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How to Restore a Wooden Trailer Wheel

A wooden trailer wheel is a simple device. It is simply a solid hub that secures wooden spokes that project into it from the felloe, the outer rim, which is usually covered with a band of steel on the outer surface to protect it from damage by road obstructions. As long as the hub is sound, replacement spokes and felloes can be purchased to restore the wheel to usefulness. If you have access to a wood shop, you can make your own replacement parts. Unless you have blacksmithing skills, though, you should have a professional shop replace the steel tire.

Things You'll Need

Replacement spokes
Replacement felloe
Socket set
Chisel

Instructions

- 1
  Check the hub for damage. If it is pitted through with rust or is warped, you will need to order a replacement hub. If it is structurally sound, you can simply replace the worn spokes or felloe around it.
- 2
  Remove the bolts that secure the hub. Once you have removed the hub, you can easily pull damaged spokes out of the felloe. Use a chisel to cleanly remove any vestiges of wood from rotted or damaged spokes out of the holes that seat them in the felloe.
- 3
  Put enough wood glue into each seating indentation in the felloe to just cover the bottom before replacing spokes. Seat each spoke firmly before moving on to the next.
- 4
  Re-bolt the hub to secure the entire assembly after all replacement spokes have been seated into the felloe. Let it sit for several days to allow the wood glue to set before returning the wheel to use.

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