Wheelbarrow repair in Exeter
Professional wheelbarrow repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
1-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Wheelbarrow wheel repaired or replaced - punctures fixed, seized axles sorted, wheels swapped. Gets it rolling properly again so you can actually use it.
When Your Wheelbarrow's Had It
Your wheelbarrow's the most used tool in the garden. Move soil, shift rubble, carry weeds, transport pots - it's essential.
Then the wheel goes flat. Or seizes. Or just stops rolling properly. Suddenly every garden job becomes twice as hard.
Most wheelbarrow problems are fixable - punctures, seized axles, worn wheels. Actual repair's usually cheaper and quicker than buying a new one.
💡 Pro tip: Wheelbarrows stored outside in Devon weather seize up fast. A bit of grease on the axle every year prevents most problems.
Common Wheelbarrow Problems
Most issues are wheel-related, and most are fixable.
| Problem | Fix | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|
| Flat tyre (puncture) | Patch inner tube or replace | ✅ Yes |
| Seized wheel | Free up axle, clean, grease | ✅ Yes |
| Worn/bent wheel | Replace wheel | ✅ Usually |
| Bent axle | Replace axle | ✅ If barrow's decent |
| Cracked/rusted tray | No fix - replace barrow | ❌ Not really |
What's Involved
🔧 The Repair
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Check wheel, axle, bearings - find the problem |
| Fix | Repair puncture, free seized parts, or replace wheel/axle |
| Test | Make sure it actually rolls smoothly |
📦 You're Left With
- Wheelbarrow that works again
- Honest advice if it's beyond saving
- Parts replaced charged at cost
Pricing Guide
| Repair | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Puncture repair | 1 hr | £60 |
| Seized axle cleaning & greasing | 1 hr | £60 |
| Wheel replacement (you supply) | 1 hr | £60 |
| Wheel replacement (I supply) | 1.5 hrs | £85 + wheel |
| Axle replacement | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 + axle |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Parts (wheels, axles, inner tubes) charged at cost - typically £5-30 depending on what's needed.
Perfect For...
✅ Punctured wheels - flat tyre, needs air
✅ Seized axles - wheel won't turn
✅ Worn-out wheels - falling apart or bent
✅ Good quality barrows - worth repairing properly
Why Choose Us for Wheelbarrow repair in Exeter?
Puncture repaired or wheel replaced
Axle and bearings sorted if seized
Honest advice on repair vs replace
Quick turnaround - same visit if parts available
What to Expect
Step 1: Diagnose
Look at the wheel, test the axle, work out what's actually wrong. Sometimes it's obvious (flat tyre), sometimes it needs investigation (why won't it turn?).
Step 2: Repair or Replace
Fix the puncture, free up the seized axle, or swap out the damaged wheel. Use what you've got if possible, source parts if needed.
Step 3: Test & Advise
Make sure it rolls smoothly and the wheel's solid. If the barrow's got other problems brewing, I'll tell you - better to know now than have it fail mid-job.
🔧 DIY Tips
If you want to repair your wheelbarrow yourself:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Spanners or socket set (for axle nut)
- Puncture repair kit or new inner tube
- Tyre levers (for getting tyre off)
- WD-40 and grease
- Pump or compressor
🛞 Fixing a puncture
- Remove wheel (usually one nut each side)
- Deflate tyre completely
- Use tyre levers to get tyre off the rim
- Pull out inner tube
- Find puncture (pump it up, listen/feel, or dunk in water)
- Patch it like a bike puncture or replace tube
- Reassemble - tyre on rim, tube inside, inflate
🔧 Freeing a seized wheel
- Remove the wheel if you can (axle might be seized on)
- Soak in WD-40 or penetrating oil
- Work it back and forth
- Clean off rust with wire wool
- Grease properly before reassembling
- Sometimes you need to cut off a rusted axle and replace it
🔄 Replacing a wheel
- Measure your current wheel (diameter and width)
- Get matching replacement
- Remove old wheel (one bolt through the axle usually)
- Fit new wheel, bolt through, tighten
- Test it rolls freely
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Over-tightening axle nut (wheel won't spin freely)
- Under-tightening axle nut (wheel wobbles off)
- Pinching inner tube when refitting tyre (instant puncture)
- Not greasing axle (seizes again quickly)
- Buying wrong size replacement wheel
💡 Pro trick: When you get the wheel off, clean and grease the axle properly even if that wasn't the original problem. Prevents the next problem. Two minutes now saves an hour later.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🌧️ Storage matters: Wheelbarrows left outside in Devon weather rot and seize up fast. Under cover (shed, under eaves) adds years to their life.
Cheap builders' barrows vs garden barrows: Builders' barrows (sheet metal tray, skinny tyre) are disposable - often not worth repairing. Proper garden barrows (galvanised or plastic tray, pneumatic tyre) are worth maintaining.
Solid wheels vs pneumatic: Solid rubber wheels never puncture but are harsh to push when loaded. Pneumatic (air-filled) are smooth when working but puncture. Pick your compromise.
Wheels available from: Screwfix, Toolstation, eBay, garden centres. Standard sizes are common - 14", 16" diameter usually. Bring the old wheel to match it.
Prevention: Store undercover, grease the axle annually, don't overload it (tempting but kills wheels), pump up pneumatic tyres regularly (soft tyres puncture easier).
Frequently Asked Questions
What wheelbarrow repairs can you do?
Most common: puncture repairs, wheel replacement, seized axles freed up or replaced, bent axles straightened or swapped. If it's the tray that's cracked or rusty, that's usually terminal - I'll advise replacement. But wheel and axle problems are almost always fixable.
Can you repair a punctured wheelbarrow tyre?
Yes - same as a bike tyre basically. Take the wheel off, patch the inner tube or replace it, put it back together. If the tyre's perished or the wheel's bent, replacement's better than patching. I'll check when I see it.
What if my wheelbarrow needs a new wheel entirely?
I can fit a replacement wheel if you've bought one, or I can source one for you. Standard wheels are about £15-30 depending on type. Sometimes a whole new wheel is cheaper/easier than mucking about with a badly damaged one.
My wheelbarrow wheel won't turn - it's completely seized. Can you fix that?
Usually yes. The axle or bearings have seized - common on barrows left outside in Devon weather. Often it's just rust - free it up, grease it properly, good as new. If the axle's actually damaged, replacement axles are cheap.
Is it worth repairing or should I just buy a new wheelbarrow?
Depends on the barrow and the problem. Decent barrow with a fixable wheel problem? Absolutely worth repairing. Cheap builders' barrow that's falling apart everywhere? Probably not. I'll advise honestly when I see it.
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