Are the plastic wheels of your office chair scuffing the floor on hardwood floors? Maybe the casters are broken? Almost every rolling office chair has removable wheels that are easy to replace. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to replace office chair casters.
Main Types of Office Chair Castor Wheels
There are two main types of casters used for office chairs: hard and soft.
If the entire wheel is made of nylon, they are hard casters. Since nylon casters are harder than hardwood floors, hardwood floors will be scratched if nylon casters are used.
Suitable for hardwood floors if the wheel is made of nylon, the wheel body, and polyurethane (PU). Because polyurethane is softer than hardwood floors, it won’t scratch the floor.
How To Replace Chair Wheels
To replace the swivel wheel on an office chair, follow these steps:
- Remove the office chair wheel
- Choosing and Buying Replacement Castors
- Install Your New Castor Wheels
Read on for details on each step.
Step 1: Remove Office Chair Castor Wheels
Removing the wheels from an office chair is easy and straightforward. In most cases, no tools are required. This step involves removing one caster to determine the size and type. Most (about 95%) office chairs have “grip rings” on the wheels. This stem is made of metal and has a “C”-shaped split ring near the top that compresses and expands to lock the stem into the chair base socket. Therefore, simply pulling out such casters is usually sufficient.
Step 2: Choosing and Buying Replacement Castors
Write down the size of the castor stem and what kind of stem it is. Use a ruler to measure the shank of the caster. Also, you need to pay attention to whether it is a clamp rod or a threaded rod. The threaded casters have a screw that goes into a hole in the chair, and the handle pulls out of the socket like a plug.
Use a ruler to measure the wheel from front to back. Most casters have 50mm-65mm wheels. If you’re having trouble rolling your chair at heights, consider buying a larger wheel.
Decide whether you want a single or twin casters. Twin casters have more even weight distribution, but are less reliable due to their fewer parts. In offices, two-wheel casters are more popular, while in industrial settings, single-wheel casters are more suitable.
Buy your casters from a reliable online caster retailer, just like we do here at Tente, we offer a wide range of casters to suit any need.
Step 3: Install Your New Castor Wheels
If your casters are threaded, place the rod into the chair’s legs and hand tightens until it no longer turns.
For handle casters (with unthreaded rods), insert the caster rod into the leg until the top of the caster is flush with the bottom of the leg. If it is difficult to insert the caster, apply some lubricant to the inside of the leg, or use a rubber mallet to tap it in.
Tip: Test Out Your New Chair Wheels
Start testing your chair, give it a little pressure, and check that the wheels are stable. Then, sit in a chair and see how it feels.
Are the wheels balanced and held in place? If not, pull up the chair and take a look.
This is to ensure all wheels are locked in place. Complete all steps as much as possible to avoid damaging parts.
How To Choose The Right Office Chair Wheels
When choosing a new wheelchair, the following factors must be considered:
- Is it safe for different floor types such as hardwood, laminate, or tile?
- Is the load-bearing capacity of the steel frame high?
- Are there ball bearings in the swivel and wheels to help the seat roll smoothly?
- Is the material durable and can be used multiple times?
- Does the warranty back the product?
One of the problems the staff faced was the plush carpet. Unfortunately, chair wheels were never actually intended to perform well on thick carpets, which is why such floors don’t have the right wheels.
Instead, you can opt for a larger wheel diameter heavy-duty caster, about 3 inches, so it will move slightly easier. You can also choose to use hard floor or hard surface casters, which are clearly made to roll hard floors and even carpets easily.
Conclusion
Office supplies and furniture tend to be in high demand because they are used frequently and tend to wear out over time. Smart office furniture is meant to last, but it also helps maintain optimal maintenance. Therefore, you must learn how to replace the office chair wheel, especially for your health and safety.
