How to fix a retractable suitcase handle yourself: simple solutions to the problem

In the modern rhythm of life, few people do without traveling. For leisure or for work matters, long and long journeys or trips for a couple of days within the home country - they cannot be done without a comfortable suitcase. In all cases when you do not need to constantly carry your luggage on your back (then it is better to take a backpack), a good suitcase will become an indispensable assistant and companion. On a plane, on a trip, on a car trip or on a bus - a roomy and strong travel bag will allow you to put everything you need for your trip without getting wrinkled or broken. Unfortunately, even the most durable and sturdy suitcase can break down if used regularly. In particular, individual mechanisms may break. For example, the handle is broken and does not fold. What to do in such a situation? Is it possible to fix a suitcase handle yourself, or do you need to urgently rush to a repair shop?

First, decide for yourself whether the problem is worth the effort and expense. Or it's a sign that it's time to upgrade your travel accessory. If the latter, then it’s worth considering what the modern suitcase market offers, what advantages and features new models from various brands have.

But in many cases, repairing the handle of a suitcase on wheels with your own hands can be done quite quickly and without unnecessary difficulties. Minor repairs will not require any special skills or a large set of tools from you. Often you can deal with it right on the road. But keep in mind that the aesthetics of the bag will suffer greatly.

How to repair a suitcase handle using improvised means

The best way to repair a suitcase is to take it to a workshop, where they will certainly put it back on its feet, or rather, on its wheels.

But what if you need to repair the retractable handle of your suitcase urgently, right during your trip? And craftsmen sometimes charge so much for their work that this money would be enough to buy a simple replacement for a broken suitcase.

If you are not too worried about the aesthetic appearance of the case, you will be able to repair it, even if you are very far from nuts and bolts. How exactly can this be done? It all depends on the degree of damage.

If the handle breaks on the road...

When the handle breaks right on the road, there is no talk about the beauty and durability of the repair. It is important to do everything quickly and relatively reliably: so much so that you don’t have to drag your suitcase in your hands to your destination. And a real pro of express repairs – tape – will help us do this.

So, the most common problem is a fracture of one of the tubes of the retractable handle. In terms of DIY repairs, the situation is very similar to applying a splint to a person with a fracture.

1. Find a rigid frame that will act as a tire. This may be a small metal pipe, but in the field you usually have to rely on a pencil, ruler or comb - the stronger, the better, of course.
2. An improvised splint is applied to the fracture site along the pipe.
3. Now the fracture site is wrapped with tape or tape along the entire length of the tire or at least 5-7 cm in each direction from the fracture.

Of course, it will be impossible to put the handle and tire back together, so if you still have to check your suitcase as luggage, limit yourself to simply wrapping the break in several layers of tape.

By the way, this method can be used even if the handle has broken in several places, practically crumbling. You’ll just have to find a slightly longer tire or increase their number, and you’ll need to wrap it with tape more securely.

How to fix a pen at home?

So you brought your broken suitcase home, and now you have enough time to slowly deal with the problem and try to repair the telescopic system yourself.

Let's say right away: without experience in welding and polishing metal, it will not be possible to make the handle look like new, so all aesthetes will have to go to workshops.

But if you only need functionality from a suitcase, you can improve the method of strengthening the break by replacing the tire with a pin.

• Unscrew the bolts of the telescopic structure and remove the broken part.
• Insert structural reinforcement into it in the form of a metal rod slightly smaller in width than the cavity itself.
• Secure the broken area with the same tape or tape.
• Secure the reinforced structure back with bolts.

If the fault allows, you don’t even have to unscrew the pipe from the telescopic holders, but it is important that the length of the pin is equal to the length of the handle itself, otherwise your reinforcement will dangle inside.

Another possible problem that you can solve yourself is unscrewing the bolts holding the structure and, as a result, the handle dangling from one or both sides. To repair it, it is enough to tighten these or put new bolts and nuts in place of the old ones, for which you need to get to the frame from the inside through the upholstery.

If it is not the telescopic handle that has unscrewed, but the stationary handle, you can also secure it with a bolt and nut, if it has not been mechanically damaged (not cracked or broken into pieces)

A quick way to wedge a handle

The second most common problem with telescopic systems after their fracture is jamming inside the suitcase. This is especially unpleasant if the suitcase is heavy: you won’t be able to carry it on wheels!

• To begin, feel inside the frame through the upholstery for the frame of the handle. Your task is to find holes with springs that secure it.
• Now you need to press these springs simultaneously: the handle will release and “shoot” out of the groove.

The opposite situation is also not uncommon: the handle refuses to fit back into the groove, and the suitcase must be checked in as luggage. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to solve this problem without disassembling the structure.

In order not to completely break the structure during transportation, you can try to dismantle it completely with your own hands, tightening the bolts under the upholstery from the inside, or ask someone more experienced to do this for you.

Then pack the pen in a suitcase, and wrap the suitcase itself with packaging film so that things don’t fall out through the hole and get dirty.

To avoid having to repair the telescopic handle, just roll the suitcase by it, and do not carry it, do not sit on the suitcase, and do not stuff it with heavy things under the maximum permissible weight. Well, if a breakdown does occur, now you know how to deal with it in an emergency and at home without the need to resort to the help of a specialist.

What needs to be replaced

Travel bags are prone to breakage or wear, both individual parts and the entire structure as a whole. This is due to the special operating conditions of suitcases on wheels, during which they experience stress both from the weight of the luggage and from driving on various surfaces. And many structural elements can deteriorate or even fall off and get lost. However, not all parts are subject to replacement and repair; in some situations it is easier and faster to purchase a new product instead of one that has become unusable.

The following spare parts are subject to repair, which, by the way, are easy to find on sale or make yourself:

• retractable mechanisms;
• handles are stationary, retractable;
• wheels;
• wheel blocks;
• stands and legs for suitcases;
• locks, zippers, fittings.

Spare parts, like the suitcases themselves, are made by many manufacturers, which means they can have different prices and quality.

How to fix a suitcase handle

The handle of a suitcase is one of the main components, without which it is simply impossible to operate a suitcase. A broken handle puts travel into doubt; in this article we will tell you how it is possible to make repairs on your own.

First, let's analyze what happened. If one end of the suitcase handle comes off and the other is still holding on, we are lucky; the task is greatly simplified. The most reliable way to repair is to secure the handle with a bolt.

As a rule, standard fasteners leave through holes - this is only for your benefit. We push the bolt through from the back of the suitcase, pull the end of the handle through it, and fix it with a nut (tightening it tightly).

To give a more aesthetic appearance, the nut can be closed with a rivet of a suitable size.

If the telescopic handle breaks:

The most common breakdown of a telescopic handle is its fracture. For repairs, you will need to select a handle, a metal tube or plate of similar size and width (a thin corner or aluminum tubes will do).

As a rule, telescopic handles are empty inside, so the best and most reliable repair method is to install them inside a durable metal structure.

We install a pre-prepared tube inside the broken handle; we recommend choosing a tube slightly smaller in size than the size of the handle, this will help to carefully install it inside. To prevent the fracture site from being highlighted, carefully wrap it with transparent tape or electrical tape of a suitable color.

If the handle breaks in several places and shatters into small pieces, you no longer have to think about aesthetics.

We also need a metal tube, using adhesive tape or tape we attach it to the remaining intact parts.

If a breakdown occurs on the road, the role of the tube can be played by the body of a pen, a pencil, or anything that fits the shape and provides the necessary rigidity.

Types of components

There are a large number of breakdowns that can occur in any suitcase, regardless of the manufacturer, design, or model of the product. Even the most minor problems, for example, damage to a zipper or clasp, can cause a lot of discomfort or even make it impossible to use this important attribute for travelers. To carry out repairs, as well as replace individual parts or entire structures, appropriate spare parts for a suitcase on wheels are required. Among the main components of a travel bag are the following elements:

• retractable systems;
• wheels and wheel blocks;
• pens;
• legs, stands;
• locks, cases;
• runners;
• lightning.

Obviously, fittings for suitcases are presented in a wide range and it is advisable for the owner of such a thing to understand the design of the product. This will help not only to correctly localize and diagnose the breakdown, but also to repair or replace it yourself without high costs.

