I'm going to rant

PeterM · 31 March 2010, 18:07

In a moment of boredom today I thought I'd find out about getting the bearings done on the trailer for 'Streaker' my 4m Avon.

So on calling the local place ( who are usually very good) , found out its £16 a side for hub & bearings, and maybe £20 to fit them.

Great say I I'll bring it in next week . Final question - 'It is OK to leave the boat on the trailer ?' .....not really

!

I try & explain its a small boat, no weight etc .....

Nope cant do it with the boat in place .

HOW STUPID !

So I now will do it myself over the weekend , but as they aren't open on Friday to buy the hubs etc I cant do it then ! The plan was to whip off one side - nip up buy the 2 replacements , home and changed in an hour....... so it'll have to be Saturday .

My point is what do they expect me to do with the boat - leave it in the road infront of the house ?

Leave it in the river unattended

( and uninsured ! )

I'll go now ...........

Nos4r2 · 31 March 2010, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

In a moment of boredom today I thought I'd find out about getting the bearings done on the trailer for 'Streaker' my 4m Avon.

So on calling the local place ( who are usually very good) , found out its £16 a side for hub & bearings, and maybe £20 to fit them.

Great say I I'll bring it in next week . Final question - 'It is OK to leave the boat on the trailer ?' .....not really

!

I try & explain its a small boat, no weight etc .....

Nope cant do it with the boat in place .

HOW STUPID !

So I now will do it myself over the weekend , but as they aren't open on Friday to buy the hubs etc I cant do it then ! The plan was to whip off one side - nip up buy the 2 replacements , home and changed in an hour....... so it'll have to be Saturday .

My point is what do they expect me to do with the boat - leave it in the road infront of the house ?

Leave it in the river unattended

( and uninsured ! )

I'll go now ...........

What drugs are they on?!

ashbypower · 31 March 2010, 18:29

What!!

Mental. Bring it up to us we do trailers with boat on !!! Unless we are replacing an axle... but then we have the ability to put the boat on dollies !!!!

PeterM · 31 March 2010, 18:41

Thanks Brian , but I'm going to do it myself - if only to prove after too many years of not doing these things I dont mind getting my hands dirty & getting grease all over the house/ me / the cat/ wife/ kids / walls & maybe even a bit on the bearings if I am lucky.

It just drives me nuts when business say things like this . I know its easy- undo wheel buts, jack up axle ,undo main nut- pull off & put new one one. Why its not possible with 350kgs of boat on escapes me !

Would they ask me to remove the body of a caravan to do the same on that I wonder ?

Bigmuz7 · 31 March 2010, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

Would they ask me to remove the body of a caravan to do the same on that I wonder ?

Yes .. incase a fitter 'accidentally' torches it with his oxy-acetylene gear

... wooops ... there goes another one .. shame

ashbypower · 31 March 2010, 18:47

Absolutly Peter, its madness !!! dont forget if you do not have a press you'll need a brass drift to remove the outershell and a decent piece of hardwood to aide replacment... But gohead get yer hands dirty

and relish the fact that you can do it!! you will get satisfaction !!! and safe in the knowledge that you can do it in an emergency... Full report (with pictures) required

PeterM · 31 March 2010, 19:36

Well - I've already taken one side off. The bearing cases are clearly past thier best & I can feel the rough surface on both inner & outer bearings.

I'll buy the bearings already in the hubs (for £16 a side its not worth mucking around with & maybe even a spare hub & wheel/tyre too !) so no need for pressing the new bearings in . (At this point I reminise about changing bearings on my 1983 Escort in the lashing rain on a hill in Titchfield.....-the fronts were always real pain having to muck about with driveshafts

..).

I've got limited room to get the other side off ( as you can see in the pic its against one wall of the garage) and I dont have enough odd bits of wood to stick under the trailer properly.

Maybe if I can blag half an hour out of the office tomorrow I'll get it done Friday