Bearing/Hub protection.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Snap. I can't remove my stub axles but there are stainless sleeves available for using to reface a worn sealing surface. They are thin and designed to be push fitted and the seal is able to accomodate the extra thickness. One day...

Where can I get these stainless steel sleeves from the last time I took my drums off I scraped out mounds of grease that had slipped pass the seals.

Chris

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Chris

Where can I get these stainless steel sleeves from the last time I took my drums off I scraped out mounds of grease that had slipped pass the seals.

Chris

Chris, try your local bearing supplier. They have a name, which I'm fekked if I can remember, but if you tell them what they are for, I'm sure they'll know about them. The ones I've seen have a rim which assists in pushing them on and there is a special tool for cutting it off once they are in place. I've no doubt a properly sized piece of tube will see them on and I can think of lotsa ways of trimming the rim off.

I've not used them but I've seen them used on a large boat for refacing the propeller shaft surface. They do that annually and they appear to be able to withstand the constant immersion in salt water.

Edit; Here ya go.

[Chris]

http://www.acorn-ind.co.uk/products/product_home.htm

Speedi Sleeves

[ian parkes]

Speedy sleeve looks like it may work , then fit a double lip soft rubber seal and the hub has a chance .

Seems to me no one has ever really given boat trailer hubs much thought . For the sake of a few extra quid manufacturers could actually make something that was fit for purpose and more to the point roadworthy after the first seasons use .
It wouldn't take much to fit grease catchers in the back plates iether then overgreasing wouldn't effect the brakes . Enough car hubs have them .

The first trailer manufacturer that fits stainless stub axles and proper seals etc will clean up

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by ian parkes

It wouldn't take much to fit grease catchers in the back plates iether then overgreasing wouldn't effect the brakes . Enough car hubs have them .

I massively overgreased mine last year. The inside of the hubs looked like a bad day at a fudge factory (!). At least nothing had rusted but the brakes didn't look too healthy.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Biggles

I massively overgreased mine last year. The inside of the hubs looked like a bad day at a fudge factory (!). At least nothing had rusted but the brakes didn't look too healthy.

That'smy problem too, the brakes are screwed cause of grease contamination and a new set of shoes for the Indespension trailers are £85

Chris

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Chris

That'smy problem too, the brakes are screwed cause of grease contamination and a new set of shoes for the Indespension trailers are £85

Chris

Why not try & clean them in white spirit or something like it!

[Chris]

They are way past that Nick I have already sanded them down to get a few more miles out of them.

Thankfully my car has brakes that would stop an elephant so I dont really notice it. In fact when the brakes did work well they just snatched all the time and the wheels would lock up so theres part of me that thinks just leave 'em !

[Nos4r2]

Take them to a brake and clutch specialist and ask how much to reline them. It should be significantly cheaper than £85!

(if you google 'brake shoe relining' you'll get several come up)

[1up]

i've got bearing buddies on my trailer, which is now over 5 years old still on original bearings. it is a de graff trailer and they fitted the bearing buddies. I m sure if you call them he will supply them.

[ian parkes]

Originally Posted by Chris

They are way past that Nick I have already sanded them down to get a few more miles out of them.

Thankfully my car has brakes that would stop an elephant so I dont really notice it. In fact when the brakes did work well they just snatched all the time and the wheels would lock up so theres part of me that thinks just leave 'em !

I reckon a bit of grease on the linings will improve them

[yorfuoj]

everybody speaks of grease for bearings - but why not oil ?

Please have a look at any bearing data sheet, the max speed acceptable with oil is grease x 3 ...!

I did it on my own trailer 25 years ago, I built it 100%, and I used oil, nothing else.
This trailer is close to dead because of internal rust - even after having heat-tinned all when it was new, but inside ... - but the bearings are like new - I never added oil.

I modified several other trailers in the same way :
I added a thin sleeve made of brass (lathe work) to protect the rubber against rust, then I epoxy-glued it on the shaft.
2 holes into the hub (oil-in and oil-out), plus tight caps glued with Sikaflex.
Oil is Dexron 3, but any oil is ok.
Check twice the year for water, if any, replace the oil.

[Poly]

I have "oil bath" bearings on my trailer.