Sousaphone case repair

[Dutchtown Sousa]

So have run into a problem with a sousaphone case regarding the wheels. After 6 years or so of service, one of the wheels on a case has broken (the rubber part came off) and needs to be replaced. My band director wants me to fix it because I have been the one to repair the cases during marching season (he doesn't have a hand riveter). It is a MTS case and I can't find replacement parts on their site. I have to drill out the rivets on the case that hold the housings for the wheels then just remove the wheel and replace it with something similar. Have any idea of what to try?

[Dan Schultz]

The folks who build cases usually rely on standard components. Try these guys:

http://www.ohiotravelbag.com/

[Dutchtown Sousa]

The folks who build cases usually rely on standard components. Try these guys:

http://www.ohiotravelbag.com/

Well looking at the wheels they have and the wheels on the case, if I could find some inline skates with the same size wheels, would they probably hold up?

[Dan Schultz]

The folks who build cases usually rely on standard components. Try these guys:

http://www.ohiotravelbag.com/

Well looking at the wheels they have and the wheels on the case, if I could find some inline skates with the same size wheels, would they probably hold up?

They will most likely hold up as well as the original ones did! I put serious wheels on my tuba cases... no smaller that 5" diameter x 1 1/4" wide. Those little skate wheels aren't worth a hoot.

[Dutchtown Sousa]

I guess Im going to have to add some large tires, and set up a drive train so I can power it along with go kart engine, then maybe an outboard motor for if it floods. Sounds like a solid plan to me
Never mind I have to find a replacement seal first.

[Roger Lewis]

Actualy, contact Scott Mount at MTS products and he'll take care of you. He's a good friend and has a fantastic business ethic. It will be worth the effort.

Roger

[SousaSaver]

scott@mtsproducts.com

Scott is a great guy and SUPER easy to work with. Send him an email and he should be able to get you what you need.

[Dutchtown Sousa]

I bought several (more than I need) wheels from OTB.

I believe that they are the type in the picture attached below.

I know where two of them are...Maybe I could figure out where I stored the rest of them.

If this is the specific model of wheel for your case, I'd sell a few some of them.

I have NO back-up plates and NO extra-large pop rivets to fit them.

No those are far too small. The ones on our cases are either 70 or 72mm. Thanks anyways

I was able to put the wheels into the housings yesterday and the wheels rubbed too much to be usable so I will order the parts from Ohio Travel Bag if I don't get a reply back from the manufacturer of the case. Any idea of where to get the correct rivets or should I try my luck with what is at like Home Depot or Ace Hardware or similar?

[Dutchtown Sousa]

I've never seen those "huge" pop rivets at any "regular" types of stores. Even the run-of-the-mill music repair supply houses don't sell them in that "huge" size.

I guess I will make do with whatever I can find to attach the housing to the case. I might even use a bit of gorilla glue to keep the housing in place. Next thing I have to find is foam to replace the stuff I had to rip out. The back-up plates that were in there were fine but they were just glued in so I started drilling holes and riveting them in when I put them back in on the first case. Now unfortunately I have to redo this case and have 4 others after that