So you’ve got yourself some hard-working Hamilton wheels, but you want to make sure they stay in tip-top shape for a long time to come? Have no fear. Our at-a-glance guide to wheel maintenance is here.
Why:
Hamilton wheels are engineered to stand up to tough conditions and applications. That being said, all casters and wheels should be inspected periodically to ensure optimal performance and extend life expectancy.
How often?
- Under normal circumstances and with typical use: Every 3 to 6 months
- In harsh environments or more demanding applications: Under 3 months
- Sporadic use: Between 6 to 12 months
How:
- Clean foreign debris, direct and grime from wheels
- Inspect for proper operation
- Check wear and tear. Replace if any of the following occurs:
- Wear exceeds more than 1/8” from the original wheel profile
- Signs of wheel delaminaton (layer separation)
- Cuts and tears in the wheel’s tread are prohibiting proper wheel operation
- Cracks in the wheel’s core
- Check wheel axle. Replace if any of the following occurs:
- Signs that axle has been rotating
- Galling or thread damage at either end of axle (prevents proper wheel bearing loading)
- Check wheel bearings. Replace if any of the following occurs:
- Dry, caked lubricant in bearing or internal wheel cavity
- Metal flakes/particles in lubricant, bearings, or internal wheel cavity
- Noticeable wear on any bearing surface
- Deformation of the bearing cage
- Spalling (flaking away) of bearing material on raceways or individual bearing rollers
- Obvious surface imperfections on rollers or raceways
- Dropped bearing
Grease your wheels
- Hamilton uses Interlube Super White 1910 FG-2 to lubricate its casters and wheels. Specifications can be found here.
- Always use the same grease to prevent compatibility issues (this can happen even if you use grease in the same family from a different manufacturer)
- When making a change, always fully purge the old grease and cut lubrication time in half for the next three to four scheduled lubrication periods to prevent any residual grease buildup
- Use light lubrication oil on other moving parts not lubricated through grease
Time is money. With a little preventative wheel maintenance, you can easily protect your investment and keep your wheels riding strong for the long haul.