Wheelbarrow Repair.

[Retired]

Hi,

Isn't it strange how one job always causes another. I wanted to move a quantity of stone from the rear to the front of the bungalow this afternoon so thought I would use the wheelbarrow.

The wheelbarrow has been sitting in the shed for a number of years and I knew the tyre was flat; this barrow has been little used. I pulled it out of the shed and what a surprise the wheel had broken!! So much for modern manufacturing; I'm just glad it didn't break as I was inflating the tyre.

Being tight and couldn't be bothered trying to obtain another wheel I had a look around to see what I had to hand and found a few small rubber tyred castors of the swivelling kind.

I selected two off cuts of 2" square mild steel tubing and didn't even need to cut these to length. A bit of welding and hole drilling and the barrow is working once again and won't suffer from any more flat tyres in future. The swivelling part was also welded. Not the prettiest job but functional and above all it cost nothing.

An unusual but interesting project; I had considered making a wooden wheel.

Kind regards, Col.

[attachment=2347][attachment=2348]

[fido]

You might find it won't work too well on uneven surfaces but will be fine on slabs or tarmac. I had to fit new wheels on a roof ladder I borrowed to paint my chimneys, as one of them fell apart. In my case I think the plastic wheel had been affected by sunlight as the ladder is normally stored outside. The old wheels were the sort used on pushchairs in the '60s. I found a scrap carpet shampooer which supplied a pair of wheels of suitable size so it was just a case of making up spindles.

[AlanBeckett]

Well, I'm disappointed with you Col.
I expected you'd turn up a new wheel out of solid Mahogony at least
Alan

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks fido; I seldom use the barrow and when I do it is on hard ground so I'm not going off roading with it.

Sorry to disappoint you Alan but needs must; I wanted to crack on with moving the stone whilst the sun is shining which is rare. I did consider laminating a few layers of exterior 3/4" ply and still might do this later. You've seen where we live and I'm sure you will agree it's a good job I'm moving the stone downhill.

Kind regards, Col.

[AlanBeckett]

Col,
Of course I know
I have an ancient and very solidly built sack truck which I use for such things.
I've done it with a barrow on occasion but keeping it level is a nightmare.
Alan

[Retired]

Hi,

I too have an ancient sack cart Alan and it weighs a ton.

Thanks Trevor; great idea; if I had a scrap gram on castors I could have pulled out the works and fitted a base turning it into a nice cart in fact with a draw-bar and lights fitted it would have made into a trailer.

Joking apart the modified barrow has done very well and at last I've moved the pile of stones and tidied the garden where they had been piled. This is another job I can now tick off the list. Stone sure is heavy stuff.

Kind regards, Col.

[AlanBeckett]

Col,
I'm actually maintaining a very low profile on the subject of rocks 'cause over the last couple of years we've been donated a few piles and I'm wondering what to do with them. Well, you don't refuse do you?
Sometimes I think they're breeding
Alan

[singlepentode69]

I like the sound of a wooden wheeled barrow .when I used to have an allotment I had a steel wheeled on which I used to move some old gravestones that the concil was skipping so I moved then to the allotment for paving and edging which was tough work after that event I made sure I kept in stock wheels from broken barrows.