trailer bearings going out too much

[Cptkid570]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

I'm in the process of replacing the bearings (ok, I've been lazy and haven't done it yet)... I'll take all of this advise into consideration.

I was thinking for a while that maybe I'd just gotten a bad batch of bearings or something... The place I buy them from is pretty inexpensive, so maybe they are the chinese bearings that were mentioned... either way, I'll take a lot more care in my installation of them and see how it goes.

 

[Paul DuLaney]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

When repacking are you using grease in palm of hand and working it in or using a gun bearing grease packer. Hope your not just smearing grease around bearing and installing.Have seen this done and it's asking for bearing failure.Not to be nosy,just wondering.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

Torqueing and backing off one flat is also incorrect. Torqueing is ok, but loosen the nut, rotate the wheel while tightening finger tight. Back off to the first available slot to insert the pin. Check free play.

 

[EMM]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

Torqueing and backing off one flat is also incorrect. Torqueing is ok, but loosen the nut, rotate the wheel while tightening finger tight. Back off to the first available slot to insert the pin. Check free play.

Everything I have read says to preload the bearing then baack the nut off .25 turns. If you back it off 1 flat then continue until you can put the cotter pin in this will put you right about 1.5 flats which is .25 turns. Putting the nut on finger tight will cause too much end play on the hub and cause premature bearing wear.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

Sorry - but the service manuals contradict you. I did not say put the nut on figure tight and insert the cotter pin. I said Torque the nut, back it off and then retighten figure tight and back off to the first available slot. Here is what the the Shorelander service manual says.

While rotating the wheel, tighten the spindle nut to a recommended 20 inch pounds (note the INCH pounds -- not FOOT pounds) if your trailer has 1-1/16 x 1-1/16 bearings, or 30 inch-pounds if your trailer has 1-3/8 - 1-1/16 inch bearings. Do not over tighten. NOTE: Your trailer spindle has cross holes drilled at 90 degrees intervals for the retaining cotter key. Look for the hole in the spindle through the slots in the spindle nut. If you can see any part of the hole through the slot in the nut, turn the nut counterclockwise until the next slot in the nut lines up with the cross hole. Insert the cotter key.

If you cannot see any portion of the hole in the spindle through the slots in the nut, turn the nut counter clockwise until the hole lines up with the first slot available in the nut. Insert the cotter key. This adjustment gives you from one-thousandth to ten-thousandths end play which is the tolerance for proper adjustment.

And this is from the Champion Trailer web site:

To pre-load the bearings, install the spindle washer and spindle nut onto the spindle with the hub and bearings in place. Tighten the spindle nut finger tight (until snug) and then with channel-lock pliers or a crescent wrench, tighten the spindle nut another 1/4 turn or about 15 to 20 ft pounds of torque. Now turn the hub five to ten revolutions. This will fully seat the races. Now loosen the spindle nut very loose, then re-snug to finger tight, and engage the nut retaining device. (Some reverse lubricating spindles use a tab washer for the retaining device)

Note that in each case the maximum turn back of the nut from finger tight is the width or distance between two adjacent slots on the castle nut. One quarter turn creates way too much clearance.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

I put them in this weekend and all seems good so far.. I'll let you know. Just for my own record, I'll use this post to remember that it was the drivers side of the boat that I put the new bearings in...

I had to put in a new axle about 2 years ago and the only axle that fit was a little longer then the axle that was originally installed, I'm now wondering if the wheels are pointing inward a little bit and if the axle is bending some. How much difference would this make in the longevity of bearings if the tires are at a little bit of an angle?

If they are, I guess I could take my old axle, cut it down some, then use some U-bolts to bolt it onto my current axle for some extra support???

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

Using an axle longer than the original indeed adds stress. If you look at your old axle, the spring position in relation to the wheel is quite close. Using a longer axle means the wheel is moved farther away from the spring. That greater distance means the forces acting on the wheel have a longer lever to work with so those forces are amplified and can indeed bend an axle. Physics 101 -- remember? If the new axle is only a half inch or maybe even an inch longer than the original I doubt the extra length is an issue unless the trailer was already loaded near it maximum capacity. However, if the axle is a couple inches longer that may be a problem.

Park on a perfectly flat parking lot and walk back from the trailer about 30 feet or so. Squat down and eye-ball the trailer wheels and axle. If the tops of the wheels are tilted in the axle or spindles have bent.

 

[dchris]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

One last thing to concider, blancing tires and rims. I had a bent rim once and it caused all kinds of troubles.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: trailer bearings going out too much

Can't even take the boat out of the garage right now, my tow vehicle is broken down... hopefully I'll have the tow vehicle back together soon! (isn't the boat supposed to be unreliable? - haha)

I think I've been giving the boat too much attention and the tow vehicle got jealous..