Wheel lock nut pressure

[pecheux]

Good day, On my small rig last time I greased the bearing, prior to installing grease buddies, I could not get both wheels equaly thightened as per cutter pins lock holes. So one wheel was snug which seemed right ... but the other one was either too thight (I think) since the wheel did not manualy turn totaly freely ... so I ended up having to back up one hole thus leaving the wheel with a hint of loose. Question is what is the recommended procedure ? A hint thight or a hint loose ? Thank you all

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

Here you go.

http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#pre-loadbearings

Make sure the brakes are free.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

Ayuh,... A hint Loose is better,+ safer than a hint Tight...

 

[pecheux]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

Here you go.

http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#pre-loadbearings

Make sure the brakes are free.

I read the article but it matches what I know should be done with vehicule lock nut pressure ... I suspect trailer wheel may be another ball game. Tx

 

[pecheux]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

Ayuh,... A hint Loose is better,+ safer than a hint Tight...

Tx. The lock type nut has 6 sides ... I beleve there are 8 sided models which could give me a more precise adjustement. I ll double check all that. Then I wonder was is a hint for one person may be very snug for another ... and visa versa ... LOL

Thank you

 

[GeneH]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

Any tapered roller bearing is designed to work with a very slight amount of "play", usually a minimum of about two thousandths of an inch and a maximum of somewhere around ten thousandths of an inch. If you tighten the nut down with a wrench, you will reduce the endplay to nothing which will wear out the bearing.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

I take the nut, wash it off, then drag the flat side against a large flat file. By doing this adjustment of fit up, I am able to get the perfect setting.

 

[pecheux]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

Any tapered roller bearing is designed to work with a very slight amount of "play", usually a minimum of about two thousandths of an inch and a maximum of somewhere around ten thousandths of an inch. If you tighten the nut down with a wrench, you will reduce the endplay to nothing which will wear out the bearing.

then I would presume that out of the 6 flat sides to the nut ... if one flat side is loose and the next one up is thight ... then the nut should be unscrewed to the previous flat side ... did I get it right ? Tx

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

Perhaps, but by doing so it may end up looser than required to maintain a good seal.

Sometimes it can depend on the thread pitch and actual sizes. Accentuated if you have a small hub, small bearings, and a course thread spindle.

 

[pecheux]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

I take the nut, wash it off, then drag the flat side against a large flat file. By doing this adjustment of fit up, I am able to get the perfect setting.

I had'nt thought of that ... Tx for the tip.

 

[riverkeg]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

You want to make sure you tighten the nut with a fair amount of torque (I don't have an exact spec) to seat the races. Then back the nut off and finger tighten and put the cotter pin in the closest available slot in the castle nut. As mentioned before, a little loose if far far better than a little tight. The wheel should spin freely and continue spinning for at least a few rotations when you let go. It will be okay if there is a very slight amount of play. Enough to where you can feel it but not necessarily see it. I hope this helps.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

Tighten the nut with just your fingers while spinning the wheel with your other hand(wheel must be off the ground), then back up to next hole/slot match up, put in cotter pin, very easy. Just a bit of play in wheel, but will disappear when you put the weight of the boat back on the ground. Good Luck!

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Wheel lock nut pressure

On my Shoreland'r trailer there are 2 sets of holes in each spindle for the cotter pin. This makes it a lot easier to get similar pressure on each side.