In preparation for the new season I disassembled and inspected my trailer bearings. Unfortunately, after only one season (new and fully packed with premium marine grease last year) here is what I found (bad dog!!!). I found entire replacement hubs with bearings and seals on etrailer for $ 17.49:

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hubs-and-Drums/etrailer/AKIHUB-440-2-1K.html

The hubs were delivered in three days and installed without argument = VERY CHEAP insurance!



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Hobie 16 (3 formerly)
MacGregor 25 (formerly)
Chrysler Dagger 14 (formerly)
NACRA 5.0 (currently)
High Point, NC
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good call !
i just updated my entire axel and hubs this year too on my main trailer

sure beats losing a wheel while on the road

MN3

sure beats losing a wheel while on the road

Nothing will buzz kill a weekend of sailing faster than a broken down trailer!!!

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Hobie 16 (3 formerly)
MacGregor 25 (formerly)
Chrysler Dagger 14 (formerly)
NACRA 5.0 (currently)
High Point, NC
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Have you considered Bearing Buddies?

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Sheet In!
Bob
_/)_____/)_/)____/)____/)_____/)/)__________/)__
Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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klozhald

Have you considered Bearing Buddies?

Have run Bearing Buddies for years and they work quite well. I now use the knock off version from Harbor Freight as they are about a third the price and I can't tell the difference:

http://www.harborfreight.com/198-inch-wheel-bearing-protectors-1-pair-97166.html

The premature failure I experienced was a result of the seal leaking not lack of grease.

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Hobie 16 (3 formerly)
MacGregor 25 (formerly)
Chrysler Dagger 14 (formerly)
NACRA 5.0 (currently)
High Point, NC
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Last fall I inspected my bearings and found them in the same trashed condition as yours - after installing not-cheap Timken bearings just two seasons ago.

I found a Westernprime complete kit with bearings & seals for $20 on Amazon. They're chinese (IIRC) but I decided for that amount I would just replace them once a season. Also using marine grease and the Reese "bearing buddies" which are very nice for $10 shipped on Amazon.

Just another question
If you are running at 60 plus MPH
How fast do you think a 8 or 12 inch tire is traveling in comparison
I have seen sailors travel hundreds of miles and back down a boat ramp into the water to unload the boat without letting the bearing cool down.
Would that cause harm to the bearing

Just another question
If you are running at 60 plus MPH
How fast do you think a 8 or 12 inch tire is traveling in comparison
I have seen sailors travel hundreds of miles and back down a boat ramp into the water to unload the boat without letting the bearing cool down.
Would that cause harm to the bearing

Quote

How fast do you think a 8 or 12 inch tire is traveling in comparison

It is appx 83%, that is if an 8" rim travels 100 revolutions, a 12" rim will travel only 83. This is based on a tire having a 4" sidewall.
These numbers vary somewhat, depending on the actual tire mounted on the rim. If 2 different tires are mounted on identical sized rims, the tire with a higher sidewall will result in a larger total diameter wheel, & a slower rate of rotation.

Quote

Would that cause harm to the bearing

I have heard that immersing a warm bearing into relatively cool water results in the airspace in the hub cooling, which creates a slight bit of vacumn, which might then draw water into the hub. I'm not sure waiting gives much benefit. Good clean bearings don't really get hot, I have often stopped & felt the dust covers, they barely feel "warm", let alone "hot". If the air temp is in the 90's, & water only 80, you would still have a differential, even if you let them cool for an hour.
I think good seals, & servicing them every year is more effective.



Edited by Edchris177 on May 04, 2017 - 06:02 PM.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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I love this place...

I always find more crap i gotta do, like tear down the bearings for a check and re-lube.

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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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Just my 2 cents
Both my motorboat and my cat trailer have bearing buddies. Cat has 8" rims and motorboat 12".
I check them and repack them every season.
I do not slow down much from normal driving when I tow. I drive 65 mph or more. I am good about checking them for heat, but haven't run into an issue in years. When I did run into an issue, it was because I hadn't maintained them, nor did I use bearing buddies. Thus, why I do maintain them every year, now.
I don't let them cool down when I launch and I am 95% in salt water.
I say, check them every season, put the bearing buddies on and every now and then check them for heat when traveling and you will be fine.
Just saying!

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Supercat 15
Windrider 17
Several Sunfish and Sunfish clones
Ratboat built from Zuma and Sunfish parts
Shallow water sailor in the Delaware Bay
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