Hub Races

nomoe99

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 14, 2003
Messages
31
I think I have a small problem.<br />Pulled hub after 1000 miles of use on an old trailer.<br />I packed bearings in March and all was OK.<br /><br />Yesterday I <br />Thought I would check them, and when I pulled the wheel, the outer race was very lose in the hub.<br />Tapped a new one in just now. It took several tapes to get it in. But, now it is lose and turn in stead of being seathed.<br />Is this cause for concern? should I do smoething else or will the bearing casue the race to hold and not turn?<br /><br />Any advice?<br /><br />jbd
 

Yepblaze

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 1, 2001
Messages
1,686
Re: Hub Races

Hubs are pretty cheap you could surely replace the whole hub with bearings for not too much dough if it is a standard size.<br /><br />Before setting the race into the hub take a sharp center punch and tap a few dimples around the mating area in the hub to somewhat raise the metal. Not too much but some. Also you might add green locktite to the operation.<br /><br /> Google up some parts online??
 

Cobotr

Seaman
Joined
Mar 26, 2003
Messages
69
Re: Hub Races

Outer bearing races should not turn inside the hub. Cure is to replace the hub assembly.
 

nomoe99

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 14, 2003
Messages
31
Re: Hub Races

I agree with you about new hubs and surely would like too!<br />But, the old trauler is home made and 40 years old.<br />The spindles on it are tapered with a large bearing inside and a much smaller bearing outside.<br />If I could find a new spindle/hub assembley for it, that would be 5 hole and 13 inch tires, I would get them. But i think I am in for some bad times ahead with this trailer. Maybe time for a new trailer.<br />The old boat is in great shape and I have a 1995 Merc 25 electric start on it.<br />JB
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: Hub Races

As Yepblaze said tap around the race seating area with a center punch then put some bearing mount on area and also inside the race and tap race on whould work as good as new.
 

BassMan283

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 26, 2002
Messages
277

Cobotr

Seaman
Joined
Mar 26, 2003
Messages
69
Re: Hub Races

Peening the hub is nothing more than a feel good temporary fix. Nearly half of the boats weight is on that bearing race. It won't take much of a bump or vibration to start to pound out those peens. I would agree if you were peening the hub area to hold a Bearing Buddy on better, but this is a load bearing surface.<br /><br />What you might consider if you really can't find new hubs, is to take the hub to a GOOD machine shop. Not a Pep Boys or Autozone, but an actual automotive machine shop. They can tell you what options you have to either convert over to standard hubs or to machine the parts necessary to accept a different size bearing or to weld and remachine the outer races' mating surface to accept the original sized bearings.
 

nomoe99

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 14, 2003
Messages
31
Re: Hub Races

First of all I would like to thank everyone for the great advice.<br />I just pulled the hub on the left side of the trailer.<br /> It was a little too tight, but all was OK with it. Have put new races, bearings, etc. in it.<br /><br />I think I will find a good machine shop in Oklahoma City or Norman and have the bad hub fixed by them in order to hold the race tight.<br /><br />Again, thanks for all the great advice.<br />I will take more if anyone has any!<br /><br />JBD
 

N4652E

Recruit
Joined
May 18, 2003
Messages
1
Re: Hub Races

JBD<br /><br />You might consider replacing the axle assembly with a standard axle/hub assembly with straight spindles. It may be much less costly than trying to repair an older unit. The axle is bolted on the springs with two U bolts. If you measure the distance between the springs and know the gross weight of the trailer, you can get a replacement unit with new hubs. A generic 72 inch (between springs) 2000lb axle with new hubs for 5 bolt wheels cost me $72 at the local trailer supply store. <br /><br />If you don't do that sort of thing yourself, I'm sure your local boat dealer or even the corner service station could change the four U bolts and put your wheels on in less than an hour.<br /><br />Good Luck<br /><br />Roger
 
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