As with most things in life, items last longer when you take proper care of them. An automobile, for example, can give you amazing service for a few decades as long as you perform the proper maintenance that the manufacturers recommend, such as changing the oil on a regular basis, and making sure the tires are kept under the correct pressure.
The same goes for casters, including casters manufactured by one of our favorite companies – so the question is, what tips are industry experts able to give you on maintaining your Colson Casters?
Tips to Properly Maintain Colson Casters
- Lubrication!
The number one enemy of any caster is friction. As with all mechanical devices that contain moving parts, friction is a real issue. If metal parts rub together, in the short term they become heated and the metal expands, causing machine failure. In the long term, repeated friction wears down the metal causing loosening and a reduction in function.
You can prevent the damage caused by friction by making sure your casters are properly lubricated on a very regular basis using a recommended lubricant.
When it comes to types of casters in the Colson Casters product line – such as the multi-purpose 7 Series caster – nearly all come lubricated with Colson’s unique ’45 multi-temp’ grease. This specially-formulated substance is a unique lubricant that is designed to lubricate your Colson Caster efficiently in all manner of temperatures, including very hot and very cold temperatures. Friction will be something you’ll have to worry about less if you purchase a 7 Series caster from our company.
More About Colson’s 7 Series Caster
The 7 Series caster is a kingpinless swivel caster (there is also a rigid version) that has an attractive and durable zinc-plated finish. Superb performance is guaranteed because of the single, ball-hardened and enclosed raceway. The formed fork legs feature robotic welding both internally and externally, giving extra strength and quality. In short, this is a caster that will never let you down.
- Inspection!
Your casters are usually the forgotten item when it comes to their use. They are simply affixed to the bottom of the pieces of equipment they are designed to provide mobility to, and left to do their job.
In truth, that’s the worst thing you can do. If there’s a problem and it goes undetected, then it simply becomes a bigger problem. If a problem goes undetected for a significant length of time, then catastrophic failure is typically the end result. Make sure you have a regular inspection regimen in place for all your caster-mounted items.
Colson’s L Series
One Colson caster that will need the least amount of inspection is their L Series. These casters come in three configurations – a top plate swivel and rigid caster, a threaded stem caster and a grip ring stem caster. These casters are sleekly designed to have the minimum number of moving parts, so there’s less chance of failure.
Whatever option you go for, you get a wide range of load-bearing capacities from 90-150 lbs., and two choices of wheels – either non-marking polyolefin or durable thermal plastic rubber (TPR). This versatile little caster will be exactly what you need, and will suit almost any application.
- Fastenings!
A caster cannot be a solid device. It’s formed of a wheel and a frame, with the axle providing the connection between the two. If there is one part of the caster that could be considered its ‘heart’, then the fastenings and the wheel frames serve that function.
It’s important that you check these aspects of your casters on a very regular basis. Don’t just crouch to the ground and give your casters a quick look over – turn the caster-mounted item or piece of equipment on its side, so that you can get a really good look. Make sure you check for broken deck boards, or welding that appears cracked. Also make sure that nuts and bolts are tightly fastened, and that the wheel frame has not become distorted.
As outlined above, you need to fix any small problems before they mutate into large problems. A worn fastener is easy to fix, but if left untreated it could develop into a major problem, with major damage to the caster-mounted item also a possibility.
Colson’s 3 Series
For a reliable caster that’s unlikely to give you any issues, try the 3 Series from Colson Casters. We can supply you with stem casters and plate casters from this Colson series.
Both feature a 3/8” hollow axle with a tight lock nut that’s unlikely to ever work itself loose. For convenience, there’s a flush lube grease hole that gives access to the wheel bearing for the application of lubricants. The caster features a permanent rivet kingpin construction, complete with a reinforcing washer on the upper and lower raceway to give added durability. This is another of Colson’s excellent products that will serve you well for years to come!
Purchase Your Casters from Douglas Equipment!
When it comes to tips on how to properly maintain your Colson Casters, the best thing you can do is contact our team at Douglas Equipment. All of our expert support team knows casters insideand out! If there is any question you might have, then we are always available to help.
We can supply you with Colson’s full product line and casters from other manufacturers. We are always happy to hear from companies that are looking to purchase in bulk, as when doing so we can offer you wholesale prices that will prove to save you significant amounts of money in the long run.
Our sales and support staff are extremely easy to contact. Just pick up the phone and call us at 1-800-451-0030. As an alternative, you can always use the online contact formon our website if you so wish, and one of our team members will follow up with you as soon as possible.
