This old wheel barrel with a broken non standard wheel bearing - new upgrade cheap!

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Don2222

Minister of Fire
Feb 1, 2010
9,117
Salem NH
Hello
This wheelbarrow approx 30 years old. The wheel bearing broke and to my surprise, the inexpensive 13" replacement wheels for $12.99 with standard 5/8" diameter hole for the standard 5/8" axle will not fit! So is there a cheap fix here???
There are universal replacement wheels with a few different plastic bearings but for $30-$32 dollars. I did see a universal tire with a nice metal bearing that looks like it would fit my shaft which is about 11/16" in diameter but the wheel was 10" in diameter and I need a wheel that is 13" in diameter. Also the axle rod on my wheel barrel was very worn and measures approx 9.5 inches long. There is a wheelbarrow hardware kit that has more parts then I need and costs $35-$45 dollars with the shipping. A new wheel barrel is $70-$100 dollars. So I decided to purchase a piece of 5/8" steel round 13.5" long and take a chance for only $5.48
5/8" Steel Shaft for Rubber Rollers Redline Boat Trailer Parts 408400

This shaft fits the new wheels perfectly!
So I purchased this one from Harbor Freight!
13 in. Heavy Duty Pneumatic Tire with White Hub

However when placed in the wheel barrel axle rod end holders the slightly smaller diameter allows it to slip past the stops and fall out. Therefore, I took an Awl and hammer to the stop and banged it in further so it worked for the new axle rod!
Also cutting down the new rod with an air cutter took about 15 mins with grinding and wire brushing! See pics below!
Cost of fix
$12.99 for new standard wheel from Harbor Freight
$5.48 for standard 5/8" Steel round for new standard axle
$17.48 Total plus few dollars shipping for the axle! - Cheap!!!
Anyone else have this problem???
Pic 1 - Old wheel and axle left and new standard 5/8" wheel &!axle on right
Part # of new axle rod is 86041
Pic 2 - new shaft goes beyond stop
Pic 3 - Hammer stop so it sticks inside more and prevents new shaft from falling out.
Pic 4 - cutting new steel rod down to axle size
Pic 5 - Grinding down cut end smooth
Pic 6 - New wheel fits and works fine!
Pic 7 - 8 Old red wheel barrel works like new!
Click on pics to Enlarge:
 

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Last edited:
Nice work!

pssst - it's "wheelbarrow"...;)