Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

[boatwaters]

I'm replacing the bearing for the wheels on my trailer (both the inner bearing and the outer bearings) and I have a question about the tightness of the adjusting nut. I have the 1-1/16" tapered spindle. One side is fine but the other side is either way too tight or loose enough for me to be able to move it with my fingers once the holes line up with the cotter pin. I know you are supposed to keep the nuts pretty loose but this seems to be too loose as I can just push the nut with my finger and have it move. It is kept in place though by the cotter pin. Also, in the loose position the wheel has no excess wobble or play so maybe it is fine like that. Just looking for some tips, thanks in advance.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

First of all make sure you tighten the nut to about 20 ft-lbs to seat the races.....then back off the nut until you feel play in the wheel when you grab the wheel at top & bottom....find the closest cotter pin hole and lock it. Lean on the side of loose,too tight will murder your bearings. If you have to use a wrench to line up the cotter pin you are too tight.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Ditto. I use a pair of channel lock (multiple notch slip joint) pliers and while spinning the wheel I put pressure on the nut and back off several times to ensure that the grease is dispersed and not affecting my adjustment. When I say pressure, I tighten till I feel resistance and stop. On the last cycle, I put pressure on it and back off till I find the first hole that will line up. If the hole is right where I stopped tightening (snugging), I back off to the next hole. Worked for me for 50 years.

HTH,

Mark

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Right with ^^^^ them on this. I spin the wheel as I tighten the nut. Then you can easily feel as it gets tight before I back off. I think it also helps spreads the grease evenly. I do the cycle a couple of times before always backing of the nut to drop in the cotter pin.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

too loose is ALWAYS better than too tight. You CAN add a washer to change the game and maybe get it closer to right.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Agree with all, and as bigdee said, when you are done make sure you have just a bit of play when you grab the top & bottom of the tire and shake it back and forth. Also, it's a good idea to pull over after the first couple of miles & put your hand on the hubs to make sure they're not heating up (warn is OK after a long haul, hot is bad).

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Good explanation here which is similar to what has previously been mentioned:

http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#pre-loadbearings

 

[Chriswalden]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Right on the money. The thing that Timken and Federal bearing companies like to say is your end adjustment should be between .020" - .050" hub end play with a dial indicator attached to the spindle.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Right on the money. The thing that Timken and Federal bearing companies like to say is your end adjustment should be between .020" - .050" hub end play with a dial indicator attached to the spindle.

Well sir I am not a machinist and don't happen to have a dial indicator, nor a marble slab upon which to use it, so I will have to stick with my tried and true method. Understandably the mfgr is going to spec the specs.

Mark

 

[etracer68]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Texas, I have done mine the same way you do for 40years, and never had any issues. I,m a Tool&Die/ Tool builder for 35+ years, and .02 to .05 seems to be way to much. .05 on that thread (1 1/16-12 would be over a half turn to loose.

 

[Allbutwet]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

I have never seen anyone use a dial indicator either. It is an aquired feel. If your worried about being to loose. Jack the tire off the ground enough to clear. Grab the tire top and bottom try to wiggle it up and down. If it does not move move in and out. And spins freely your ok.
My own method is to tighten while spinning until snug. Should stop wheel from sinnig. Back off nut 1/8 to 1/4. The find closet hole to put cotter pin in. It is not uncommen on single nut spindles to easily be able to turn the nut after setting the bearings. Anyhow thats my 2 cents.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

when I check em by feel, I always expect to feel a little end play..... best way I can describe it is feel it but not see it.... no end play at all means that when the bearing warms up it will be too tight.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Texas, I have done mine the same way you do for 40years, and never had any issues. I,m a Tool&Die/ Tool builder for 35+ years, and .02 to .05 seems to be way to much. .05 on that thread (1 1/16-12 would be over a half turn to loose.

Agree, the most I ever backed off was one notch on the lock cap (where the cotter pin goes) and that is less than 1/4 turn.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

It is an aquired feel.

Yes sir it is. Seems we take it for granted beins we have been doing it for so long...like a lot of other things that come to us after mechanicing for all these years. Course the guys that maintain this stuff for a living are head and shoulders above us but it's the same thing....the acquired feel.

Mark

 

[bigdee]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Yes sir it is. Seems we take it for granted beins we have been doing it for so long...like a lot of other things that come to us after mechanicing for all these years. Course the guys that maintain this stuff for a living are head and shoulders above us but it's the same thing....the acquired feel.

Mark

I could not agree more. If you do not feel any play you are on the edge of failure.....a little play is ALWAYS the failsafe method. The amount depends on the diameter of the tire. For a 14 to 15 inch tire 1/64" to 1/32" is what I shoot for.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Ok, at 12 threads per inch, (1/12=.0833), so one complete turn would be .0833. A 1/4 turn would be .02, a 1/8 turn would be .01 approx to the second place. 1/32= .031, and 1/64=.015. A tappered roller bearing generally is designed to run with some perload, depending on how its being used,and what type of lube, and with RPM in mind also. A everyday general wheel bearing, with wheel bearing grease, shouldnt be run with more then .02 or less then .005 end play. .005 would most likely be at the tight end, and .02 would be on the loose end. A loose bearing will fail also, because it will just beat itself until it fails. Tight bearing fail because of heat. With wheel bearing grease being used, and packed right will not feel like it has end play, but backing off some to the next slot, it will have minor end play.

Yes, I do agree its a feel thing. Spinning by hand, a 13" to 15" wheel, while snugging up the nut, and then backing off to the next slot, may still be tight. Not everyone has the same feel. If I set the bearing, and grab the wheel, and feel a slight rock, I may try one slot tighter. I always run my trailer for about ten miles on the first trip out, and stop and feel the hubs. If there warm to, I may back them off, if not, then leave them and check again at every time I stop for fuel, or longer runs.

I guess were kinda beating the sub to death, BUT all and ALL , ITS A FEEL, ACQUIRED

 

[boatwaters]

Re: Spindle nut too loose or too tight?

Wow, thanks for all the replies and advice on this one. I torqued it to 20'lbs while spinning the tire, backed off and found the closest line up hand tight. It basically ended in the same spot but I'm happy with it. I can still slightly move the adjusting nut with my fingers but I think it will be ok as it is an adjusting nut not a torquing nut and you can't move it past the cotter pin.