Weird Trailer Wheel

[dbuffington]

Hi Folks!

I've acquired a 1950s vintage Mastercraft boat trailer, and I'm looking for a spare wheel, but, well, the ones on it are a little weird.

The tires are normal enough, 5.70x8, and the wheels are, of course, 8 inch wheels.

But the lug spacing is odd: 4 lugs, 3.75 inches center-to-center ... not the normal 4 inches center to center. (See below.)

Any idea where to find these?

Thanks!
Dave

 

[vwluv32]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

Do you by chance have 3/4 bearings, hubs?
Chris

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

Do you by chance have 3/4 bearings, hubs?
Chris

I haven't removed them yet to measure them, but given the small size of the hub, it wouldn't surprise me. Thanks!

 

[vwluv32]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

I found a site that sells bearing kits:

http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=81106&eq=&Tp=

 

[ezmac]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

That looks like a wheel off a fork lift or some kind of material handling equipment. Check with a fork lift dealer. If he has the wheel he will have the bearings and seals to fit it.

 

[Proselect]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

I think he is looking for a spare rim/wheel, not a bearing kit.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

How about just elongate the holes that are there to 4", or redrill holes to the 4" pattern at 45 degrees from present holes? Maybe that would be easier?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

I mean to find another suitable wheel and just modify the bolt pattern, after all, it's just going to be a spare. Good Luck!

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

Hi Folks!

Yes, I am looking for a spare wheel. Actually, I'm looking for two now that I've found that one on the axle isn't original.

And that un-original one was modified by enlarging the stud holes. However, that created a new problem. There was slop between the studs and the stud holes, and with no cone/recess to keep the stud holes centered on the studs, the wheel would slip, banging against the studs.

The result? The studs were worn about half way through. Eeek!

I've replaced the damaged studs, but I still need to find wheels that fit properly. My temporary option was to take a modern 8-inch wheel and drill new holes (between the original holes) with the proper spacing. However, my machining skills/tools aren't good enough to do that as precisely as should be, and I have no way to recreate the cone/recess needed to center the holes on the studs.

So, we're back to finding the original wheels...

It does really, really look like a forklift wheel, but I haven't been able to find one with only four lugs. (I can find a six-lug Yale wheel that's awfully close.)

A new clue...

I cleaned about eight layers of paint off the original wheel and discovered it's aluminum. Could it be from some aircraft? The trailer is from the early 50's, and there was still a lot of war surplus available for pennies at that time.

Thanks!
Dave

 

[robert graham]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

You may need to replace the hubs and wheels, pull hubs off and take to Northern Tools or Tractor Supply or similar for a match on hubs, bearings, etc. Northern sells the entire hubs with bearings and seals for about $30...

 

[dbuffington]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

You may need to replace the hubs and wheels, pull hubs off and take to Northern Tools or Tractor Supply or similar for a match on hubs, bearings, etc. Northern sells the entire hubs with bearings and seals for about $30...

Oh, I thought about that. However, because of the very unique suspension on the trailer -- multi-link with a really cool transverse leaf spring -- I'd have to replace the entire axle to replace the entire spindle/bearing/hub assembly.

If I'm going to do that, I might as well just replace the trailer ... which I'd hate to do because the original is just so cool

Thanks!
Dave

 

[glot]

Re: Weird Trailer Wheel

Dave, What did you end up doing with your trailer wheels ? I have a Mastercraft trailer probably from the 50's and have the same problem I'm hopeing you found the solution. Thanks