Trailer rollers

[ricksi]

Lately it's been hard to get my boat on and off of trailer so today I took a look at the rollers. They look OK but are hard to turn. I focused my attention on the 2 rollers furthest back which are held by a pair of brackets. I assume they should freely turn on the shaft, however these are fused to the shaft. These particular rollers are Stoltz 12" keel rollers. Can I salvage the rollers and get new shafts or will it be impossible to remove the old shafts?

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Trailer rollers

If you can pound the shafts out and clean and lube them no reason you can't re-use. Personally I recomend converting to a bunk system instead of rollers, less to go wrong on a bunk set-up and much less maintenance you have to do.

Art

 

[ricksi]

Re: Trailer rollers

I'm not familiar with the bunk system and unfortunately I can't work on the trailer without the boat being on it. So it's probably best if I stick with what I've got. Tomorrow I'll try jacking the back up and removing the first set of rollers. The parts of the shaft extending out of the rollers look pretty bad but hopefully I can get them out and reuse the rollers, or it's going to be costly to replace them all. I use the boat in saltwater, so I'm surprised they haven't seized up sooner. If I get the shafts out, or if I'm forced to buy new ones, I think I'll go to a metal supplier and get a length of 5/8" stainless rod and cut it to make replacements. Even with stainless I'm sure crud will find its way in and impede them, but with non-stainless, I'm surprised they last more than a season.

 

[boaterinsd]

Re: Trailer rollers

What year & size boat are we talking about? How many axles is the trailer? I think you might if you were to lift the rear of it off and brace it, safely. I did on my 18 footer with out any issues.

 

[ricksi]

Re: Trailer rollers

The boat is an '84 19.6 ft Wellcraft that I completely rebuilt a couple of years ago; its heavy for its size. The trailer is galvanized steel with 2 axles. There are six 12", three 8", and eight guide Stoltz rollers. One concern I have is that the ramps I use are steep and the water is shallow. I have to deeply submerge the trailer and say a prayer each time I use my electric winch to pull it out. One of these days the cable or the eye is going to give and disfigure me.

 

[hozer]

Re: Trailer rollers

I just replaced my rollers with the yellow plastic ones. I replaced the shafts with stainless and they were cut to 13.25". I drilled holes in both ends for the cotter pins don't ust the cheap metal cap ends they are a royal pain to get on straight. The old rubber ones were dry rotted and cracked. I changed mine with the boat on the trailer. My trailer has adjustable brackets so I loosened up the nuts and slid the brackets down changed rollers and pins and used my floor jack to lift the brackets up just untill the rollers touched the boat.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trailer rollers

ricksi. If the brackets are bolted to the trailer, which many are to allow them to be adjusted, remove one set of rollers and brackets at a time. Mark the brackets position on the trailer before you remove it, that way you should be able to replace it in it's original poaition.

While looking for new rollers myself this spring I had come across a web site that offered roller axles that were drilled and fitted with grease fittings made from stainless. Though I can't remember which site. Maybe Overtons or here at the iboats store. I didn't buy them because they don't offer them for the smaller rollers which I have.

After seeing these roller axles I was wondering why it hasn't been done this way for a long time. Especially for trailers that see alot of saltwater. Sure would think that it would make the rollers and axles last must longer and roll much better.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trailer rollers

Did a quick search here in the Iboats store and guess what! Found more of them here including the size I need. Should take a look, may be just the ticket for your trailer.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Trailer rollers

I like the thought of those but leads me to wonder,

Years ago when my dad had a repair shop we were using anti-seize(petroleum based) to lube caliper slide pins. Many came back with stuck calipers. The cause was because of swollen rubber o-rings due to the fact that petroleum based products causes rubber to swell. I notice in the listing of the rods it states "allows rollers to be properly lubricated per manufacturer's recommendations".

I wonder how long it would take before the grease would swell the rollers enough to impair their function.

I wonder what grease they would recommend as I know the fix on the brakes is to use silicon grease but try finding that in tube to squirt through the zirks.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Trailer rollers

I wonder how long it would take before the grease would swell the rollers enough to impair their function.

Use thermoplastic or the Polyurethane rollers and you will have no problems with either one.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Trailer rollers

Good to know, I have a bunch of rollers to replace on my trailer and like the thought of easily being able to lube them.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trailer rollers

Also just my thinking on this but I think I would onlypump a couple of shots of grease into each one. Not trying to pack them just coat them. Could even do it after the boat is off and then give'm a spin after greasing.