Casters

Cliff_Johns · Jul 12, 2004

I did a search for casters and dollies looking for advice in building a doly for my backhoe. There was some goos stuff there, but I'm not sure of the casters.

My BH weighs about 750# so I figured I would get 4 250# swivel casters so I could just move the BH and the sub-base around in any direction. Does this sound right? Have I given myself enough margin by going to 1000# total. I looked at the local Menards (like HD), but they had a limited supply, they weren't labeled correctly, and they seemed expensive. I wasn't impressed. So where is a good place to buy them? Should I go to Northern Hydraulic? What should I be looking for to determine quality?

If it's important, the casters will be used on concrete.

Thanks,
Cliff

chevy · Jul 12, 2004

Cliff,
I built a dolly for my JD 48 backhoe. I only used 3 casters for it. The dolly is built in a T shape with one caster supporting the bucket & two supporting the frame. I used 4" steel wheel casters that I got at Tractor Supply. I believe the casters are rated at 450 lbs. This was over kill, but the larger wheel rolls easier.
Chris

markct · Jul 12, 2004

i would get casters with a bit more or a weight rating, they seem to be usualy kinda overrated, but this depends too on how much you plan to move it and how decent your concrete floor is, if its smooth and like new then 250 each should be ok but if its got alot of cracks or big chips then i would get a bit heftier casters. if it were me i would get casters that were a metal wheel not plastic or rubber since it will sit for long periods of time with alot of weigh on it and rubber casters will get a flat spot on them, i have seen it happen many times to carts at work that are left loaded heavily and sitting in one place.

Corm · Jul 12, 2004

I agree with using steel casters, and keep in mind that bigger wheels roll much easier.... You might spend a few $ more for heavy duty steel wheeled casters with bigger wheels, but you will not be sorry after you get your dolly all together and see how easily it rolls across your floor.

I've had good luck in the past dealing with www.castersdirect.com. There prices are pretty good, with excellent quality. Post us some pictures of your finished dolly /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Corm

SPIKER · Jul 12, 2004

I would listen to the others, and go with biger casters and metal. two places to get them inexpensively are http://www.harborfreight.com and caster connection, Not sure if caster connection has a web site? try a google search and see. we buy a lot of 8' seel castors for making carts that go into ovens with a high weight rating I would get two swivel and two fixed. or one swivel and two fixed for a tri-pod like others mentioned.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

arkydog · Jul 12, 2004

I built a "T" frame for my backhoe and used two large tired wheels and one caster. the large tired wheels will roll easily over small items on the floor like small peebles and you steer with the caster on the bucket end.

arkydog

Cliff_Johns · Jul 12, 2004

( I've had good luck in the past dealing with www.castersdirect.com. There prices are pretty good, with excellent quality.
Corm )

Thanks everyone for the information. I contacted castersdirect and explained my use to them and asked what they would recommend. They said I should use the heavy duty plastic (300# $5.80) or phenolic(350# $11.16). They said 5" wheels will help when moving things over expansion joints etc and that these wheels will not flatten if left for long periods with weight on them.

3 at 300# seems pretty good even if most of the weight ends up on just two of them for some reason, but I may make it 4 casters anyway, they are pretty cheap.

I did notice that some casters come with zerk fittings and bearings on the axels etc. If I'm going to make put the effort and money into making this, I want it to work for a long time.

Cliff

slowrev · Jul 13, 2004

Cliff,
"did notice that some casters come with zerk fittings and bearings on the axels etc. If I'm going to make put the effort and money into making this, I want it to work for a long time."

Keep them well lubricated with caster oil. I have not heard of caster grease though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

markct · Jul 13, 2004

speaking of casters, anyone ever notice the nice casters home depot has on there lumber carts, they are nice, grease zerks on the wheels, and a metal wheel with a thin rubber or polyurathane tire around it. i dont know what they are rated for but they sure take alot of weight. all over the carts they say "DO NOT OVERLOAD" but no wheres on the cart does it say the weight capacity!!! i once had enought lumber on one cart for build two hay wagons and a few other odd projects, usualy the wagons weigh about 1800 lbs with a running gear, and the running gear is only a few hundred pounds so probably 1400 lbs of lumber in a wagon, the cart rolled pretty good once i got it moving but it was like trying to stop a freight train when i got to the register! im sure i overloaded it but who knows for sure.

DAP · Jul 14, 2004

( speaking of casters, anyone ever notice the nice casters home depot has on there lumber carts, they are nice, grease zerks on the wheels, and a metal wheel with a thin rubber or polyurathane tire around it. )

You can bet your arse they didn't buy those casters AT home depot! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif