Trixie Wheel issues

Gemma_xo · 08-03-2015, 10:09 AM

So at the begining of last month I brought Zak this Trixie 20cm Wheel, this was after a previous drama with two silent spinners.
I absolutely fell in love with the above wheel but 2 days ago it started making an awful lot of noise, when I went to investigate I saw it was doing a rocking motion whilst Zak was running it, chucking him sideways when he was trying to run.

When he eventually had enough of being made dizzy and was thrown out of it, I noticed the part inside was moving, not knowing wether this was supposed to happen or not I pushed it back, thought about super gluing it but wasn't sure so I let Zak carry on, alas. No more noise!.... For about 5 minutes, then the same rocking/ bumping noises started again, at this point I had Zak's smaller cage on standby with the wheel attached ready to put into his big cage, (thank goodness I kept it!)

I took the wheel out of the cage and noticed the part had moved out again, so I went to Amazon and asked for a replacement, today it came and I found that the part moving on the old wheel was in fact not on the new wheel.

The new wheel has literally been in the cage for 5 minutes and that said part is already off again with the rocking and bumping noise to boot, now I am considering the small cage and some superglue for the new wheel.

I was wondering if anyone else had any issues like what I had up there? I checked the part before putting it in the cage and it was in fact stuck fast, I didn't manhandle it or anything, spun the wheel round at Zak's slow running speed, then sped it up a bit and the part was still stuck fast.

I was wondering if this was just manufacturer fault because I am super duper careful with his wheel because it's probably about the only thing that keeps him sane every night and if anyone had any fixes because I have a slight feeling with this being the 4th wheel (not of the same type) from Amazon, they're probably likely to start asking questions about my "carefulness" which, I can 110% vouch for that I am extremely!

Sorry for the super long post, I felt I needed a bit of back story after writing three lines and questioning how little sense it made.

Thank you!

Pebbles82 · 08-03-2015, 11:03 AM

I don't know much about Trixie wheels I'm afraid, but if you've tried two and are having the same problem I would send it back and get something else. Just checking - is Zak a Syrian or a dwarf? If he's a Syrian he's probably just too heavy for an 8" wheel. If he's a dwarf it's a problem with the wheel. Either way I'd send it back and get a wodent wheel - the 8"(20cm) one for a dwarf and the 11" (27cm) one for a Syrian. They're not for sale in many places, but they sell them here

11" Wodent Wheel (Senior) & Free Tail Guard

8" Wodent Wheel (Junior)

These are much sturdier - however they can also judder and vibrate on the cage floor and I find them best hung upside down from the top of the cage.

The other alternative is the Karlie Wonderland wood wheel - they are very stable and smooth and quiet running. However, their quality isn't the greatest sometimes and you'd need to be prepared to sand it a bit if there are any splintery bits. It will also need painting with plastikote to waterproof.

I would get a Wodent wheel if you can hang it from the top of the cage, and if you can't I would get a Karlie wonderland bogie wheel.

Wonderland Exercise Wheel: Great Small Pet Accessories at zooplus

Gemma_xo · 08-03-2015, 11:14 AM

Zak is a Russian Dwarf, although he's small I feel like he's getting kind of podgy, so I'm not sure if that's half to blame (I'm fixing the podge at the moment though, done some research and he will thin down!)

I've contacted Amazon again just but because this wheel was a replacement of the old one that was out of the 30 day return policy I can't get a refund, so I think for my financial wellbeing I'm going to see if I have any superglue and just be insanely frugal with it to ensure it gets nowhere Zak can get to it, but by the looks it was (badly) glued on anyway.
That'll have to be a quick fix until I can justify buying a new one. xD
I get you get what you pay for these days but the Trixie wheel wasn't cheap, although to my annoyance it has dropped considerably in price on Amazon!

I have been looking at buying a Wodent wheel as a spare for a little while anyway but then I needed to change his bedding so the money aside for the wheel was spent on an emergency purchase of better bedding!
Looks like a Wodent wheel is next on the list and this one will be the spare when that arrives.

I can't attach it to a roof because he's in a bin cage without a lid and I'm still not in a position to go all DIY on his cage, so unfortunately it's a wheel on floor job, but when the Trixie one works, it's fine anyway.

Also, I've recently done a Plasti-Kote DIY attempt with his new Hut house thing, as good as I feel it's turned out, I'm not sure I'm creatively ready for another paint job, but a Karlie Wonderland Wheel will be purchased eventually, I like the look of wood in his cage, I want to replace everything plastic (within reason) with wood in time too, just looks more organised in my opinion, (if that makes sense?)

Pebbles82 · 08-03-2015, 03:16 PM

I'd be careful about using superglue - he might try to eat it. I have had Amazon take things back outside the 30 days before. If you tell them it doesn't work properly and you've only had it 2 months or something. Ring them up - they are quite good on the phone. Then you can get the wodent wheel. It should be fine on the floor of the cage if the stand is taped to the floor - it's about keeping the stand stable to avoid the juddering. I think it was an experienced hamstery person on here told me about taping the stand to the base of the cage. This would then have substrate on top of course.

Gemma_xo · 08-04-2015, 02:06 AM

I shall! I normally use their online chat, for now the old cage is back in the new cage, I decided against the superglue. The Wodent Wheel is on it's way, my sister used my rant on Facebook as an excuse to spoil her (now) "neice Hamster"
So, that's that worry sorted

Thank you for the links too!
x

Pebbles82 · 08-04-2015, 02:12 AM

You're welcome. That sounds good. Wheel safety is quite important - it's annoying these things don't last as long as they should! Our Wonderland one broke after only 6 months - the bearings went, but then Charlie is a heavy hamster to thunder along in it! I believe Wodent wheels are supposed to be long-lasting.

If you ever have a windfall and some money to splash, the German site Rodipet actually make a wheel stand for the Wodent wheel. It means the wheel sits above the substrate and is 9cm from the bottom of the cage with a hidey place under the wheel and keeps the wheel stable by fastening down the base. They also do one which is a house with the fixing for the wodent wheel stand on top. I think they're great. A bit expensive though. The stand comes out at £12 Uk money and postage is £7. They call the 8" Wodent Wheel the 'Robowheel' because it's a good size for Robos.

http://www.rodipet.de/shop/laufraede...obo-wheel.html

http://www.rodipet.de/shop/laufraede...obo-wheel.html

Amazing aren't they?!

Jen250 · 08-04-2015, 02:27 AM

Those stands are great! Do they have a Syrian size one? Though I imagine the cage would need to be quite tall to accommodate that!

Gemma_xo · 08-04-2015, 02:51 AM

Ooh, I want one! I have GOT to get one!!
I'm always looking for more things to hide in etc.
They look fantastic and so pretty too, obviously Plasti-kote would be required, but that gives me an excuse to get a pink colour to replace the blue of the house I've just put in

These also make me glad I have a bin cage, there is no height limit due to lack of a lid. Happy Gemma!

Is there a way to change the language on the site?
I have no idea what any of it says & I don't want to spend hours pushing random buttons to add it to my cart and attempt to pay for it and mess it up somehow!

cypher · 08-04-2015, 03:39 AM

There isn't an English version of the Rodipet site Gemma, the easiest way to shop there is to use google chrome as your browser, the first time you go to a foreign page a little thing pops up at the top of the page asking if you would like it to translate also with the option to always translate, I actually forget Rodipet is in German half the time as it just appears in English for me.
Other than that you would need to copy & paste what you want to read into google translate which is a bit of a pain & a much slower way of doing things.
I've bought loads from there now & everything is so well made it's definitely worth a good browse, maybe lock your credit card away first though!

Pebbles82 · 08-04-2015, 04:31 AM

I just select the words and copy and paste them into google translate (if you don't use the google chrome browser. It's quite a straightforward checkout process you just need to make sure the right box is ticked and the right one unticked (one says 'I have a different delivery address' which you probably haven't - the other says 'I accept the terms and conditions. Then you put your name and address for delivery and select Grossbritannien as the delivery country and it works out the delivery charge. Then you get taken to the paypal page as you would with any other purchase and it converts it to pounds for you.

Yes Jen - It would work in a Barney but not in our cages which are only about 36cm high inside. The Wodent wheel with the stand would be about 39cm high.

This is google translate Gemma

All set up from German to English for you (you just select which language you want to translate to and from).

https://translate.google.co.uk/

They do one for the 20cm, 27cm and 30cm Wodent wheels.

This page shows all of them

http://www.rodipet.de/shop/laufraeder/rodipet-ltage/

As you might guess 'Jetzt Bestellung' in the brown bar is 'add to basket' Then a window pops up with two options - the left option is continue shopping, the right option is 'go to basket'. When the basket page opens select Great Britain from the drop down menu (near bottom Gross Britannien in german). and Select paypal from the other drop down box then click the brown tab next to the drop down boxes and it takes you to the page to register your name and address (or to sign in if you are already registered). There are two brown tabs on that page. The left hand one gives you the option to buy without registering, the right hand tab gives you the option to register. I would go for the right hand tab, as they both just require your name and address but registering lets you set a password as well and then if you ever buy from there again you just sign in and it's a quicker checkout process.

The next page is fairly straightforward. Enter your name and address details and set a password which has to entered twice, as with any site when you register. You can select, copy and paste this page to understand the odd box title which helps and to see what the tick box says under the address details (it says 'delivery address is different' so don't tick it if your delivery address isn't different to your home address). Remember to select the country on this page. Near the bottom of that box is a second tick box which you tick/select to say you accept the terms and conditions (standard to all online purchases). It should then take you to the paypal payment page. Google Translate is your friend!

They also make the same wheel stands to fit their wood wheels. I want to get one when Charlie has a bigger cage, having just bought the wood wheel.