Finding a Caster to fit the Built-in stem on your chair
Does your chair have the caster stems welded or built-in? Now one of the casters has broken and need replaced. Finding a replacement caster to fit the stem may be difficult. The caster-end of the stem can differ significantly from one model to the next and from one manufacturer to the next.
First try contacting the furniture dealer or the manufacturer to see if they can provide a replacement caster. If not, then obtain accurate measurements of the stem (the portion that would fit into the caster). Calipers are best to get accurate measurements however for other methods, visit our page with Tips for Measuring Stem Diameter. .
Compare your dimensions to those in the table. Then follow the link of the stem class (such as NA01) with dimensions that are closest to yours to see what stemless casters are available that have the best chance of fitting your stem.
 |
 Stem NA01 |
 Stem NA02 |
 Stem NA03 |
|---|---|---|---|
 Stem NA04 |
 Stem NA06 |
 Stem NA07 |
| Feature | Series NA01 | Series NA02 | Series NA03 | Series NA04 | Series NA06 | Series NA07 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaft Diameter (Dimension A in diagram) | 5/16" | 3/8" | 3/8" | 7/16" | 7/16" | 7/16" |
| Total Length (Dim F) | 1-1/4" | 1-3/4" | 1-1/8" | 1-5/8" | 2-1/8" | 2-3/4" |
The stemless caster will need to be completely seated on the stem to operate correctly: retained yet swiveling freely. With the stem built into the chair, the caster must be tapped to seat it onto the stem. This must be done carefully so as not to harm the caster. For a twin-wheel caster place a small board, 3/8" or 1/2" thick, between the wheels against the base of the caster. Firmly tap the wood, forcing the caster fully onto the stem. For a ball caster, use a rubber mallet or some material to protect the caster.
Stemless Casters Disclaimer
Finding stemless casters to fit your built-in stems takes careful measurement and a certain amount of luck. Even with Apollo Caster's telephone support, we cannot do the measuring and cannot guarantee that the measurements provided to us are correct. Even when the measurements are correct, the engineering of the built-in stem may be incompatible with the internal engineering of the caster, preventing it from working properly. Therefore, shipping costs for returns of stemless casters are paid by the customer. Restock charges will also apply (see more information at our Shipping and Returns Info page). Thank you for understanding.
| Still need help? Email your stem dimensions to sales@apollocaster.com. Make sure to include your name and contact information. We'll try to reply within 24 hours. |