How to repair a suitcase handle

If the lamp in the lamp lights up and goes out when the wire is swayed at the input into the plug, the break is located exactly in this place. The non-separable plug will have to be replaced with a new, collapsible one.

If the plug is already collapsible, open it, remove the wires from the screws on the pins, cut off the oxidized areas, clean them again, put them on the screws, and then tighten them tightly. Then assemble the fork.

The cord, the insulation of which is not made of polyvinyl chloride, but of rubber, must be replaced entirely, even if it has no visible damage. Sooner or later they will definitely appear, and this threatens a short circuit. Do the same with a cable that has visible damage, regardless of what material it is made of.

If the switch located on the cord does not operate smoothly, its contacts should be cleaned. After disconnecting the lamp from the network, disassemble the switch, remembering the disassembly procedure. Carefully remove carbon deposits from the contacts with a screwdriver, then reassemble the switch in reverse order.

The switch, located not on the cord, but inside the lamp , usually has a non-separable design. After turning off the power and removing the cover from the lighting fixture that allows access to this switch, first of all, check how well the screws holding the wires in the switch terminals are tightened.

If they are not the cause of the malfunction, replace the switch with the same one (or with another one of suitable dimensions, if the change in appearance is not critical). Before installing the metal cover the lamp

A crackling sound accompanied by a blinking light indicates poor contact and sparking in the socket. lamp creates strong interference to nearby radios and televisions

After turning off the power to the lighting fixture, wait until the bulb cools down, unscrew it and disassemble the socket. Tighten the screws holding the wire strands to the terminals.

Using a screwdriver, carefully clean the contacts touching the lamp cylinder from carbon deposits, if necessary, bend them slightly, then assemble the socket.

After completing the repair, clean the lamp from dust. If the light bulb wattage exceeds the maximum indicated on the lamp (not on the socket!), replace it. When using lampshades made from flammable or fusible materials, use only energy-saving light bulbs.

The final stage of work is checking the insulation. Take a multimeter operating in ohmmeter mode at the “20 megaohm” limit.

Having disconnected the device from the network, inserted the lamp and turned on the switch, measure the resistance between each of the pins of the plug and the metal parts of the lamp at different connection polarities.

In all cases, the multimeter should show infinity. Once you are convinced of this, proceed to further operation of the lamp .

Never work under voltage.

The best manufacturers

Today, accessories for repairing suitcases are quite common on store shelves. In case of breakdown, you can find any necessary parts. But in some situations, repairs are no longer appropriate, the product has outlived its usefulness, so you should think about purchasing a new travel bag. Purchasing a high-quality suitcase from a trusted manufacturer will extend its service life. Based on numerous user reviews, a number of the best brands can be identified:

By purchasing goods at a low cost, the buyer runs the risk of receiving a low-quality product that will become unusable after just a few uses.

Hossoni Samsonite American Tourister Sun Voyage Ricardo Beverly Hills Best Bags

Source

Changing suitcase handles

It can be such a shame when your new or beloved old suitcase (which still looks very decent) unexpectedly breaks down and ruins your trip. Most often, the most necessary parts of a suitcase break - its wheels and handles. You can read about repairing wheels in a special article, and here we will look at how you can independently repair the handles of the most common types of suitcases.

Of course, you can find suitcase repair in Moscow, but this service requires an investment of time and effort, which in reality does not correspond to the complexity of the breakdown. So you can save your money and time and repair your old or new suitcase yourself. Moreover, in most cases it is quite simple.

What will be required for repairs?

First of all, you should stock up on tools - a Phillips and slotted screwdriver; pliers will also come in handy. Well, it would be nice to have some idea about the use of all this stuff. Although for a real man this will not be difficult.

But most importantly, you need to have a new handle for your suitcase in stock - you can buy it in a store or online. But before buying new spare parts, you should dismantle the broken handle and buy exactly the same one. In some cases, you may need to buy fittings for suitcases or separate parts for handles.

Now you can safely begin the repair.

Repair of stationary suitcase handles - procedure

The easiest way to repair a suitcase with your own hands is if the stationary handle breaks, that is, the same handle that is located on the top, bottom or side walls of the luggage.

For repairs, such a handle is simply removed and replaced with a new one.

