HELP: Replacing suitcase wheels
![](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/clear.gif)
#12
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: Bus Driver
Posts: 51
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Anyone out there have the experience of replacing suitcase wheels? You would think that the internet would be loaded with "Travelpro Wheel Rebuild Kits". But you would be surprised, there are none...
Heres what I've got: Travelpro suitcase, I believe my wheels are 72mm, they have bearings. But what diameter size bearings? Why do I have to buy a 4 or 8 pack of rollerblade inline wheels for 2 wheels?
Someone help me that has done this...what did you do?...![EEK!](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/smilies/eek.gif)
Heres what I've got: Travelpro suitcase, I believe my wheels are 72mm, they have bearings. But what diameter size bearings? Why do I have to buy a 4 or 8 pack of rollerblade inline wheels for 2 wheels?
Someone help me that has done this...what did you do?...
![EEK!](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/smilies/eek.gif)
Wipe the bearings with some paper towel to remove any dirt and apply some lubricant (which you should also be able to buy at the hockey store). Just don't use WD-40.
Also, try this website,
Inline Hockey Wheels - 608 Core
There are some on there within the 5 dollar range.
#13
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
or you can call travel pro and get oem parts. A complete wheel assembly is really cheap, it takes about 5 minutes depending upon which model you have. i have the either crew 3 or 5 and the wheel assembly just unscrews. Travel pro sent me a new wheel and bearings for just a few dollars, if not free and i paid for shipping, i can not exactly remember. Cheers.
#16
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Travelpro wheels are fairly easy to replace because you can remove the wheel housing with just a screwdriver. I once destroyed a Samsonite bag trying to replace the riveted axle wheels.
I bought a pack of rollerblade-style wheels from a local sporting goods store. Most bags take wheels in the 72-76mm range, however there are some brands which use much smaller inline wheels as well. I got wheels with pre-installed bearings...ABEC 3's I think it was?
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/3424602568_4be42e6db9_o.jpg)
You are correct that a pack of wheels is not cheap. But, consider that a pack of eight wheels will provide enough for the rest of your flying career. Or you can do what I did. When I'd fly with a crewmember who was complaining about the bad wheels on their bag, I would offer to replace the wheels with some of the extras I had. A small screwdriver and five minutes later, they'd have a bag that rolled like new. I wouldn't quote a particular price for this service, but most would toss me ten or fifteen bucks. After two sets, I had covered the cost of the original pack of wheels.
Some bags have "wide" bearings that serve to keep the wheel centered. Like someone above mentioned, you can use small washers on either side of the wheel to accomplish this--I use nylon washers. I've found that even inexpensive inline skate wheels are much better than the factory wheels that come with the bags; with most original wheels I've had, either the bearings go bad, or with my more recent travelpro, the plastic core in the center of the wheel actually broke.
I bought a pack of rollerblade-style wheels from a local sporting goods store. Most bags take wheels in the 72-76mm range, however there are some brands which use much smaller inline wheels as well. I got wheels with pre-installed bearings...ABEC 3's I think it was?
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/3424602568_4be42e6db9_o.jpg)
You are correct that a pack of wheels is not cheap. But, consider that a pack of eight wheels will provide enough for the rest of your flying career. Or you can do what I did. When I'd fly with a crewmember who was complaining about the bad wheels on their bag, I would offer to replace the wheels with some of the extras I had. A small screwdriver and five minutes later, they'd have a bag that rolled like new. I wouldn't quote a particular price for this service, but most would toss me ten or fifteen bucks. After two sets, I had covered the cost of the original pack of wheels.
Some bags have "wide" bearings that serve to keep the wheel centered. Like someone above mentioned, you can use small washers on either side of the wheel to accomplish this--I use nylon washers. I've found that even inexpensive inline skate wheels are much better than the factory wheels that come with the bags; with most original wheels I've had, either the bearings go bad, or with my more recent travelpro, the plastic core in the center of the wheel actually broke.
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3423794939_27c9b92e63_o.jpg)
#20
![Default](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I helped a guy replace the wheels on his bag, and it had a rivet/pressed fit roll pin for an axle. We drilled it out and used AN-3 bolts and nuts for the replacement. That'd be about a -28 length, I guess.. Just go to the hardware store and eyeball it. If you're not using aircraft parts it's cheap enough to get a few lengths and see what works.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post