Anyone know how to fix wobbly ladder rungs?

[The Dobbsters]

Morning peeps, our bed ladder has developed some wobbly rungs, there are screws at the back of the rungs that just screw into the plastic inserts which grip on to the ladder uprights, tightening these does nothing so we took them all out in order to separate everything and tighten up the inside screw that goes laterally through the insert into the uprights (are you keeping up at the back??) but we can't pull the ladder apart with all the screws out so can't tighten anything - anyone any ideas pretty please?

 

[Allanm]

Are you trying to pull the sides apart? The rungs may have a tight fit over the plastic lugs so if it was me, I would try a rubber headed mallet and some careful malletting to try to ease the sides away.

 

[The Dobbsters]

Allanm Thankyou, we hadn't tried a mallet just a bit of brute strength which obviously wasn't enough so will seek out a mallet asap!

 

[mike mcglynn]

Hi, the plastic ends may be riveted into the stiles so don’t break them ,go softly !

 

[The Dobbsters]

Thankyou Mike, its tricky to see whats what but will mallet them gently !

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[nicholsong]

I think you need to fix the 'wobbly ladder' before the rungs.

 

[The Dobbsters]

The ladder wasn't wobbly before the rungs were loose lol, couldn't think how else to word the thread title!

 

[Stealaway]

You are going to have to smack it apart with a rubber/plastic hammer. Those grey inserts will have been hammered in to the treads

 

[Vipar]

If al else fails superglue use Spanish winch system to hold whilst glue sets.

 

[The Dobbsters]

? Thanks Vipar, off to google spanish winch system, got my glasses on now else i would be googling 'spanish witch system'......

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[Mikeco]

When we had a wobbly ladder at work we left them out in the rain, that was over 50 years ago though and they were made of wood.

 

[thebriars]

Buy a new one?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Invest in some 2 pack epoxy resin and fix the grey inserts to the ladder sides with that. I suspect they should be riveted to the sides then the rungs pushed on and then se ured with the screws. Use a clamp to hold the sides tight in till the glue sets, a Spanish winch is just a rope loop with a wooden bar through it, when you turn the bar it tightens up the loop and acts as a clamp.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

'It it 'arder

 

[The Dobbsters]

Thankyou all and Stealaway and GWAYGWAY , a combination of a rubber mallet (£2 odd from toolstation) and 'itting it 'arder and 'right tightying' screws resolved the problem and ladder is fully functional again so ??

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[The Dobbsters]

Ooops, forgot to add a thankyou to Allanm who suggested the mallet first so thankyou!

 

[Allanm]

Glad you got it sorted. I always use the “simplest method” first then escalate to more serious methods to get things fixed.

 

[pappajohn]

You are going to have to smack it apart with a rubber/plastic hammer. Those grey inserts will have been hammered in to the treads

I know what you mean but even British industry standards aren't that primative.
They will be placed in a jig and PRESSED in as a unit.

 

[Stealaway]

I know what you mean but even British industry standards aren't that primative.
They will be placed in a jig and PRESSED in as a unit.

But is it a British ladder? It's likely to have been made in Bangladesh or nearby??

 

[pappajohn]

But is it a British ladder? It's likely to have been made in Bangladesh or nearby??

I wasn't inferring it was British made, only that British standards are well down the industry 'best practice' list.
That's why we have very little industry left.
A hammer's cheap, a press is fast....and accurate.

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[Ingwe]

But is it a British ladder? It's likely to have been made in Bangladesh or nearby??

Beat me to it Stealaway-does Britain make anything anymore rather than just assemble stuff?

 

[Minxy]

Thankyou all and Stealaway and GWAYGWAY , a combination of a rubber mallet (£2 odd from toolstation) and 'itting it 'arder and 'right tightying' screws resolved the problem and ladder is fully functional again so ??

Well take it apart again, take photos then mark them in sequence showing the bits you're talking about ... so us mere mortals understand!

 

[mitzimad]

screws have probably elongated the holes in the plastic i would take out the screws and either go for thicker screws or fill the holes with an epoxy glue and screw in to that third option would be to set studs into the holes with epoxy and use nuts

 

[The Dobbsters]

It has tightened up very nicely but If it goes again (as i spect it will!) we will bring out the epoxy and see if that does the job for a while. All advice gratefully recieved and stored for future reference!

 

[tonyidle]

escalate to more serious methods

Lump hammer?

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[ABZSteve]

A wobbly ladder! get's you down that does........................................until it doesn't

 

[The Dobbsters]

Had a feeling that i would be very unceremoniously dumped on the floor if it collapsed mid climb, if only i were a svelte young gymnastic type of person i could have seen the landing as a challenge, however - a crumpled mess(as i surely would have been) is not a good look!