The handles are fastened either with screws or with rivets; in the first case, you need to use a screwdriver, and in the second, try to remove the rivets with wire cutters or pliers.

Installing the new handle is easy - it is simply secured with the same screws. But if rivets are used as fasteners, then you need to buy a handle for the suitcase along with them, or make them from aluminum wire.

In this case, to install the rivets, you will have to crawl under the lining of the suitcase - for this there must be a zipper or Velcro.

If the lining does not allow access to the inner surface of the suitcase, you will have to cut it and then carefully sew it up.

As you can see, changing the handle (provided you buy a new handle for a suitcase ready-made) on your luggage is quite simple. But things are somewhat more complicated with repairs using a telescopic (retractable) handle.

Repair of retractable suitcase handles

It should be noted right away that the repair of suitcase handles is carried out depending on the type and degree of complexity of their breakdown, as well as depending on your cost expectations. The easiest way is to install a new telescopic handle to replace the old one, but to do this you will have to buy a new handle assembly and simply replace the old one with it.

Rules for selecting elements

In most cases, finding a similar replacement part is not difficult, especially when it comes to popular brands and models. In some situations, components that are similar in appearance and parameters and are capable of performing all the necessary functionality may well be suitable. However, sometimes it may be necessary to resort to alternative options, purchasing or independently producing elements of a completely different type.

So, what should you pay attention to when choosing parts for a suitcase:

1. Size. Many replaceable elements can be similar in parameters, for example, zippers, wheels, legs. It is important to accurately measure all the necessary dimensions and select a suitable analogue.
2. Material. Components can be made of plastic, rubber, metal or fabric. Often, some types of materials can be replaced with higher quality ones. For example, plastic legs on metal ones with a rubberized base. However, in some situations, due to the design features, replacing the material with a more durable one may not be practical.
3. Load. A suitcase is a product that is subject to various types of loads during operation and even transportation. Any part has a tensile strength and the amount of load it can withstand without deforming or collapsing. Most of the load in a suitcase on wheels is directed to the lower support or moving part. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the technical characteristics of such parts.
4. Visual component. The shape, color, texture of original and replacement parts may be different. Sometimes this is acceptable, but in most cases the suitcase can look awkward.
5. Brands. In cases where the traveler owns a high-quality product from a well-known brand, it is necessary to purchase spare parts from the same or an equivalent manufacturer. If you use parts that are inferior in quality and characteristics to other structures, the likelihood of another breakdown only increases.

Paying attention to the above criteria, you can choose high-quality components that are suitable for the broken suitcase in all respects.

Shapes and colors of fittings

Suitcase repair

A suitcase in the 21st century is a rather complex design with a combination lock, a large number of fasteners for each compartment, and also on wheels. Even the handles are retractable for ease of transportation. A modern suitcase for the owner is convenient for travel and reliable in use.

A good suitcase serves as a clear marker of wealth, because their cost is high. But even the best suitcase can fail at the most inopportune moment.

In Vakhrushev's Workshop, suitcases are repaired using modern materials from Russian and foreign companies. We carry out post-warranty repairs of suitcases of all brands. To achieve this, the workshop equipped workplaces with new equipment and the necessary spare parts.

The suitcase always breaks at the wrong time

On a long trip, a suitcase often breaks down right at the station or during baggage claim at the airport. The wheel falls off, the handles do not extend, or the clasp does not open.

At that moment you remember that it was necessary to repair the squeaking wheel or the sticking retractable handle in advance. To avoid these small problems while traveling, go to Vakhrushev’s Workshop to have your suitcase repaired.

High-quality repair is the principle of work

Our workshop repairs travel suitcases of any complexity and at the highest level of quality. Over the years of fruitful work, the craftsmen have accumulated extensive experience in replacing handles with any type of fastening and retractable ones, replacing or restoring wheels is also our specialty.

For high-quality repair of a suitcase, original spare parts are required, since repairing a suitcase handle is difficult, due to completely different types of fastening the handle to the body for each brand.

Types of repair:

• wheel replacement;
• Retractable handle replacement;
• replacement for a regular handle.

When wheeled suitcases require repair, it means that the bearing or holder has failed.

