Castor Removal

[Rod]

I have got an ordinary office chair. One of the castors broke but the distributor (dpauk.net) has quite efficiently sent me a set of castors (all five). (I write "quite" as they first sent out a set of the wrong castors. But both sets have been sent for free which is pretty good - the chair is a fairly low cost model.)

But I cannot see a way of removing the "spike" part of the broken castor. I think you can see clearly what I mean in this picture:

tried pulling it out using pliers - but it seems to be extremely firmly fixed. The new castors have the "spike" already inserted into them. The bit that sticks up from the new castor has a metal circlip-like object on it. Any ideas?

[George]

You need a flat U shaped metal bar preferably to fit in between the metal and plastic castor which would allow you to prise it off.

An open ended spanner might do it? or a hefty blade screwdriver?

[Mark]

Mole grips, big hammer, brute force.

New one goes in quite easily

-

[Rod]

You made me look again. Man in chair shop had said it was impossible to remove the castor from its spike (something about the castor being moulded onto the spike when it was made). So I was looking to remove the spike from the web of the chair. And that was proving to be very difficult. (Zero space between the collar on that and the web of the chair so impossible to get anything in to lever it.)

I have just successfully done what man in shop said I couldn't but said I should - screwdriver between castor and it's metal spike. A minute of pushing/shoving and it was out. Castor now attached to spike on web. Chair repaired.

Thank you - sometimes the right nudge is all that is needed.

[George]

Confucious say : Man in shop big nob. :-)

They are pushed onto to the spike during assembly and not moulded around spike. As you have found out they can be prised of with a screwdriver as of one of my suggestions. Castors on 3 piece suites are the same idea.

[1501]

The charges being =A31 for hitting it =A399 for knowing where to hit it.