Bearing savers

[floater]

Originally Posted by sparkey

On my last boat I went through 2 sets of bearings every year.
I then fitted a set of bearing savers and got 2 seasons out of a set of bearings.
I found the secret of fitting them is to put them into the deep freeze for 24 hours before trying to fit them. The cold contracted them enough to only require a light tap of the rubber hammer to fully install same.
Don’t refill same with grease for a further 4 hours until the bearing savers have defrosted and expanded to make a tight fit.
Have them fitted on my current boat now for one season (Launching and recovering most weekends from April to October ) and have just serviced the trailer for the coming year and found the old bearings perfect

Thats a top tip !!

i just wish i'd used my Head but as usual just rushed in

and as I only got round to fitting 1 last night the others going in the freezer

or in the garden as its under 3" of snow at the moment

Thanks Andy

[Nasher]

I've looked into discs quite hard in the past, but can't find a way to make them auto reversing which we need in the UK to be legal.

I'm probably wrong but I think hydraulic trailer brakes are not strictly legal in the UK anyway so have looked at cable operated discs.

They are available in most other markets even in europe, but our auto reverse regulations mean they are not an easy option here.

I'll come up with something one day.

Nasher.

[Cypman]

Hi Nasher

My brakes do not have an 'automatic' reversing capability, you have to move a little lever !! The trailer is CE approved but if UK requires auto reverse then it would appear not to be suitable .

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Cypman

Hi Nasher

My brakes do not have an 'automatic' reversing capability, you have to move a little lever !! The trailer is CE approved but if UK requires auto reverse then it would appear not to be suitable .

Surely CE means UK too ? I remember older caravan and trailer hitches used to have a flip over spacer for reversing ? Why is this illegal now?

[Nasher]

The flip over lever used to be the way to go, somebody might correct me, but my understanding is that any trailers built in the last 20 years or so are supposed to be auto reverse.

Can't even remember where/when I was told.
Be interested to hear if I'm wrong.

Nasher.

[nik]

I've looked into discs quite hard in the past, but can't find a way to make them auto reversing which we need in the UK to be legal

I have thought about this. If the brake pad carriers are held in a tapered holder, then, as you reverse, the pads start to bite, the disc rotation lifts the pads to a wider part of the taper thus releasing the pressure on the discs and allowing the wheels to rotate.

Nick.

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by nik

I have thought about this. If the brake pad carriers are held in a tapered holder, then, as you reverse, the pads start to bite, the disc rotation lifts the pads to a wider part of the taper thus releasing the pressure on the discs and allowing the wheels to rotate.

Nick.

I think I get you Nick, but wouldnt the pressure from the applied brakes via the drawbar whilst reversing be greater than the force to push them off ??

[nik]

Depends on the angle of the taper.

Shallow taper = hard to shift

deep taper? = easy to lift out

It will also be dependent on the materiels used on the mating surfaces that will slide apart. I am not suggesting these materials, but, brass surfaces will slide readily, as will cast iron, but steel, less readily.