help for 1960 little dude trailer bearings?

[andycoe2]

New to site, first post! Bought a 60 Glaspar marathon 14 ft. on original Little Dude trailer, project. Working on boat & engine (all new to me). Want to take boat from AZ to CA this summer to leave there with other boat. Figured I better check/repack bearings (again, new to me). Boat towed home fine (short, 10 mi), took wheels & bearings off, looked fine, grease light but ok, but they're real ball bearings-New Departure stamped on outside. Seal stamped National. Knowledgeable friend had already told me to just replace bearings & seals-cheap. Problem is, I cant find anybody that can match up w/replacements. Spindles look good. Any options? Have to travel over 800 miles, once there, hardly any. Help!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: help for 1960 little dude trailer bearings?

Around here I would take them the bearing and seals to a industrial bearing supply store and let them match they up or in some places a auto supply can do it for you or a trailer supply place.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: help for 1960 little dude trailer bearings?

My trailer had weird bearings. I bought a new complete axle/hub assembly at Tractor Supply for around $150 and now I don't have that problem anymore

 

[andycoe2]

Re: help for 1960 little dude trailer bearings?

Around here I would take them the bearing and seals to a industrial bearing supply store and let them match they up or in some places a auto supply can do it for you or a trailer supply place.

Thanks! You're correct, took to NAPA today, they had the bearing match! Only problem, the matched bearings are about $300-400 set for everything...paid $800 for boat/trailer/motor. Will keep searching, may have found a place to inspect the thing...not sure they're bad, don't know enough to be sure. Anybody has source/info on how to check?
Thx again.

 

[orbanp]

Re: help for 1960 little dude trailer bearings?

Most probably they are tapered roller bearings. The rollers and the inner and outer races where the rollers are rolling should be preferably shiny (dull is OK too), but they should be smooth, and there should not be any pitting or corrosion on the surfaces.
Do take the bearings to a bearing place, not to a generic car parts place, at the bearing place it should be cheaper.

Good luck, Peter

 

[andycoe2]

Re: help for 1960 little dude trailer bearings?

Thanks. Really cleaned both sets...found some serious pitting. Given a bearing/trailer specialst name locally. My trailer actually doesn't have what I would consider a regular axle (?) Spindle arrangement bolts onto flat plate attached to axle (?) that spans trailer. Whole thing comes off after removing 4 bolts/nuts. Seems like I might be able to replace whole thing on each wheel-spindle/bearings/lugs if I can find fit to trailer/wheels. Checking out this weekend. Saw some on ebay for around $100.
Good thing becuz I'm about to dynamite the flywheel on 1960 Johnson OB trying to get it off! Yes, I've read threads, trying to be patient...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: help for 1960 little dude trailer bearings?

Saw some on ebay for around $100.

That's getting too close to the price of a whole new axle.