Fixing a bum suitcase wheel??

[Wankel7]

Ok, I have this no name suitcase (Bay Bags) and the wheel is starting to have major issues. Very loud when you are moving the suitcase and it has a large amount of play in it.

I need to fix this so it can hold up until I get a new suitcase. I tried to bang out the axle but the thing won't move. I have no idea how they put the wheel in there. I guess if I could figure that out I could fix it.

I can give you guys pictures if that would help. I was hoping I could just buy some rollerblade wheels and put those in there.

Any idea?

Wankel

 

[328dude]

I have fixed mine plenty of times but I have a Pretty Neat bag. Luckily, they use standard rollerblade whells and bearings.

Can you take the guts from the inside out. or is it all stiched in there.

 

[Wankel7]

Ok, here is what I am working with. The wheel looks to be the same size as a roller blade wheel.

This is the pin I was banging on with a hammer and a screwdriver. It did not budge. http://www.rx7club.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=2342804

Here is the overview of how the wheel is attached to the suit case. http://www.rx7club.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=2342810

Here is the detail on the outside of the suitcase. It is like a big rivet head there. http://www.rx7club.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=2342810

Here is an overview of the inside of the wheel. http://www.rx7club.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=2342834

I am just thinking of taking a Dremel and cutting the metal free. That should allow me to drop the wheel out. Then I could Home Depot my self a wheel back in there. I really do not have acess to a shop. If I did I was thinking of maybe riviting a new wheel bracket to the suitcase.

James

 

[328dude]

You need a rivet gun dude. CUt it out like you said, and go to Lowe's and buy the same size rivot. That should hold you until you get a new bag.

 

[metrodriver]

He, you need to find a drillbit that is just as thick as the axle, then drill the flared head off. What these people do that make those bags is take a rivet, stick it through the wheel and flare out the end. That's what you see in your first picture.
So after you drill the head off, buy yourself a new wheel , a bolt that fits nicely through your new wheel and get a selflocking nut (the ones with the nylon ring in it). If you do not have a drill, go to your mechanic or local mechanic shop

 

[Steve]

I agree with metro driver,

I've fied a few wheels that way. Working with a rivet gun and trying to find one the correct is may too much of a hassel. A $0.89 bolt should do just fine. Good Luck. Steve

 

[Typhoon1244]

Be a man: put it on floats.

 

[Wankel7]

LOL, floats. That would help when the FBO parks us in BFE when it rains

If I can't fix it, I might be looking for a ski stc

Wankel

 

[metrodriver]

With the mechanic I meant your aircraft mechanic at the place you work. If you treat them nice usually they will do a lot for you. If you treat them like dirt (like quite a few pilots do), you've got to fix your bag yourself. After he is done helping you buy him a coke or something.

 

[Swass]

Buy some clippers and clip them nasty toenails

 

[Wankel7]

Fixed!

Well, I did not have to drill out the axle. I just had to take the cut off bit and remove the material on the inside of the wheel. Where the axle came out. Then I was able to bang the axle out.

Turns out the wheel was a 70mm roller blade wheel. I went to a sports store and looked at new wheels. Turns out with the wheels I would have to buy eight then new bearings. So I decided to just buy new bearings. That was $14 for the cheapest they had. Got some Abec 5 bearings. What ever that means they have gotta be better than the old ones. So I just squeezed the new bearings into the old wheels.

Then I found out an 8MM bolt would fit the snuggest inside of the bearings. I then bored out the holes in the suit case and ran the bolt through with the wheel in the middle. metrodriver, thanks for the idea about the locking nylon nut. That worked perfectly!

Wheel with the new bearings. http://www.rx7club.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=2347879

I guess we will see how the proving tests go!

Swass, done man! If you like I can personally send you more pictures of my feet

 

[milwan]

Why don't you act like a man and just carry it. You guys look like a bunch of stewardesses wheeling your bags around behind you.

 

[Wankel7]

Whatever man. Roller backs are here to stay. If it bothers you that much may I suggest flying a desk so you do not have to see those millions of, flight attendants out there.

Wankel

 

[DC-3TP]

Wheels or not?

I go on trips with MILWAN often and he makes sport of me all the time because I roll my bag behind me. It's fun to watch him because he drops half his stuff all over the airport. He is an interesting sort. His bag has wheels, but never uses them. He is just different in a good way.

 

[Wankel7]

Well then Thanks for the insight. On the bright side he won't have to fix his wheels like I did

Wankel

 

[Typhoon1244]

I use a roller bag mainly because I can't carry my flight case for more than about fifteen yards anymore. Thanks to the way ASA handles pubs, the sucker weighs about 180 pounds now...

 

[skydash]

Wheel

Dude,I feel your pain. Do this:
Drill out the old axle
Go to an Oshmans(or any sporting goods store) and get a used roller blade wheel.
Go to Lowes and get a kotter axle that fits through the hole and then secure it with the kotter pin! DONE!!