received an enclosed rack in December 2022
and it has new wheels that have 'unique' mounting holes nothing like the picture above.
They seem to be ??? clones of a popular wheel from FOOT MASTER
www.footmastercasters.com
After some use I decided these casters are not meant to be FULL time wheels at the weight of the full EG4 battery rack (and someday was thinking of adding the 3 high rack to the top, as some have done, to get 9 EG4-LL's on wheels) so tried to find a 'more' heavy duty caster solution.
If the GD-60 like casters that now (?) ship with the rack are a 'good' clone of a GD-60 caster it would be over 600 lbs per caster but it looked like it was struggling with 4 batteries in rack until I put the leveling foot down on the concrete floor
(which is how I think they are intended to be used).
[ from web site -
Optimum leveling ease occurs at 50% of 4 casters total capacity ]
Load Capacity / 1pcs | 280 kg == 617 lbs |
Load Capacity / 4pcs | 560 kg == 1278 lbs from the foot master web site - may be limit it levels well, not the actual limit |
But these leveling GD-60 wheels use a caster plate holes pattern that NO one else seems to use.
Size of Plate | 73 x 73 mm |
Plate Hole Centers | 58 x 58 mm : 58 mm = 2.28 inches = 2 9/32 inches |
Plate Hole | 7 or 8.5 mm |
If you went up to next size GD-80 leveling caster (to get a higher weight limit) those casters use a different pattern
Load Capacity / 1pcs | 550 kg == 1212 lbs |
Load Capacity / 4pcs | 1,100 kg == 2425 lbs again from web site |
Size of Plate | 90 x 90 mm |
Plate Hole Centers | 70 x 70 mm : 70 mm = 2.76 inches = 2 3/4 inches |
Plate Hole | 9 mm |
so that won't be a no drama swap candidate even if you wanted to buy 4 of the GD-80's.
So even harder to find an alternate caster. Was thinking I will have to drill / tap new holes in a standard pattern
so looked for good candidates
Seems the nearest 'standard' size plate on swivel caster wheels (with locks) that would be available
in a > 750 lbs per caster is the 4 x 4 1/2 inches plate (I want some margin for long life of caster)
Lots to choose from but they are getting to real money level for a set of 4.
Amazon has some
non 4 x 4.5 casters rated for > 750 lbs that are cheaper but
with a non-standard plate size. That isn't what I was looking for.
With non-standard plate size if I pick/buy a dud caster I want to have other options
with same mounting holes ! Can't with the non high volume plate size/pattern
So maybe I'll have to settle and use the leveling feet mode of the casters that shipped with this flavor of the EG4 rack
.
Really wanted 24/7/365/decades full time wheels casters like the pictures on Sig Solar web site
but now understand the problems they are having figuring out a good solution at a price sensitive cost.
But the ones they used with the rack mentioned above WON'T fit on this flavor rack.
If you can weld, these looked interesting as you would be able to use any 4x4.5 inch plate caster it seems
https://www.zoro.com/zoro-select-caster-pad-quick-release-4du20/i/G3222922/ (available for more money at other vendors)
they are available for other standard caster plate sizes too, but larger plate adapters might not fit to weld on the foot on the bottom of the EG4 rack.
reminder - this caster's plate is 73 x 73 mm
so, you could weld 4 of these plate adapters on the 4 corners of the rack (to the square metal plate they already welded to rack - see picture above
Then you can slip in whatever 4 x 4.5 inch caster catches your eye and doesn't drain your wallet.
But, of course, more cost (4 plate adapters AND 4 casters) but no tapping for bolts