Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Our Industrial Casters and Wheels
Please click on a question to view the answer.
When should I use Tapered Bearings?
I have rough floors -- what is the best wheel to use under these circumstances?
How fast can I tow my trailer?
My casters flutter and shake when they are being power drawn or towed.
I have an application for a caster and none of your standard product works for my application. Can you still assist me with my needs?
What is the high temperature various wheel materials are able to endure?
What is meant by the term swivel lead and how would I figure it?
What is meant by swivel radius?
How can I tell what bore size from your part number?
Why do the rigid 51/71 series start with 50/70, RGD 61 ser start with 65?
What size keyways are available?
Why are bolt holes slanted on 30-50-60-70 series?
How do I determine the load requirement of a caster?
What conditions are the casters in the catalog rated to handle?
Q: When should I use Tapered Bearings?
A: Tapered bearings are used in applications where high loads are present and towing is the method of movement. Frequently towed trailers and carts are subjected to side thrust forces when the trailer is towed around a corner. The tapered bearing is used to compensate for the thrust load forces being exerted through the wheel. Tapered bearings are often referred to as "High Speed Bearings" for this reason. Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
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Q: I have rough floors -- what is the best wheel to use under these circumstances?
A: Rough floors are compensated for in two ways. First the larger the diameter wheel, the easier it will travel over rough floors, or outdoor surfaces. The other major contributing factor for rough floors is the use of a resilient tire material. Resilient materials are those, which will flex, absorb shock and then regain their normal shape. Polyurethane wheels are excellent for this purpose. Mold on rubber is also a good choice; however, rubber will not carry the same amount of weight. Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com. CCI has a solution that will work for your application.
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Q: How fast can I tow my trailer?
A: Towing speed is a factor of the load being carried and gross weight. The issue with towing speed is heat build up in the tire of the caster wheel. Heat build up will cause premature tire failure. In most cases we suggest a 10% reduction in capacity for every mile per hour over 3 mph. Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
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Q: My casters flutter and shake when they are being power drawn or towed.
A: Flutter or shimmy is a result of only three casters carrying the load. This is common and can be eliminated by extending the swivel offset, or lead of the caster. The lead is the measurement from the centerline of the load raceway to the centerline of the axle. Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
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Q: I have an application for a caster and none of your standard product works for my application. Can you still assist me with my needs?
A: Caster Concepts has built a reputation for solving problems in the motion technology business. We are experts in "application engineering" and have over 150 years of cumulative experience devising solutions to customer challenges. In fact, a great deal of our business is the design and construction of custom and special casters. Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com, and let Caster Concepts design a permanent solution to your motion challenge.
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Q: What is the high temperature various wheel materials are able to endure?
A: Forged Steel 800 Fahrenheit degrees
Cast Iron 800 Fahrenheit degrees
Phenolic 300 Fahrenheit degrees
High Temp Phenolic 475 Fahrenheit degrees
Polyurethane 130 Fahrenheit degrees
Mold on Rubber 180 Fahrenheit degrees
Nytech- MD 200 Fahrenheit degrees
Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com, and let Caster Concepts design a permanent solution to your motion challenge.
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Q: What is meant by the term swivel lead and how would I figure it?
A: The definition of the swivel lead of a caster is; The distance from the vertical centerline of the swivel section to the vertical centerline of the wheel.
Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
CCI has a solution that will work for your application.
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Q: What is meant by swivel radius?
A: The definition of the swivel radius of a caster is; The radius of the space measured from the vertical centerline of the swivel section, required to allow the caster to swivel 360 degrees.
Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
CCI has a solution that will work for your application.
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Q: How can I tell what bore size from your part number?
A: To tell the bore size of our wheels; Take the last (2) digits in the part number and divide them by 16. Example: If the last (2) digits are "12", divide 12 by 16 = .75". The bores are in 1/16 of an inch.
Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
CCI has a solution that will work for your application.
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Q: Why do the rigid 51/71 series start with 50/70, RGD 61 ser start with 65?
A: The number 1 in the 51/61/71 series denotes that the caster is a single ball race/kingpinless style swivel caster. These casters are built with a different swivel section than the 50/60/70 series casters. The rigid casters for the 51 and 71 series casters are the same as the rigid 50 and 70 series casters, therefore the rigid part numbers begin with 50 and 70. 60 series rigid and swivel caster rigs hold wheels up to 2" wide. 61 series swivel caster rigs, the single ball race/kingpinless style caster, hold 2.5-3" wide wheels. 65 series rigid and swivel caster rigs hold 2.5-3" wide wheels. Therefore if you need a rigid caster to match your 61 series swivel caster, you would have to order a 65 series rigid caster.
Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
CCI has a solution that will work for your application.
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Q: What size keyways are available?
A: KWA: ID=.50, OD=1.94, LENGTH=3.25, KEY=.125
KWB: ID=.75, OD=1.94, LENGTH=3.25, KEY=.188
KWC: ID=1.00, OD=1.94, LENGTH=3.25, KEY=.250
KWD: ID=1.25, OD=1.94, LENGTH=3.25, KEY=.250
KWE: ID=1.50, OD=2.44, LENGTH=4.25, KEY=.375
Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
CCI has a solution that will work for your application.
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Q: Why are bolt holes slanted on 30-50-60-70 series?
A: Bolt holes are slanted on the 30/50/60/70 series caster top plates in order to allow for 2 bolt hole patterns, making the top plate more versitle.
Please contact our sales/engineering department for additional information at sales@casterconcepts.com.
CCI has a solution that will work for your application.
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Q: How do I determine the load requirement of a caster?
A: Take the weight of the load being carried and add the weight of the cart together. Take that total and divide it by three, that will give you the minimum rated load capacity each caster should have. This is applicable for carts where a 4 caster configuration is desired, division by three instead of four is due to the fact that three points make a plane and floor surfaces being uneven frequently require that three casters carry the entire load.
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Q: What conditions are the casters in the catalog rated to handle?
A: Our catalog load ratings take into account manual operation, speeds under 2.5mph, intermittent use, and temperatures under 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Where increased speed, power towing, or frequent usage apply in your application please consult the factory for guidance on the proper caster selection.
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