Bearings

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stauter99

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 20, 2003
Messages
130
I have a small galv. trailer that my 14' wooden skiff sits on. I need to replace the bearings but I dont know what size to get. Can someone help me. The tires are 14 or 14 inch I think. It is a magic trail. Thanks
 
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ED21

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Aug 26, 2003
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829
Re: Bearings

The best thing is to remove the existing bearings & take them to the store to get replacements.
 
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stauter99

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 20, 2003
Messages
130
Re: Bearings

This may sound dumb, but I have never done this before. How do I remove them. They are very rusty.<br />Thanks for your help.
 
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ED21

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 26, 2003
Messages
829
Re: Bearings

It's good that you are figuring out the trailer bearings before the season starts. A little maintanence now goes a long way to make your trailering & boating experince fun. Those links are good info.
 
rickdb1boat

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: Bearings

And once you have the bearing in, get yourself some Buddy Bearing.<br /><br /> Buddy Bearings <br /><br />Make sure they come with the cover cap. Worth every penny!
 
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stauter99

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 20, 2003
Messages
130
Re: Bearings

Thanks, I will do it this weekned after I read up. Thanks again!
 
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jsfinn

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Nov 26, 2003
Messages
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Re: Bearings

I put bearing buddies on last season but I was unclear about one thing - do you fill them till grease starts coming out of the overfill hole?
 
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stauter99

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jan 20, 2003
Messages
130
Re: Bearings

What all should I buy to do a complete bearing job? Also what tools do I need?
 
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jsfinn

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Nov 26, 2003
Messages
1,093
Re: Bearings

New bearings (if you're replacing them), bearing buddies that fit on your hubs. Marine grade bearing grease. A grease gun to fill the bearing buddies and some new cotter pins.<br /><br />Really the only tools you'll need is some channel lock plier (or something close to that) to pull off the cotter pin and the nut and a hammer and block of wood to put on the bearing buddies. You'll need a way to jack up the trailer to get the tire off the ground (anchor down the trailer - keep it connected to your truck if you can).<br /><br />Other people will disagree with this, but I think the easiest way to pack the bearing with new grease is to put it in a ziplock bag with a big goop of grease and rub squish it all around.<br /><br />Get some heavy duty hand cleaner also..you're going to get greasy.
 
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stauter99

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 20, 2003
Messages
130
Re: Bearings

Alright. I am ready to buy everything but I need to know what size bearing kit to get. At boatersworld.com they have size 1, 1 1/16, 1 1/4 etc. This is a very small galvenized trailer fro a 14 boat. I think it has 12" tires. Thanks Again, yall have been great! Also, What size BEaring Buddies shoudl I get there are three sizes?
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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70,840
Re: Bearings

stauter99,<br />The Only Way to Know for Sure,<br />Is to Pull it apart, Clean up the take-out parts,<br />And Buy your new ones by Part Number..........<br />The Bearings,+ Seals will have the Number On them......<br />Same for the bearing buddies, Measure the hub where the buddy rides....
 
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stauter99

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jan 20, 2003
Messages
130
Re: Bearings

Thanks Bondo. But The boat is over at my bay house and I want to do the job this weekend. I dont think I will ahve tiem to clean em out and get enw ones this weekend, but If I could pick some up this week I could do it theis week and get it done. I am only 16 and I need some advice. I think I can just assume theyre size 1(inch?) at Boatersworld.com? Thanks
 
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jsfinn

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Nov 26, 2003
Messages
1,093
Re: Bearings

Maybe you should buy 'em both and return the ones you don't need??
 
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gss036

Commander
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Jan 18, 2003
Messages
2,914
Re: Bearings

If you have never done the job before, make sure you put in new RACE CUPS for the bearing, they come in a set. Make sure you put them back together they way they came apart and not backwards. Preload the bearings by tightening the nut to about 15-20 ft lbs, spin the hub a few times and loosen and retighten to finger tight. A little bit loose is better than a little too tight.<br />Bearing buddies are great, but be carful not to overfill as they will squeeze the grease out the rear seals and make a mess, especially if you have brakes on a trailer, I speak from experience on this one,HA! Been there and done that.
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Messages
70,840
Re: Bearings

I Understand your Delema stauter99,<br />But Life is Never that Simple....... :D <br />As much as these Parts Houses Want you to believe there are Only 3 sizes of Bearings used in trailers, <br />It Just Isn't True.......<br />I'm Betting you'll end up with the Wrong Size......<br />Good Luck..... 'cause that's what it'll Be.....<br /><br />If you do a Search for ThomWV, He wrote a Great Post about How To Service Trailer Bearings a couple of months ago.......
 
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Jwill

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 3, 2003
Messages
134
Re: Bearings

Wal Mart has bearings for boat trailers located on their marine wall.<br />I think they have two different sizes. I think their about $12 a side which includes the bearings, race and seal. You shouldn't have any problem taking back the extra set. Having a spare bearing set isn't a bad idea to carry just in case a side goes out.
 
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JasonB

Lieutenant
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Messages
1,455
Re: Bearings

Most small trailers I've tinkered with (<2000lbs) use 1" bearings, but you will need to pull them to be sure. Could be 1 1/16".
 
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