Trailer hub seal too deep?

[gunit1400]

Good evening folks. I got some new tires for the boat trailer today (Maxxis M8008 185-80/13), and while I had them off, I figured I would go ahead and inspect and repack the bearings, and replace the seal. Everything looked good, so I repacked the inner bearing and replaced the seal. While tapping the seal in, it went past flush with the surface of the hub. I thought about it a couple of minutes, then I decided to go ahead and finish putting it together. It is approx 1/8-3/16" inside the hub face. Do I need to take it back off and bring the seal back flush with the hub, or can I leave it like it is?

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trailer hub seal too deep?

As long as it is not interfering with the bearing it should be fine.

In my job we deal with washdown electric motors daily that are run 20-24 hrs a day, seven days a week until they become waterlogged or the bearings give out. Many times we will rebuild these and upon disassembly we will find that the shaft has become grooved from the seal. So what we will do is seat the seal deeper into the end bell so as to be off the groove and onto a flat smooth surface.

 

[gunit1400]

Re: Trailer hub seal too deep?

Thank you for the reply. I'm wrestling with myself trying to figure out if I should take it back off and drive the seal out flush. I put the other side in correctly, flush with the back of the hub. I imagine if I try to back it out some, I'll end up having to replace it, so I'll probably get another seal and hang on to it. If it gives me trouble, I'll pull it out and put another in.