Search the Community

Here's what you need to do to change your bearings: Tools required: * A big flathead screwdriver * A set of spanners * A claw hammer * Three short planks or a couple of bricks Optional: * Fairy Liquid (or other washing-up detergent) * A bottle brush * A washing up brush Don't think about doing this indoors! Before you remove the wheels from your buggy, give each wheel a good wash with fairy liquid. If, like me, you buggy on sand, you want to avoid getting salt water or sand in your screw threads or in your brand new bearings. Note I utterly ignore my own advice below. Take a wheel off your buggy as recommended by the manufacturer. Each wheel has two bearings, and a spacer tube between them (inside the wheel), through which the axle bolt passes - see the little crescent inside the hole? The plastic wheel itself has a smooth cylindrical axle - so there's nothing to unscrew - you just remove the bearings by poking them out. To remove the old bearings, place the wheel flat on a couple of planks, insert the screwdriver into the axle hole on top... ...and tap gently on the outmost edge of the lower bearing: The spacer tube inside will rattle about; don't worry about that. Flip the wheel over to check that the lower bearing is coming out: Tap again a couple of times on the opposite outermost edge so that the bearing slides out smoothly. Be gentle! The spacer tube will clatter out too. Flip the wheel over and repeat the procedure to remove the other bearing. Now wash and dry the wheel really thoroughly with the detergent - you want to be able to eat your dinner off it. I've done this hundreds of times before, so a cursory wipe with some kitchen towel will suffice for me. Do the same for the spacer tube and the axle bolt. Mine was saturated in grease which I suspect had leaked from the bearings. Go mad with the fairy liquid. Place the gleaming wheel flat onto two planks, insert a new bearing into the wheel axle and push it in with two thumbs: If you can't push it in all the way with your hand, then place the other plank on top and use the hammer to gently tap the bearing into the wheel by tapping the top plank. This avoids chipping or denting your wheel or bearing. The bearing should be flush with the outer side of the wheel. Stick the screwdriver (or in this case, the axle bolt) through the wheel, through the new bearing: ...and place the spacer tube into the wheel over the screwdriver shaft. Pop the other bearing on top, and tap it into position as before, checking that the spacer doesn't get jammed inside the wheel out of position. OK, we're nearly done. Time to put the wheel back on. Replace the axle bolt with the screwdriver - the screwdriver will help to keep the spacer in place while you put the wheel back on. Lift the wheel into position and push the axle bolt through the wheel, using it to push the screwdriver out. The axle bolt should pass through the spacer tube. Remembering to slide the smaller external spacer onto the axle bolt too! On the other side, put the small external spacer in... Re-attach the wheel as recommended by your buggy manufacturer: Take delight in the silent and frictionless rotation of your wheel. That's it! Repeat for the other wheels. By : benklaasen