wheels in the water....

[surftodd]

I just got a brand new tandem axle venture for my twenty footer... I must submerge the axles for the boat to go on/off the trailer. When launching the boat, the wheel steamed up as they entered the water...I then notice while driving the trailer around the parking lot to retrieve the boat, that the same wheel seemed to be catching and actually locking up momentarily. Did I warp the wheel assembly?? Are the new trailers suppose to be able to be submerged? When I got the boat on the trailer, all seemed o.k. I am just concerned if I should go back to the dealer about this problem...any ideas???

 

[roscoe]

Re: wheels in the water....

Yes you can and usually must submerge the wheels.<br /><br />The steam? indicates that something was wrong long before you backed it in. Neither the wheel, hub, or brake should ever be that hot. I would suspect that either the brake was hanging up, or the wheel bearing is shot, causing the area to heat up.<br /><br />If it was the brakes, then rotor or drum may have sustained additional damage, cracking or warping. If it was the bearing/spindle, water was probably sucked into the bearing by the vacume created by the rapid cooling.<br /><br />If it is brand new, is it under warranty?<br />I would go back to the dealer and tell them it failed and they should take a look at it. Have them inspect the bearing and spindle, and the entire brake system.

 

[Boatist]

Re: wheels in the water....

Surftodd<br />I agree with Roscoe unless you are running with one foot on the brake and one on the gas. What type of brakes do you have? After a long run in summer heat I can still hold my hand on all four of my hubs. Maybe they forgot to grease bearings or you have a master cylinder problem. If electric brakes could have a wireing problem.