Over the past few years, Toro engineers have done a lot of work improving the materials, manufacturing and performance on all Toro Caster Wheel components. As of today, the welding has been beefed up and we now use a heavier-grade of high-quality steel on the fork itself. Toro now uses a double-pass weld which is robotically performed for consistency. And because of our unique welding process, the weld penetrates into the fork so the bond is stronger and more durable. The welded forks also feature a heat-treated shaft for reduced wear.
Most of our models feature a double-lipped sealed, permanently lubricated ball-bearing design. This low-maintenance, non-greaseable design not only saves on the cost of grease but eliminates the man hours for greasing the bearings as well. The advantage of the double lip design provides a tighter, more effective barrier that prevents water and dirt integration - the true enemies of any bearing.
Caster Wheels are constantly being tested against the elements by immersing the component in various slurry solutions (sand & water mixture) to make sure the design prevents dirt and water from penetrating into the bearings.
Here are the key points about Genuine Toro Caster Wheels:
- Tires: The pneumatic tires we use on most Toro models are actually the equivalent of an industrial-grade forklift tire. The tires feature heavy-wall construction which have now been proven to last longer than previous castor tires.
- Pneumatic tires lower the stress point on caster wheel components. The tires are not so hard that they don't "give a little" during impact to reduce breaking points on the machine.
- Foam-filled Tires: On heavier Toro models, a foam is injected into the caster tires for a softer, cushier ride without impairing the strength of the tire. This is the identical procedure ambulance tires employ to provide a smoother ride at high speeds. (Foam-injected tires are available as an upgrade service part for customers who prefer a heavy-duty option.
- Tire Pressure: Pneumatic tire pressure usually runs higher than expected (40-50 psi range) on Toro machines. The reason: higher pressures maintain a tighter seal around the rim to keep out dirt and moisture which can damage the seal between the tire and the rim.
- Materials Will-fit suppliers usually offer a lower grade of materials used on replacement caster wheels. Toro materials are designed, engineered and tested for the exact specifications and wear and tear anticipated for a particular model.
- Robotic Welding Tests show that robotically welded joints (a standard feature on Toro Genuine Caster Forks) are up to five times stronger than hand-welded joints.
