Trailer Bearings

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by RidgeRunner

You are a life saver, Destroyer. I wasn't trying to deminish your excellent idea, I was just poking at you about drilling the axle with the drill press.

No offence taken or even considered... :) (poking is always cool)

The substrate is clean like new. I have Square 2" OD Galvanized Tubing with stubs that fit inside and get welded in place. Thankfully I will be doing the welding on a heavy duty worktable at a comfortable height (ie no vertical welding because it always looks like a$$ when I am done, I need some serious schooling/practice on uphand vertical, thanks for the tip). If I knew in advance I would be welding vertical I would use the mig next door. Actually I still might use the mig, depends on when the parts arrive. Any drawbacks? You sound like the man to ask.

My only concern with Mig is the danger of light penetration if you're not careful with your heat settings. Stick is old school, but old school is still the weld of choice for good solid welds. Most industrial maintenance is still done stick... quick, fast, portable, strong. But to be honest, I wish I had a mig unit I could call my own...lol

The more I think about spindle alignment the more I think a straight edge and a micrometer may be the ticket. In any case it will be close enough. Worst case scenario, a little extra tire wear, I can live with that since the tires tend to dry rot before the tread is gone anyway.
The stubs are going inside the sq tubing? In that case they should fit just fine... If they are a little sloppy, tilt the tubing on an edge until it looks like a diamond <> and use that inside "V" to hold the stub in place parallel to the tube...then clamp and weld.

(And don't worry if your trailer is next to you as you go down the road... that way you can keep a better eye on it.)

[RidgeRunner]

Still waiting on parts. Meanwhile I took the hubs off the otherwise good axle, now I see why they went bad. Bearing and races on left side looked good but the right side inboard bearing was junk. Several missing pieces off the rollers and rusted. Not as much grease in either side IMO. Water got by the seal and was working on the innermost bearings. Replaced races, cone bearings and seals but it looks like the three day weekend will be spent without the Wellcraft. My stupidity, I will just have to deal with it by using one of the others;-)
I knew this boat sickness that I have would come in handy, sometime.

[RidgeRunner]

The parts arrived. I got the spindles welded back on the axle tube and they are as straight as I can make them. Used a straight edge and a micrometer off the straight axle tube A better picture of the bad spindle and the axle bolted back under. Sprayed Corrosion X all over the 2 yr old rusty springs.
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[nymack66]

Nice job Ridge, Grease, never install brakes and you good for many years. Nice job on the welding ..

[RidgeRunner]

You are too generous NYMack. It don't look good but it will work. Destroyer had me worried about penetration so I turned it up. I made two passes with the 7018 rod after tacking the spindle in place. The spindles came in slightly different than what was there. The weldable end had been turned down with a lathe to fit inside the square tubing but the turned down portion was 3/4" longer than original so instead of just placing the spindle into the square tube until it stopped at the part of the spindle that wasn't cut down (like a flange) I had to pull the spindle out 3/4" on each side and was welding to the part that was turned down. I pinned the spindle into a corner of the axle tube which made the opposite side a sloppy fit so two passes. BTW- boat shoes should never be worn while welding.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by RidgeRunner

BTW- boat shoes should never be worn while welding.

Don't ya just loooooove those tiny little holes in your socks and skin?


It looks good Ridge.. nice job. Well done!!

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by nymack66

Nice job Ridge, Grease, never install brakes and you good for many years. Nice job on the welding ..

Actually, unless he takes off the hubs and welds on the square flange where you attach the brake backing plate he cannot install brakes. I think brakes are necessary. I know others have other opinions. Lets just agree to disagree.