azekologi
Well-known member
Ok gents,
I’ve done my research in the forums here, online, talked to dad, and had grandpa give the situation a once over. Now it’s time open the can of worms and toss the situation/problems at the trailer forum:
Background:
Through the collective wisdom of the TB community, I’ve been able to prioritize my boat goals into a logical order. Given the craft/trailer I bought a few years ago, the following projects need to be addressed: 1) Trailer – hubs, wheels, winch, 2) Boat – shade canopy/Bimini top, 3) Boat – pedestal padded seats. Now, these are the big things, of course there are a few minor projects that can easily fit in between. As we all know, sometimes it’s hard to add money to the boat fund, and it’s pretty easy to take from it to pay for something else that comes up. But I’ve wandered into a situation where I’ll have a couple a hundred bucks to put toward the first and most important project…the trailer.
The problem:
Well, there are several that stem from it being a 1963 “home-built” trailer. The issue at hand is that my regular fishing romps are about 125 miles (one way) from home. So, keeping up on trailer maintenance and avoiding a breakdown is key priority.
As it stands, I don’t have a spare (desperately need one of those), and my current wheels/hubs/bearings/etc. are in need of replacement. The decision here is how to make the best of what I already have, given my budget for this project.
So, the trailer: Like I said, 1963, homebuilt, with an oddball leaf spring for suspension that spans the width of the trailer (basically hub to hub, welded to the axel).
The current wheels are two piece rims, which seem to be screwed together via a handful of bolts.
I tore into the hubs to inspect the innards and found that the bearing seats are integrated into the wheels. The outside of the wheel, towards the center, where the axel comes through, is heavy steel, and formed directly from the wheel, the inside seems to be a fitted machined piece (pressed into the wheel). General consensus is that the manufacturer of the wheel (unknown) probably had it this way to use the same manufacturing process for a variety of wheel/axel/bearing setups. On one wheel, the machined/pressed cup is loose (not broken free, just loose) causing a small, 0.125-0.25”, play or “wobble” in the wheel with proper adjustment (you can’t adjust that play out at all).
On top of that, the bearings need replaced, as do the seals. I cleaned the bearing buddies (caked with a mixture of relatively new grease and some old hard stuff); the spring on one is still a little “sticky”, but I’m hoping it will work better once it’s back on with fresh grease.
Anyway, the bottom line is that at least one wheel and bearings for both sides need to be replaced. And I need a spare.
Well, while I was inspecting, tearing apart, and reassembling, I was also measuring and drawing a schematic as I knew finding replacement options was going to be a challenge. That’s where I’m stuck now:
So, I’m hoping to find 3 wheels with integrated bearing cups (2 replacements plus that illusive SPARE), or order a set of updated spindles with lugs AND 3 wheels. The problem I’m running into everywhere is that nothing is narrow enough from my existing spindle width:
Ok, from the outside going in, this is the setup:
Bearing buddy, cotter pin, castellated nut, keyed washer, outer bearing, inner bearing, keyed washer, grease seal.
The axel is 1”, having a threaded portion of 7/8”, the bearing-to-bearing distance 2 5/8” (outside distance from inner to outer bearing), with an overall spindle length of 4”.
I’ve read through nearly every thread about axels, spindles, hubs, bearings, and grease and have come up with the following products, that WON’T WORK (at least from the measurements, they don’t seem that they will):
Northern Tool:
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200442390_200442390
Not sure if this one would work, because there are not width specs for the hub, nor could their customer service provide any information about it.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200466886_200466886
Here’s another option, but a customer asked the question “What spindle length is required” and got the answer, “The length of this Ultra-Tow hub is 4-1/4 inches without the dust cap and 5-5/8 inches with the dust cap”. So I’m thinking this 4-1/4” hub won’t fit on my 4” spindle.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_48405_48405
These are the type of wheels I need if I don’t change the hubs, these won’t work of course as they’re 4.125” wide.
Trailer Parts Depot:
https://trailerpartsdepot.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=0002&eq=&Tp=
Won’t work: hub length equals 4.125”.
Other thoughts:
I’m in the market for a better trailer (preferably something with at least 13” wheels), but that’s not in the budget right now. At best, I’m looking for that Craigslist gem at an ultra low price, and hope to be the first mouse to the cheese.
Back to reality…so, I need a way to safely tow my boat on the existing trailer, with a way to change a tire in case of a flat.
To top it off, the next fishin’ trip is in a week…hope to have this wrapped up by then. If not, new bearings, grease, and crossed fingers for 300 miles.
