Pelican Air 1615 bearing and wheel upgrade

Pelican Air 1615 bearing and wheel upgrade full tutorial video.
List of parts:
Kaltik Face
59mm 90a
Aggrerssive
Inline Wheel
6mm inline bearing
spacer, 6.35mmID
8mm-ish OD
For 608 bearings
Any brand except Roces
Bones Reds
8mm
because
Bones Reds
1/4" washers
6.4mm ID
12mm OD
1.5mm thick
(and super glue)
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We all love the pelicanprofessional @pelican 1615 but I hate the bearings with a passion… They explode on me CONSTANTLY!
Pelican is always awesome with sending me parts but I wanted a solution. When I investigated how to change them I was met with: “they are patented”.
I took that as a personal challenge.
This mod doesn’t change any part of the original housing or axel, takes about 10 minutes and seems like it will be really solid. An added bonus to using a 608 skate bearing is that you could find one nearly anywhere in the world and swap a busted one out.
This mod cost me about $55 AUD per case. Please share! @reubendotdotdot
Any question, comment and I’ll answer…

[@hub-hildenbrand]

followed your instructions in every detail. touring fun increased❤ thank you so much, works GREAT

[@reubendotdotdot]

Nice!

[@chesterwolfe4390]

Fantastic upgrade! I wasn't too impressed with the originail wheels, especially after a month of ownership I could tell I was losing a bearing. The official replacement wheels are equally unimpressive and the bearings barely roll. I limped my bag along until I came across your video and I can't thank you enough. Instead of the super glue I just used my punch to balance the washers until I could feed the axel through. To help with the friction I used a shot of WD-40 lithium grease in the bearing spacers. Now the bag rolls so smooth as silk!

[@reubendotdotdot]

nice one, glad it worked for you, ill keep the lithium grease in mind, so far iv been on tour for 2 months and its still silent!

[@bobroo007]

Trust this modification 100%!!! The wheel size is a near 1 to 1. The Red Bones 608 bearings make a substantial difference. The aluminum sleeves are perfect. The 90 rating of the wheels provides a nice balance between durability and the soft rubber ride that you want the contents of your case to have. Bonus: your 1615 will be about half as noisy rolling on uneven surfaces like a tile floor. Well done video Rueben!

[@reubendotdotdot]

Nice one! Iv done it to all my 1615 pelicans now and the difference is night and day!

[@iMakethedoomzboom]

Didn’t even consider this but I’m glad to know it’s possible. Might just make the upgrade straightaway.

[@johannmercado863]

Thanks for this video! Replaced my wheels! Easy Peazy!

[@graysonhoran8903]

Hey Reuben thanks very much for this step by step - super helpful! Where would you buy replacement axels? Looks like one of mine is bent outta shape

[@reubendotdotdot]

Heya, if you write to pelican or give them a call in your area, their headquarters, the wheels are part of warranty, if you request new axles or wheels they will send you them for free, usually they will just send you a whole new housing and wheel. Hope that helps!

[@DUBZZRO]

Would this work on a pelican air 1535?

[@reubendotdotdot]

Sorry for the late reply, I have looked at the 1535 in passing but haven’t measured it all, I expect they use the same sized axle and bearings but maybe wheel housing and wheel size is different?