Replacement casters on this and replacement casters for that… Plate casters, stem casters, hallow kingpin casters, we could name them all and at some point they all need to be replaced. When it comes to casters and wheels, they all usually need to be replaced at least at least once throughout the lifespan on the piece of equipment the casters are mounted to. Replacing your casters is significantly cheaper than replacing your machinery or equipment so it is important to understand how to efficiently replace any of your casters that you might be using. All casters can be replaced and any caster can be considered a replacement caster. However, when replacing your casters some key measurements come in to play depending on how many casters you are looking to replace and what style of caster you are looking to replace.
To begin, let’s start with discussing the decision of replacing 1 caster versus 4 casters on a cart or piece of equipment. If you replace all 4 casters there is a good chance the overall height of the casters does not matter as long as you purchase a matching set of replacement casters. However, if you replace 1 of the 4 casters, or any number of the casters without it totally a complete set, overall height is a critical measurement to consider. Overall height is the height at which the unit sits atop the casters once they are mounted. Overall height can be a very critical measurement depending on your application and it is important to match up your replacement casters with the same overall height as your existing casters to make sure you do not create an uneven rolling unit. No one likes an uneven cart or table so please keep this measurement in mind when you are seeking to replace some of your casters.
Next up I would like to talk about stem size. Stem size is a critical measurement to match up when replacing a stem caster. There are so many different sizes and combinations of stems in the caster field and you want to make sure you match this measurement up to ensure a seamless fit on your new replacement caster. If it is a threaded stem caster, you need to make sure your stem size and thread count match up with your current mounting hole. The same goes for a friction ring stem replacement caster. Friction ring (aka grip ring) stem casters come in numerous different sizes so it is imperative to ensure your stem diameter matches up with your old caster and that the stem length is not too long for the drilled mounting hole. Using a caliper, wrench or tape measure are all great options for identifying the length and diameter of your caster stem.
Moving on to plate casters, when replacing your top plate casters, it is important to match up the size of your top plate with the casters you no longer need. The overall top plate size is important to consider but what is even more important is the bolthole pattern on the top plate. There are instances where top plates sizes can be different but the mounting plate will still work because the bolthole patterns match up with your existing setup. The bolthole pattern is the most critical set of measurements you need to line up when choosing your replacement top plate casters to ensure your existing mounting holes will work with your new casters. The different of drilled holes and slotted holes can create some confusion as well and often times these measurement can come down to the difference of 1/16” or 1/8”. These little differences can cause big issues when replacing your casters. Please measure carefully!
The measurements listed above are some main focus points when attempting to search, select and install your replacement casters, but these are not all the measurements that need to be taken into consideration for all applications. If you have a more technical application and are still in doubt about what exact caster is the right fit for your replacement needs, contact one of our expert sales representatives so they can help you find the right caster for your needs. Measuring right the first time will save you vast amounts of time and energy down the road. Good luck and happy shopping!
