Trailer repair assistance

[Williamsdad]

I am not the least bit mechanically inclined but I have pretty good reason to believe i need new bearings on a 15 ft. jonboat trailer purchased @ Shield's a couple of years ago. Any recommendations for such a thing?, any idea how much it should cost?

Thanks for any leads.

Got a few fish early Sunday off Shell Point. Early means from just before 7:00-8:00, not a whole lot after that. Variety included a red, Spanish and Blue, all on top.

Trailer wheel was making a lot of racket, but thankfully made it home. Next trip in jeopardy.

[JeffB]

Used these folks on my trailer. Very nice folks and did an outstanding job.

http://coastaltrailerandhitch.com/

[DixieReb]

Good luck with your trailer, bearings are not to be taken lightly. I caught some fish at SGI Friday eve. right after dark. I think the water is still too hot for most fish, I didn't catch anything but some junk fish during the day.

[Steve Stinson]

Will Thompson from this forum owns Capital City Trailers and can be reached at 942-2600. He has fixed a couple of my rigs and always done a good job. They are located on Crawfordville Hwy inside (North) of Capital Circle.

If you were getting a lot of heat or noise from your trailer wheels I would not pull your rig down there unless you are only a few blocks away. Better to jack it up and remove the leaf spring bolts, then haul the axle in for repair. Depending on the type leaf springs you have, you will only have to remove either 2 or 4 bolts.

- Steve Stinson

[Williamsdad]

Thanks Steve, I was just waiting for someone to bring up Will's name and contact info. He's done good work for us in the past, just wasn't sure they'd handle bearings.

This may sound crazy, but I bought a trailer that doesn't have leaf springs.

[Steve Stinson]

Hmmm,...Well, post a pic of what you have. I can pretty much take Anything apart!

[Williamsdad]

Have to check, pretty sure it'a a Road King. Don't think it has springs, or grease fittings. I made it home from Shell Point without issues. Pretty sure it will make it to S. Monroe. Appreciate all the help.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

JUST JACK UP THE AXLE, TAKE THE KOTTER PIN OUT OF THE AXLE NUT, SPRAY THE AXLE NUT WITH BLASTER, LET IT SET FOR AN HOUR AND THEN TAKE SOCKET WRENCH WITH A 18 INCH HANDLE AND TAKE THE NUT OFF THE AXLE, PULL THE WHEEL OFF, MAYBE STUCK, SPRAY BLASTER ON THE WHEEL AND AXLE, LET IT SET FOR AN HOUR OR SO, USE RUBBER MALLET TO DRIVE WHEEL OFF THE AXLE. TAKE THE BEARING DOWN TO WALLY MART AND GET A SET OF BEARING, COME BACK HOME , TAKE WIRE BRUSH AND CLEAN THE AXLE OFF AND APPLY GREASE ON THE AXLE AND THE BEARINGS SLIDE THE BEARING INTO THE RACE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN STRAIGHT ON THE WHEEL. TAKE MALLET AND TAP THE WHEEL WITH BEARING AND SEALS BACK ON THE AXLE, PUSH GREASE INTO THE WHEEL UNTIL IT IS FULL, APPLY OUTER BEARING AND TIGHTEN THE AXLE NUT TO 80 # PRESSURE WITH THE SOCKET WRENCH, PUT IN NEW KOTTER PIN AND SPREAD THE PIN SO IT WILL STAY IN THE AXLE NUT, REPLACE THE OUTER HUB CAP AND YOU ARE READY TO GO.
BY DOING THIS IT WILL COST LESS THAN $20 IF YOU DO THE WORK.
PA
SEMPER FI

[randymullaly]

If you don't want to rebuild the existing hub, run down to West Marine or Academy Sports and pick up a replacement hub manufactured by C.E. Smith. Slides right back on the spindle and you are back up and running. Total cost is $35-$40. Any questions, watch a youtube video. Theres a thousand of them on line. Two tips: When you put the new hub on, make sure the spindle is clean (gas on a rag is fine) and DONT over tighten the spindle nut. Make sure the wheel spins freely while the trailer is up on the jack. Also, not a bad idea to keep a spare in the truck or on the boat in case you smoke a bearing half way home one day. If you pull your boat long enough, it will happen!

[Williamsdad]

Thanks for all the advice guys, working on it. Steve, PM sent.

[bass3769]

JUST JACK UP THE AXLE, TAKE THE KOTTER PIN OUT OF THE AXLE NUT, SPRAY THE AXLE NUT WITH BLASTER, LET IT SET FOR AN HOUR AND THEN TAKE SOCKET WRENCH WITH A 18 INCH HANDLE AND TAKE THE NUT OFF THE AXLE, PULL THE WHEEL OFF, MAYBE STUCK, SPRAY BLASTER ON THE WHEEL AND AXLE, LET IT SET FOR AN HOUR OR SO, USE RUBBER MALLET TO DRIVE WHEEL OFF THE AXLE. TAKE THE BEARING DOWN TO WALLY MART AND GET A SET OF BEARING, COME BACK HOME , TAKE WIRE BRUSH AND CLEAN THE AXLE OFF AND APPLY GREASE ON THE AXLE AND THE BEARINGS SLIDE THE BEARING INTO THE RACE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN STRAIGHT ON THE WHEEL. TAKE MALLET AND TAP THE WHEEL WITH BEARING AND SEALS BACK ON THE AXLE, PUSH GREASE INTO THE WHEEL UNTIL IT IS FULL, APPLY OUTER BEARING AND TIGHTEN THE AXLE NUT TO 80 # PRESSURE WITH THE SOCKET WRENCH, PUT IN NEW KOTTER PIN AND SPREAD THE PIN SO IT WILL STAY IN THE AXLE NUT, REPLACE THE OUTER HUB CAP AND YOU ARE READY TO GO.
BY DOING THIS IT WILL COST LESS THAN $20 IF YOU DO THE WORK.
PA
SEMPER FI

Don't know about these instructions, sounds abusive to me, i have never had to use a mallet to install or remove a hub assembly and torquing the castle nut to 80# seams excessive. too tight and it will burn up the new bearings.

[bass3769]

here are some good instructions.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wheelbearingpack.aspx

[SS-342]

Find a farmer friend and ask him to help. We (farmers) know a lot about changing bearings.

[Welby]

Get this, I'm a Certified Bearing Specialist ! I'll bet y'all didn't know there was such a thing did ya. I don't get to boast about that very often, I thought I'd jump at the opportunity. I've been in that business about 27 years. It is a pretty simple do it yourself job (messy), however having it do by a professional could last a LOT longer. It's all about getting it tight enough but not to tight to get a long life out of them. That's where experience makes the difference. I do love those complete replacement hub and bearing assemblies. A real life saver if you end up having to do this on the side of the road. Cheap insurance if you ask me.

[Williamsdad]

Thanks to everyone. I still don't know much about bearings, but now i know a lot more than I ever thought I needed to know. Jump to "the rest of the story". Will Thompson, a.k.a Lee's Trailers, a.k.a. Capital City Trailers has it, and is rebuilding it into a trailer with springs, amd conventional parts. Seems I had a torsion axle, and sealed bearings (not your normal ones). Even with all the help, I would have been stuck right from the giddyup, even if i figured out how to get the cap off.

So glad I decided to value my own time more than the $$. Hope to be back at it soon. In the meantime, Luc has some much needed time off, and I'll be riding with him for a while. Slightly better ride anyway, and not bad company!