How to Add a Wheel to a Garden Cart

Garden cart wheels mount like red wagon wheels.

In the 1950s, the well-equipped suburban gardener chose a steel garden cart as a stylish and maneuverable alternative to the heavy old wheelbarrow. Unfortunately, the wheels of early carts often were placed too far back and they tended to lurch forward and dump their loads prematurely. Today’s carts are built out of thick rust-proof plastic and engineered with better-placed wheels. Like their predecessors, however, too many heavy loads or unexpected sideways lurches can break a wheel. Fortunately for the mechanically challenged, changing a garden cart wheel is still a simple matter.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement wheel
• Cotter pin
• Washers
• Pliers
• Hammer
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Pry the little hub cap off the old wheel with a screwdriver and locate the cotter pin, the hairpin-like fastener that slides through a hole in the axle. Pull the cotter pin out with a pair of pliers. Count the washers that fill the space between the axle mount on the cart and the wheel -- there may also be a washer between the wheel and cotter pin -- because you will need to replace them to fit the new wheel.

2. Replace the washers on the axle between the cart and the wheel. If your replacement wheel is a different thickness than the original, you may need to subtract or add washers on this inner area.

3. Slide the wheel onto the axle and replace the washers between the wheel and cotter pin.

4. Insert the cotter pin partway into the hole in the axle so it can still be removed by hand. If the wheel wobbles or does not move easily, remove the cotter pin and add or remove washers so the wheel is stabilized but turns easily.

5. Tap the cotter pin through the axle to its seat when you complete fitting the washer. It must bridge the hole in the outside washer or wheel fitting. Replace the hub cap and push or tap it on.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase a new wheel that matches the old one. Wheels must not only match the overall size of the old wheel, but must also fit on the axle. If you cannot find an exact match, consider buying two wheels to avoid creating a cart with a lopsided ride.

• Hardware and home stores carry a wide selection of generic replacement wheels -- take the remaining wheel -- or the old one if you have it -- along with you to use as an example.

• Inside washers fill space between the axle mount and the wheel, but the wheel -- or washer on the outside of the wheel -- must be almost the size of the axle so the cotter pin doesn’t fall through it.

• Manual garden carts have simple wheel mounts, but many motorized or heavy-duty carts have wheels that mount with wheel bolts that fit into the axle. Some even have lug nuts that mount in the same way as tractor and car tires. Secure wheel bolts with a wrench or screwdriver depending on the head of the bolt and use a wrench to fasten lug nuts. Never overtighten using wheel bots or lug nuts.