inch wheels with bearings - looked through grainger and mcmaster
Tek_Freek t1_iuij17x wrote
Smaller wheel with a shim under it to reach?
festerwl t1_iuikn0v wrote
My fault I missed the 2" size. You're going to be limited in that size to likely roller or delrin bearings. Neither is terrible just won't last as long.
1st choice
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/59162040
2nd choice
35mmsteve OP t1_iuis8ui wrote
Yeah the first one looks great, until you see the price. 16 x $30 - Dang. The second choice looks like what is there, and they have lasted about 15 years.....so I guess I will go with them. Thanks
festerwl t1_iuisxo5 wrote
Yea casters themselves are just crazy expensive. I ordered some last year for work that were like $400/piece. Definitely a cost/benefit part.
35mmsteve OP t1_iujpzg3 wrote
I actually found rollerblade wheels small enough. The "aggressive" style rollerblade wheels are 55mm. There is about an inch play each direction on the lift, so it should work. About the same price as the rubber ones from mcmaster when you factor in the bearings and spacers that you have to buy seperate with the rollerblade wheels.
Embarrassed_Praline t1_iuhuvrd wrote
I'd try either Grainger or McMaster-Carr.
35mmsteve OP t1_iuiho4j wrote
I am having a hard time finding urethane or nylong 2 inch wheels with bearings - looked through grainger and mcmaster
Tek_Freek t1_iuiv3g4 wrote
Smaller wheel, but 3 of them. Long shot.
Tek_Freek t1_iuiva2c wrote
Tek_Freek t1_iuiwq54 wrote
Last post lol. Amazon is amazing.
TheFishBanjo t1_iuiy72c wrote
I'd go to harbor freight and pick some out. Almost anything other than rubber should last a few years.
Since this is exposed to Florida, I'd go cheap and just plan to change them every 5 years.
festerwl t1_iuhgq9o wrote
Cast iron with sealed bearings would be the longest lasting but you'd see some wear on both them and the tracks after some time.
Polyurethane, polyolefin, or nylon with sealed bearings would all be better choices than rubber.