Trailer Bearings

[RidgeRunner]

Thanks guys. I am very familiar with TA Mahoney's Ferm. They have about $5K of my $$$ already on the Wellcraft build, electronics, wire and rigging stuff. They also have the PGAC (Pretty Girl At the Counter). She knows more than most men do about boats and she loves to fish. But I digress.
This trailer only has about 3000 miles on it in the past year and a half. I will be the first to admit I ain't been too good about greasing the bearings. Twice to be exact. I have not had a bearing failure in a long time so I got lax. I think water got in there to cause the bearings to fail, then the castle nut pushed the bearing buddy off like Destroyer and Blue pointed out. I have lost dust caps without bearing failure before but never the other way around.
Time to rip into it. I will let you know shortly.

[RidgeRunner]

The spindles are junk. Both sides fried. The carnage.
Trailer Bearings 002.jpg

Trailer Bearings 004.jpg

Trailer Bearings 005.jpg

No sign of any bearings only the races left on the hubs. Grabbed the tires on the good axle and there is no preload on the bearings, too loose. On the bright side, the tire/wheel/hub assembly was easy to remove, no tools required... I was lucky not to lose a wheel. Fuzzy pic nearly captures the deep groove where the inner race was working on it.

[RidgeRunner]

Removed the axle, measured and cut the spindles off at the weld. No rust on the inside of the galvanized tubular axle. Need parts. To be continued>>

[phatdaddy]

RR, when you replace the spindles. see if you can get the kind that has a lube system that delivers the grease through the spindle to the rear between the seal & the bearing. all buddy bearings do is put grease on top of the castle nut. i believe it's called Acculube System. you can actually change grease and not take the hub assy apart.

[RidgeRunner]

I like that type also PD. Just need to find two with matching hubs. I screwed up when I purchased a new set of hubs for a different trailer. It has the grease fitting on the end of the spindle like you said but the hubs are not long enough on the inboard side for the seal to cover the hole where the grease comes out. Ask me how I discovered that. The axle was made by Tie Down Engineering and I believe they call their system "Posi Lube." Looking thru a couple of catalogs West wants a pretty penny for the galvanized hubs that Tie Down makes. That repair will need to wait for another day.
I know of a trailer manufacturer that I am hoping will ease the blowon the parts I need today.

[chumbucket]

The trick I've always used with Bearing Buddies;
Before installing the BB, take a pointed punch tool and just inside the hub where the BB will be seated, give it a whack in a couple of spots to create a burr. Now when you tap the BB into the hub, the burrs will grab and keep it in place.

[Blue_Runner]

RR thanks for the pics. Always wondered what that might look like. Thankfully I've never seen it in person.

Destroyer, I'd throw all 4 eventually. It sucked when I'd get to the beach and have to go to Wally World just so I'd be able to put the boat in the water without soaking the bearings in saltwater. Then after I'd pull the boat out of the water I'd have to tap them back out as to not throw them out while towing. Made a mess with the grease slinging out the hubs too. I think it was a combination of my hubs being a bit wallowed out and the weight of BB's themselves. Oh and probably the tires not being balanced exactly right too. Doesn't really matter. I gave up and love the grease caps. It forces me to take everything apart to re-grease periodically and I get to see how things look. I'm happy. CB - like that idea! Where were you with that suggestion 2 - 3 years ago!?!?

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by chumbucket

The trick I've always used with Bearing Buddies;
Before installing the BB, take a pointed punch tool and just inside the hub where the BB will be seated, give it a whack in a couple of spots to create a burr. Now when you tap the BB into the hub, the burrs will grab and keep it in place.

DAMN THAT'S A GREAT IDEA!! Saves a ton of money and frustration I'm sure. I've actually been tempted to tack weld them in place with a TIG unit, but then I figured out that if I ever had to change the bearings it would create a whole new set of problems...I like that idea and will start doing it from now on. Thanks!!!

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by RidgeRunner

I like that type also PD. Just need to find two with matching hubs. I screwed up when I purchased a new set of hubs for a different trailer. It has the grease fitting on the end of the spindle like you said but the hubs are not long enough on the inboard side for the seal to cover the hole where the grease comes out. Ask me how I discovered that. The axle was made by Tie Down Engineering and I believe they call their system "Posi Lube." Looking thru a couple of catalogs West wants a pretty penny for the galvanized hubs that Tie Down makes. That repair will need to wait for another day.
I know of a trailer manufacturer that I am hoping will ease the blowon the parts I need today.

If you have a drill press and a tap and die set it's easy enough to just measure where you want the greese to come out of the spindle and drill a 1/16" center hole and a side hole. Enlarge and tap the end of the center hole, screw a zerk fitting in and you're good to go. You'll still have to remove the greese cap to add greese, but when you do it will be through the zerk fitting into the center void between the inner and outer races. When you see the greese coming through the front bearing you know that it's filled.

[Blue_Runner]

Another fine idea! Too bad my capabilities are not that technologically advanced. I'm just going to get an air rachet instead.