My Wheelbarrow Thread

I mentioned this yesterday in the "Let's talk about ANYTHING else..." thread, but here's a little more background info  and follow-up, in case you're stuck sheltering in place and have already read the entire rest of the internet:

I ordered a wheelbarrow off Amazon.

Item description says:

• Corrosion-proof poly tray
• Rugged steel undercarriage
• Strong, seal-coated hardwood handles
• Tubed 16" pneumatic tire

Here's what I got:

Missing:

• Rugged steel undercarriage
• Strong, seal-coated hardwood handles
• Tubed 16" pneumatic tire

Thag disappointed.

I complained to Amazon and they said "Send it back for a full refund", but I had already cut up the box, and packaging it back up was going to be a total PITA. We settled on a 30% refund of my purchase price, and I get to keep the yellow tub.

I like the yellow tub.

Here's where this all started:

I've been doing a ton of tree work in the back yard over the past couple of months, and the crack in the tub of the old wheelbarrow has gotten noticeably worse.

Now, before you chastise me for using a poly wheelbarrow instead of a more manly steel wheelbarrow, it's worth noting that this thing is twenty years old, and I built an entire house using it, as well as a million other projects. I love poly wheelbarrows. They're a lot lighter, don't get dented or rusty, and hose right out when you're done. They won't hold up to absolutely everything that a mason might throw at them, but they are the right choice for me.

So, I started looking for another one. I tried to find the exact same one, but was having a hard time, as model numbers and minor details had changed. The ones at Lowes Depot had funky handles or mag wheels and I just didn't like them.

I went on the True Temper website and found a part number for a 6 cubic foot replacement tub, but I couldn't find anyone who was actually selling them. So I broke down and ordered this one off of Amazon, which was advertised as a complete poly wheel barrow, but we already know how that turned out. The price was good, about twice the price of what a replacement tub should have cost, had I been able to find one. After negotiating a partial refund with Amazon, I basically ended up with exactly what I had been looking for originally before giving in and ordering a complete wheelbarrow.

There are six bolts that hold the tub to the frame. Five of them came off in moments, but number six refused. The Nut Splitter seemed to be the quick and easy choice at this point.

Now here's where this starts to get a little philosophical...

This wheelbarrow is a lot like George Washington's ax. I replaced the wheel and tire last year. I added some fender washers a few years back, as the lower bolts had pulled through the tub. Some of the other hardware is stainless, so I know that I replaced that when the front bumper started falling off about five years ago. Once I got the tub off, I found that one of the oak handles is really badly rotted, and the other one has a label indicating that it was a replacement at some point.

I feel like I'm rebuilding this thing around a serial number.

So at this point, I'm not exactly sure which way I'm going with this thing.

I have THE tub that I want, and a year old wheel and tire, but I need two new handles. Handles are $15 each.

I could buy a steel tub wheelbarrow on sale at the hardware store on sale for $59 bucks, and swap the tubs, but the metal frame on the old one seems a lot more substantial on the new ones, so I would essentially be buying a set of handles and a spare tire, which is admittedly the smartest way to go about it. But I don't really need a spare tire, and then I have to get rid of the steel tub and the rest of the new frame.

Hmmm.....What to do?

When the vintage wheelbarrow market really starts to come on strong you're going to want all those notes to reply to the inevitable "matching numbers" question...

The new wheelbarrow would also get me some new hardware, although I did toss the old stuff into the Evaporust last night. Not sure if I can re-thread the one stubborn bolt, and I definitely need to replace that nut, but it's probably a 1/4-20 so that's easy.

I'm really bored...

This reminds me that my wheelbarrow needs a new tire.  It's not always just flat, its dry rotted!

I love my Lifetime Wheelbarrow, I totally agree with the poly tub.

trucke said:

This reminds me that my wheelbarrow needs a new tire.  It's not always just flat, its dry rotted!

Woody needs to buy the complete wheelbarrow and part it out.  I bet he could max out the recoup! 

logdog said:

trucke said:

This reminds me that my wheelbarrow needs a new tire.  It's not always just flat, its dry rotted!

Woody needs to buy the complete wheelbarrow and part it out.  I bet he could max out the recoup! 

Hmmm.....and a new steel tub would make the perfect recessed firewall for someone's V12 Miata project...

I really cranked down on the nut splitter and damaged the threads of the stuck bolt. Turns out, it's not 1/4-20, but rather 5/16-18, and I don't have a suitable die to fix the threads. The panheads are perfect for the application, because stuff li less likely to get snagged on them as you are unloading and they don't need washers, but I don't have any replacements on hand.

This is starting to get expensive...

Lowes or HD should have tubular steel replacement handles, much better than the wooden ones. Looks similar to yours and predrilled too. Not worth the fab time if you had the material.

 https://www.lowes.com/pd/True-Temper-60-in-L-Steel-Wheelbarrow-Handle/1086223

HF had a semi-pneumatic replacement wheel and tire. 5/8" shaft iirc. Only had to shorten the axle spacers when I rebuilt my wheelbarrow several years ago.

Came in expecting ls swapped wheelbarrow. Leaving remembering mine needs love when the snow melts.

Very interesting. When we bought our house(over 4-years ago) I noticed an old yellow wheel barrow out back hidden in the cane stand & leaning against an oak tree. I briefly investigated it & discovered it was broken, but I never even considered it might be repairable. I've also not needed a wheel barrow in 4+ years, so it's still leaning against the same tree. Though it's slightly less accessible due to more cane having grown back there. 

I cautiously ventured into Home Depot and picked up a new pair of Genuine True Temper handles. They didn't have the fancy metal ones, but I had already decided that I wanted to stick(!) with wood.

Off with the old

The new ones don't come pre drilled, so I just mated up the pieces, transferred the marks over, and took them down to the drill press. I immediately regretted not having picked up one of those foot switches from Harbor Freight the last time that I was there.

Not a lot of action shots here; my phone was on the charger.

What's brown, sticky and made of wood? A Stick!

That wheelbarrow has come a long way, make sure the paint marks get applied in the right places!

Woody said:

Here's where this all started:

I've been doing a ton of tree work in the back yard over the past couple of months, and the crack in the tub of the old wheelbarrow has gotten noticeably worse.

 

I have this exact wheel barrow. 17 years now.

In reply to vwcorvette :

You have about three years left. 

In reply to Loweguy5 :

This required no skill whatsoever.

And very little actual work.

Loweguy5 said:

I have three observations:

1.  This is not unlike hauling a rusty junk out of a yard mainly because it has a "good title"

2.  That was an amazing amount of work to essentially end up with a new wheelbarrow 

3.  Great work.  I would have done virtually the same,  only with a little less skill

I get this project. Sometimes you take the offbeat path for personal reasons. Knowing a bit about Woody and his situation, I'd wager that he wanted a little novelty and stress relief out of the project. I do wacky stuff all the time, none of which is the most rational or logical path. Just because.

Plus Amazon backed him into a corner with the missing parts and the hassle of return shipping.