Replacing keel roller on bunk trailer

[MartyTn]

Hi All, I need to replace a broken keel roller. I have the new roller and shaft w/ends, so now I just need some advice from someone who's actually done it. Is it easier to try to get those rusty ends off (one is a slide-on, and the other is a cap) or to just hold the end of the shaft with vice grips and use a saws-all to cut the shaft??<br /><br />Many thanks,<br /> Marty

 

[gsbodine]

Re: Replacing keel roller on bunk trailer

I tried futilely for an hour to get the nuts freed after soaking with pb blaster or whatever before getting the hacksaw. <br /><br />My vote's for the saw, especially since you've got an electric one it seems.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Replacing keel roller on bunk trailer

Hack Saw, don't even mess with the old one, just cut it off. Sometime you can stand there and beat on those old caps for hours and not budge them. By the way, did you get a stainless shaft? If you do it won't use cap-nuts, it will use cotter keys - much nicer.<br /><br />Thom

 

[MartyTn]

Re: Replacing keel roller on bunk trailer

Thanks for the heads-up guys. My memory is dull, but I think I tried to get one cap off an old trailer many years ago and finally gave up and left it there with the bad roller...<br /><br />This time, for the new shaft I just got a standard shaft with end caps. It looks like it's galvanized?? I saw the others with cotter pins on the shelf but wasn't familiar with those and their usage - but I'll sure opt for those on the next roller replacement...<br /><br />Many thanks for your help,<br /> Marty

 

[Solittle]

Re: Replacing keel roller on bunk trailer

I did this to my trailer last week. I cut the heads off of the old bolts with a high speed grinder. I replaced the bolts with stainless steel & used lock nuts.

 

[snowshoe]

Re: Replacing keel roller on bunk trailer

I just added a keel roller to my 17' alum boat. I use a die to make threads on the shaft ends and secured the rollers with stainless locking nuts. The price for a 5/8th stainless rod 30" long (for 2 keel rollers) was too expensive. Maybe down the line I'll regret not doing stainless but for now it's just painted cold rolled rod. Those push on end caps didn't impress me at all.

 

[MartyTn]

Re: Replacing keel roller on bunk trailer

I replaced the roller last night and it took longer to get and replace tools and vacuum the shavings than it did to do the job. Cutting the shaft with the recip saw was definitely the way to go. Thanks guys. The hardest part was slamming that last end cap on. The lock nut idea is sure interesting. I wouldn't think a 1/2" or 5/8" dye would be all that expensive would it? Threading a cheapie rod with a good locknut sounds very interesting.......