Garden Cart, Wheels

[Chipchopper]

Wasn't sure where to put this question but here go's....
I've just assembled one of these 4 wheel garden carts to use around the garden.
The problem is, the wheels don't run freely on the axles, right from the word go, and I can't see any grease points.
there seems to be bearings of some sort but they are stiff, so will they free-up with use, or should I try smearing grease on them and hope that does the trick ?

[Old_Geezer]

My guess is that they may well free up with use, but that it would help to grease the axle area anyway. It's what I'd do.

[woofgang]

I'd be looking over it carefully for fault and going back to the supplier, I have got one of these and the wheels run freely.

[Old_Geezer]

Possibly so, or maybe it was put together not quite right ?

[Chipchopper]

Thank's,
I'll buy some grease and give em a good coating and see how it go's

[Clanad]

Are the wheels held onto the axle by those little metal caps that one pounds onto the end of the axle with a hammer? If so, if one gets the wheels on backwards they can be restricted by the caps...

[Chipchopper]

No Clanad, The wheels are attached to the axles, firstly with a spacer (piece of tube approx 1inch long) then the wheels go on to the powder coated axles.
The bearings are ready fitted inside the wheels and finally held in place by a washer and locking nut. If I do these nuts up tight, the wheels are virtually solid but if I slacken them off a little, the spin okay but obviously this is not the correct way for them to opperate.
I'm sure the wheels are the right way round because I have the Tyre valves facing out.
I wouldn't have expected the wheels to be seized before before I've even started using the thing but there again, it was shipped from China.

[Clanad]

Without seeing the construction, let me make one more suggestion.
You probably have an illustrated installation diagram but just in case, it may be that the spacing tube you describe goes on the outside of the wheels. You say that when you tighten the securing nut and washer the tire (I'm in the U.S., hence the spelling)won't rotate. It's possible the tubing spacer goes on the outside of the wheel axle and is supposed to rest against the wheel bearing flange surface rather than the wheel itself. You might want to double check.

What I'm saying without having a picture of your unit is that the pressed in wheel bearings shouldn't rotate on the axle, the wheel should rotate on the bearings and what you're doing now is tightening the nut/washer against the wheel surface instead. This probably sounds as clear as mud, but I hope I'm getting the idea across...