Trailer Servicing

[Ian M]

Right-ho, starting to think about the dreaded trailer fettling over the winter, the main object being to check out and/or replace brake shoes etc, brake cables and wheel bearings.
The first obstacle that I can see is removing the bearing savers. Anyone any ideas? I've searched the forum, and a number of posts mention fitting savers using a lump of wood over the end and a decent sized hammer to fit them, but I don't think a lump of wood would work to get them out
Seems to me I might need a clamp to go around the body of the savers and some sort of puller (pusher?) to get them out of the hub Am I missing something, surely it cannot be that difficult??

[Nasher]

Ian

I just tap them sideways around the edge in several places to 'wiggle' them out.

Nasher.

[Into The Blue]

Ian,
agree with Nasher, lump hammer with a block of 2x2 to ease them out works a treat. Just tap them firmly one side then the other and they come out easily enough.
Getting them back in always seems to be a bit more difficult.
ITB

[jyasaki]

As Nasher and ITB said, tap side to side and top and bottom and they'll work their way out.

To re-insert them, hold them against the hub bore (lined up as much as possible), place the flat of a 2x4 against the Bearing Saver face, and whack with a hammer (or mallet).

FWIW, you can tighten the fit a bit (if required) by dimpling the mating surface of the saver in a few places with a center punch.

jky

[PeterM]

Ian , done this more times then I can recall on cars (and other trailers - not boat but exactly the same hubs etc. )

Am not working at the mo so if you want a hand anytime let me know.

Once underway it is simple stuff ( if a little fiddly at times....)

Pete

[Ian M]

Thanks for the replies guys. As hinted at, I am only in the 'thinking about it' stage at the moment. If I had needed to buy tooling I was looking to get that in plenty of time, but I think that even I can manage a decent lump of wood and something to hit it with!
The trailer seems to have a few more launches in it yet, so looking to do this after christmas (when it is cold and wet, snow on the ground, waifs and strays begging for scraps...............)

[Hightower]

If it helps you Ian, I'm on my second season (2.5years) without looking at the bearings at all. I do pump grease in there regularly and check free running of the wheels by jacking each wheel up and rotating it and rocking it in the attempt to find excessive end float/bearing wear.

Obviously I don't cover many miles when going to the slip way but neither do you either. I would however suggest a more invasive check if you're about to embark on a longer trip however.