Wheels on Port-a-bell cases

[Ann Frederking]

One of the wheels on one of our Port-a-bell cases is broken AGAIN! Before I ask for a replacement (and some spares because more will probably break soon) has anyone found a replacement that works and hold up better than the originals? Curiously this wheel is on the 3rd octave case that has barely moved in the last two years until we started using tables again about 6 weeks ago.

Ann

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[Kathy Smith]

Ann,

We also have a wheel broken on a Port-a-bell case that I need a replacement for.  I have requested one from the company and have yet to receive it.  This case hardly moved as well and one day, I just found the wheel broken.  If you find something that works, I will also be interested.

Kathy Smith

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Saginaw, MI

[Rebecca Wingler]

Kathy,

I would call them about the request. That is what I had to do & then my order was shipped out. Seems that the website wasn't notifying them correctly when I placed the order. I also went ahead & bought several extra to have on hand.

Rebecca

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[bfbfb...@gmail.com]

I agree with Rebecca.  I have ordered replacements and have received them quickly.  I call.  I also have extras on hand.

I would let them know.

Barbara Brocker

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[Isenbergs]

As the maintainer of our church’s handbell equipment, I am curious.  For those of you that have replaced wheels, did you replace just the wheel, or did you replace the entire metal housing with the wheel in it?

Our five Port-a-Bell cases are 11 years old, and I’ve probably replaced 5 or 6 of the 10 wheels, two of them within the past year.  I have used black luggage wheels or skate wheels (68mm diameter), which are readily available on Amazon or Ebay.  Anecdotal evidence on skateboarding websites suggests that white or off-white wheels (the natural color of polyurethane) are more durable than other colors.  Skate wheels are apparently available in a range of hardnesses as well.

My theory on the deterioration is that polyurethane shrinks and becomes brittle with age, as do other flexible plastics, due to slow evaporation of the plasticizer.  (This even happens to Tupperware, especially the lids, which are made from polyethylene.)  Polyurethane is also the same “foam rubber" that’s generally used for upholstery padding & cushions, and handbell pads.  As you may have experienced yourselves, foam ages more rapidly than just about any other kind of plastic, especially in the open air and even moreso if exposed to sunlight; I suspect it’s partly because there’s a lot more exposed surface area per unit volume of plastic than for a solid item like a wheel.

Removing the metal wheel housing from the plastic Port-a-Bell case is relatively simple, requiring you to merely drill out the four Pop rivets. For reinstallation, you can use a Pop riveter device if you have one, or do as I do and use machine screws and nuts (#10).  Removing the wheel from the housing is more of a pain, as them axle rivet must be removed (i.e., destroyed) and replaced with some sort of pin or bolt (6mm diameter, not 1/4 inch).  Once all the rivets have been replaced with other hardware, it’s a whole lot easier to replace the wheel when (not if) it fails again.

— John Isenberg

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[Rebecca Wingler]

What is sold by Port-a-Bell is the housing, plus the wheel. I had one wheel fall apart this past year & had my husband replace both of the wheels on that case. While I have replacement wheels for the remaining cases, I will not replace them until they do fall apart.

I really didn't think the price was out of line, plus the whole process was much simpler using the housing/wheel assembly.

Our cases are 12 years old.

Rebecca

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[Isenbergs]

OK, thanks for the feedback.

— John I.

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[James Walters]

I recently ordered wheels and calling them seemed to speed up the process.

[Ann Frederking]

When I tried to send a message through their web site, it seemed to think I was SPAM. But there is an email address and that worked. I'm now in touch with them.

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