Wheels Rollin' Along...

[Doug Hershberger]

It seems like I heard some time ago these casters cost WAY more than $100.00
each. I don't remember anything else about it other than I was shocked by
the amount. Does anybody know what a set of these babies cost.
Doug Hershberger, RPT

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Goodale <rrg@nevada.edu>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 7:43 AM
Subject: Wheels Rollin' Along...


> Howdeee...
>
> You may recall my recent post about the unique German-like legs
> on a 9', one of which suffered the fate of breaking, (ouch).  My
> search for a proper replacement was a complete failure so I
> decided to rebuild the broken one.  With great skill that only an
> experienced expert craftsman could do, <snicker snicker>, I
> purchased some maple stock and duplicated the entire top portion
> of the leg.  It came out beautiful.  I doubt anyone will ever
> know that it had broken, <patting self on back>. ;-)
>
> So anyway...  The casters on this thing are the huge German type
> with the double wheels and the built in brake knob to lock it.
> One of the wheels does not turn very easily even with the brake
> off.  I tried a little oil , (caster oil of course- pun
> intended), but the result was the same.  I am thinking that the
> brake mechanism may not be fully retracting when it is off.  The
> system is not visible beyond the handle and thus the wheel will
> need to be disassembled to repair whatever is wrong with it.
>
> PROBLEM:  How do you disassemble these wheels??  There does not
> appear to be any removable parts other than an allen screw to
> remove the end of the brake handle.  Looking t the wheel
> hub/axel, it appears to be solid brass neatly passing through the
> heavy outer brass frame.  It does not appear necessarily to be a
> forced friction compression fit.  I can't imaging that the
> manufacturer did not intend for this thing to be serviceable,
> particularly with the brake attachment.  I bet this single wheel
> probably cost over $100.00, there has to be a way to maintenance
> it!  Has anyone taken one of these big wheels apart?  Howdja do
> it??
>
> Rob Goodale, RPT
>