I was hoping I could disassemble it further, but I don’t know how.
Can someone teach me how to disassemble the wheels? or maybe another way to remove the gunk from between the wheels so it can turn smoothly again.
pictures of the wheels
Soak them in a Plastic bag with white vinegar, that will dissolve anything in there, spray some lubricant in after and they’ll be like new.
Have you considered brake cleaner?
Brake cleaner can dissolve plastic.
So install truck brakes on the luggage then use brake cleaner. Got it.
Thank you for the advice.
Instructions unclear, I have truck brakes in my butt and I’m sipping on brake cleaner. Send help.
Problem solved; no more plastic for the gunk to be on.
Happens a lot on the wheels on my studio lights, invariably full of hair - a bit fire singes it back off straight away then lube them works a treat
Looks thick enough to scoop it off with a dull knife or spoon. if you wanna use products, go from sfe to harmfull, depending on what the wheels are made of. You don’t want to damage those. I’d start with water. Soak em overnight in water, chances are it will come off easily after that. If not, you can try alcohol as mentioned in other comments. It looks thick, so it will need time to work in. Petrol or kerosine will work, but check compatibility with your wheels first.
I would try soap and water and a brush. The rubber itself looks to be in rough shape so if you care enough to clean them, I would just replace them. You can even upgrade the wheels while you’re at it.
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Disassembling the wheel: To do this, you’ll need a screwdriver that fits the size of the screws holding the wheel in place. You should find them around the axle on the side where the wheel connects to the luggage. There might be more than one screw, so make sure you unscrew all of them. Once the screws are removed, gently pull out the wheel by applying pressure on both sides of the axle until it comes free. Be careful not to damage the wheel or its surrounding parts as you disconnect it.
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Removing the inner components: After removing the outer casing (the part we see when the wheel is attached to the luggage), you’ll have access to the inner workings of the wheel. The center hub should still be connected to the metal shaft, which is what makes the wheel rotate. This part may be stuck because of the accumulated dirt and grime. To separate them, apply some penetrating oil to the joint where the hub connects to the shaft. Wait for about 30 minutes before attempting to take apart these pieces.
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Cleaning: Now that the inner components are separated, use a small brush and some warm soapy water to scrub away any remaining debris and grime. Rinse the parts with clean water, making sure no soap remains. Leave the wheel parts to dry fully before reassembling them.
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Reassembly: When the parts are completely dry, reverse the process you followed to remove them, putting everything back together. Lubricate the shaft and hub connection with some light grease to prevent further gunk build-up. Make sure the nut on the shaft is tight enough but don’t overdo it, as this could damage the threads.
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Final assembly: Put the outer casing back onto the wheel, and then securely fasten the screws to attach it to your luggage again. Test the wheel by rolling the luggage around. It should now turn smoothly without any resistance from the built-up grime.
I would expect cheap luggage wheels to be press fit together. I expect the axle to not really be removable. Maybe it can be but I doubt it’s designed to be. Chair casters are not serviceable.
My only evidence to this mode of thinking is “value engineering” in keeping the bill of materials down. Screws are laborious too.
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It’s likely hair causing issues. You need something harsh enough to dissolve it which won’t dissplve the wheel itself and I’m not sure I can recommend anything. Nair or any other epilatory cream is likely to damage the rubber too. Vinegar will absolutely NOT dissolve the hair.
I hope some can help you disassemble the wheels properly. Good luck!