Contact us, the specialists at Vakhrushev’s Workshop will be able to carry out repairs of any complexity.

Even if you need to repair suitcases, replacing wheels is also not difficult, because we have a large database of spare parts.

Suitcases on wheels are the most convenient thing to travel with, but it is the retractable handles of such suitcases that most often fail. They come in metal, plastic and even leather. Often the handles have to be replaced entirely to eliminate an annoying breakdown.

Having sent your favorite suitcase to Vakhrushev's Workshops for repairs, you will soon receive back a completely restored suitcase.

Fault prevention

To avoid breaking the suitcase handles, you need to follow some rules:

• load the suitcase evenly with things;
• place the heaviest items down;
• avoid overloading;
• carry the suitcase only by the stationary handle;
• Transport the suitcase using the telescopic handle only on level roads.

These simple rules and tips will help you restore suitcase handles yourself and avoid such troubles in future use.

How to repair bag handles with your own hands?

A bag is one of the most important accessories of any woman. And that’s why it’s such a pity to part with your favorite thing after seeing scuffs and other signs of wear on it.

But don’t rush to throw away your favorite accessory, because the problem can be solved quite simply using available materials and creative ideas.

Most often, the handles of a product become unusable, so today we will tell you how to repair the handles of a bag with your own hands in order to extend the use of your favorite accessory for more than one season.

Do-it-yourself repair of women's bags

Unfortunately, when buying a quality leather item, we are not immune from fakes, which begin to develop cracks over time. However, even the strongest leather item also loses its attractive appearance and wears out over time.

Nothing lasts forever. But if there is at least some opportunity to extend the life of things, we must take advantage of it. We are ready to offer you some interesting ideas that will help transform your old bag into a new original accessory.

How to fix the handles of a bag with your own hands?

If a part of the bag has worn out over time, you can replace it using available materials. For repair use:

• Waist belts.
• Neckerchief.
• Pieces of fabric or leather.
• Chain.
• Wooden or plastic beads.
• Braid or satin ribbon.

We suggest you use the following ideas for repairing handles.

Idea No. 1. Pen case

You can sew a case from genuine leather so that the accessory lasts as long as possible.

1. Buy a piece of thin leather (matching the color of the handles or a contrasting shade).
2. Open and cut out the blanks. The width of the workpiece should be 2 times larger than desired, plus seam allowances. The length of the cover can be chosen arbitrarily, for example, only for a worn (worn out) area.
3. Glue the blanks with thick cotton cloth. Use regular all-purpose glue for this operation.
4. Glue the ends of the blanks and turn them inside out.
5. Fold the pieces in half and machine stitch them. Use a special leather needle.
6. Turn the covers right side out.
7. Put covers on your handles.
8. Use an awl to make holes on the sides of the handle and sew on the covers.
9. Wear your favorite accessory for many years to come.

Idea No. 2. Wrapping the handles with braid, satin ribbon or strips of leather

Handles can be finished to match gloves, shoes or other accessories. The idea itself lies in the ancient method of wrapping parts with satin ribbon (braid) or pieces of leather.

To work, you will need a ribbon of a suitable color or lace.

1. Determine the center of the handle and the length of the restoration.
2. Wrap the tape tightly around the handle. To prevent it from moving along the handle, secure it with a few stitches.
3. Fasten the thread and cut it.
4. Wrap the tape tightly around the top of the handle, hiding the seam. Leave a distance between turns of approximately 3 mm. Make sure that the tape not only fits against the handle, but also does not twist as a result of strong tightening.
5. When finished, secure the tape on the inside of the handle with a needle and thick thread.

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Suitcases are made from hard materials (plastic, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel capillary tubes, polycarbonate, polypropylene), artificial fabrics (perlon, nylon, etc.), genuine leather or leatherette and have one or more handles located on the top and sides . Many models are equipped with wheels and a trolley system to roll them along. Some close with a zipper, others with clips with mechanical locks. Almost all of them come with combination, key or key locks.

Repairing suitcases is a common thing, since they are subjected to serious tests: they are carried on different surfaces, pushed, thrown from heights, and covered with heavy things. Any element can break over time. It is not always possible to fix a damaged item on your own.