strange bearing problem

[whosmatt]

i replaced the bearings on one hub of my trailer because they were making noise and running a bit hotter than the other hub (i tried just re-packing them first). now i have a very strange problem. i put the hub back on the axle, and tighened the castle nut down and spun the hub to 'pre load' the bearings and then backed the castle nut off until the hub spins freely but doesn't wobble. all seems fine, then i put my dust cap on and the hub binds. it does not spin freely at all. as soon as i remove the dust cap (actually a bearing buddy) the wheel spins freely again. i tried towing the trailer a few miles and the hub gets hot at the front (the outer bearing).<br /><br />i don't think the dust cap is binding against the nut or the cotter pin, and i can't imagine how it could be causing friction otherwise since it rotates with the hub.<br /><br />i plan to order a spare tire for my trailer soon and i think i will order a new hub w/ bearings (since the price of a hub is about 8 or 9 dollars more than just the bearings and it will be nice to have a spare. any ideas as to what could be causing this problem in the mean time?<br /><br />thanks<br /><br />matt

 

[DJ]

Re: strange bearing problem

whosmatt,<br /><br />When you replaced the bearings, did you also replace the races?<br /><br />You have a clearance issue. The seating surface of the bearing buddy is touching the bearing cage or inner race.<br /><br />If you did repalce the races, I would suspect you did not get it seated all the way.

 

[whosmatt]

Re: strange bearing problem

hi,<br /><br />yes, i did replace the races. thought i had them seated well. i will pull the hub and re-seat them. does anyone have a recommendation for seating the races without damaging them? will a block of hard wood do the trick?<br /><br />also is is advisable or possible for me to remove my new rear seal without having to replace it?<br /><br />thanks<br />matt

 

[DJ]

Re: strange bearing problem

whosmat,<br /><br />Usually a brass drift works the best. You can use a steel punch with a flat point if you're careful.<br /><br />You really should replace the seal, whenever it is disturbed.

 

[whosmatt]

Re: strange bearing problem

ok, i figured it out. after pulling the hub, seating the races (which were already seated according to my calculations) and putting it all back together after having purchase a new set of bearings just for the new seal, it STILL had the same problem. so i had the bright idea of putting the old dust cap back on, and it is all good now. i looked very closely at the bearing buddies (actually the redeye bearing protectors from wal mart) and it looks like the metal lip that goes inside the hub was too thick, the inside was contacting something in there.<br /><br />so i pulled the bearing protector from the other hub and replaced it with the original dust cap. of course, i will now have to replace the seal on that side as the pressure from the bearing protector caused the seal to leak grease. but that's a project for another day.<br /><br />fyi the jack handle from my honda's jack made a perfect tool to seat the races, as it is made of a metal much softer than the races. maybe that can help someone out in a pinch.<br /><br />thanks for all the help<br /><br />matt

 

[DJ]

Re: strange bearing problem

whosmatt,<br /><br />There you go-GOOD JOB!!<br /><br />Great tip.

 

[A. Souphound]

Re: strange bearing problem

Seating bearing races: Suggestion:<br />I have always used the old race to seat the new one by inverting the old race and driving the race home with a hammer. When the race is completely driven home, the old race will come in contact with the recess in the hub and the new race will be flush with the hub surface. Always remember to wear safety glasses as you are striking a very hard steel with a hammer. <br /><br />Alvin

 

[whosmatt]

Re: strange bearing problem

yeah, that's how i did it at first too. but then i had the problem of getting the old race out without disturbing the new one

 

[A. Souphound]

Re: strange bearing problem

Whosmatt;<br />You lost me with your comment about damaging the new race while removing the old. I remove both of the old races (cups) before I install new ones. <br />Point contact while driving the race into the hub has a tendency to mis-align the race, to prevent this, I prefer to make as much contact with the back of the race as possible. Using the old race I get full contact, much the same as the proper tool does, and it also prevents nicks etc. from the edges of the inner seal groove surface. That is my rational for my suggestion. <br /><br />Happy Boating,<br />Alvin

 

[whosmatt]

Re: strange bearing problem

what i meant is in using the old race to seat the new one, i end up getting the old race stuck in the hub and then have to hammer it out from the back, which is hard to do without disturbing the new race. i guess i'm just not sure what you mean by seating the new races using the old race as a tool

 

[Scoop]

Re: strange bearing problem

Whosmatt, I also use the old race to pound in the new race. I pound the old race into the hub the same way it came out. Then I can see the flat edge of the old bearing (Where the writing is stamped)when I look through the back of the hub because the thick back of the old bearing race is next to the thinnest part of the new bearing race. I can get my long steel punch on the lip and use a hammer to punch it out that way. You will need a good punch to so you can pound on the old bearing since you will be pounding on the thin edge, but at that point it does not matter if you chip or gouge the old bearing. Safety glasses are a must although I rarely have chipped the old race.

 

[whosmatt]

Re: strange bearing problem

oh yeah, that definitely makes more sense.<br /><br />as an update, i towed my boat on a 4 hour (round trip) fishin mission last sat and the hubs were barely warm to the touch after a long haul at 70mph. so i guess i did a good job. <br /><br />this board rocks by the way. i'm sure i'll have more questions as the time wears on, i'm new to all of this; i bought a used boat, motor, and trailer about 2 months ago and i have done all the work myself to get it up and running, thanks to a service manual and people like the folks on this board.