I’m open to any and all ideas.
I’ve done my research in the forums here, online, talked to dad, and had grandpa give the situation a once over. Now it’s time open the can of worms and toss the situation/problems at the trailer forum:
Background:
Through the collective wisdom of the TB community, I’ve been able to prioritize my boat goals into a logical order. Given the craft/trailer I bought a few years ago, the following projects need to be addressed: 1) Trailer – hubs, wheels, winch, 2) Boat – shade canopy/Bimini top, 3) Boat – pedestal padded seats. Now, these are the big things, of course there are a few minor projects that can easily fit in between. As we all know, sometimes it’s hard to add money to the boat fund, and it’s pretty easy to take from it to pay for something else that comes up. But I’ve wandered into a situation where I’ll have a couple a hundred bucks to put toward the first and most important project…the trailer.
The problem:
Well, there are several that stem from it being a 1963 “home-built” trailer. The issue at hand is that my regular fishing romps are about 125 miles (one way) from home. So, keeping up on trailer maintenance and avoiding a breakdown is key priority.
As it stands, I don’t have a spare (desperately need one of those), and my current wheels/hubs/bearings/etc. are in need of replacement. The decision here is how to make the best of what I already have, given my budget for this project.
So, the trailer: Like I said, 1963, homebuilt, with an oddball leaf spring for suspension that spans the width of the trailer (basically hub to hub, welded to the axel).
The current wheels are two piece rims, which seem to be screwed together via a handful of bolts.
I tore into the hubs to inspect the innards and found that the bearing seats are integrated into the wheels. The outside of the wheel, towards the center, where the axel comes through, is heavy steel, and formed directly from the wheel, the inside seems to be a fitted machined piece (pressed into the wheel). General consensus is that the manufacturer of the wheel (unknown) probably had it this way to use the same manufacturing process for a variety of wheel/axel/bearing setups. On one wheel, the machined/pressed cup is loose (not broken free, just loose) causing a small, 0.125-0.25”, play or “wobble” in the wheel with proper adjustment (you can’t adjust that play out at all).
On top of that, the bearings need replaced, as do the seals. I cleaned the bearing buddies (caked with a mixture of relatively new grease and some old hard stuff); the spring on one is still a little “sticky”, but I’m hoping it will work better once it’s back on with fresh grease.
Anyway, the bottom line is that at least one wheel and bearings for both sides need to be replaced. And I need a spare.
Well, while I was inspecting, tearing apart, and reassembling, I was also measuring and drawing a schematic as I knew finding replacement options was going to be a challenge. That’s where I’m stuck now:
So, I’m hoping to find 3 wheels with integrated bearing cups (2 replacements plus that illusive SPARE), or order a set of updated spindles with lugs AND 3 wheels. The problem I’m running into everywhere is that nothing is narrow enough from my existing spindle width:
Ok, from the outside going in, this is the setup:
Bearing buddy, cotter pin, castellated nut, keyed washer, outer bearing, inner bearing, keyed washer, grease seal.
The axel is 1”, having a threaded portion of 7/8”, the bearing-to-bearing distance 2 5/8” (outside distance from inner to outer bearing), with an overall spindle length of 4”.
I’ve read through nearly every thread about axels, spindles, hubs, bearings, and grease and have come up with the following products, that WON’T WORK (at least from the measurements, they don’t seem that they will):
Northern Tool:
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200442390_200442390
Not sure if this one would work, because there are not width specs for the hub, nor could their customer service provide any information about it.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200466886_200466886
Here’s another option, but a customer asked the question “What spindle length is required” and got the answer, “The length of this Ultra-Tow hub is 4-1/4 inches without the dust cap and 5-5/8 inches with the dust cap”. So I’m thinking this 4-1/4” hub won’t fit on my 4” spindle.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_48405_48405
These are the type of wheels I need if I don’t change the hubs, these won’t work of course as they’re 4.125” wide.
Trailer Parts Depot:
https://trailerpartsdepot.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=0002&eq=&Tp=
Won’t work: hub length equals 4.125”.
Other thoughts:
I’m in the market for a better trailer (preferably something with at least 13” wheels), but that’s not in the budget right now. At best, I’m looking for that Craigslist gem at an ultra low price, and hope to be the first mouse to the cheese.
Back to reality…so, I need a way to safely tow my boat on the existing trailer, with a way to change a tire in case of a flat.
To top it off, the next fishin’ trip is in a week…hope to have this wrapped up by then. If not, new bearings, grease, and crossed fingers for 300 miles.
I’m open to any and all ideas.
