Trailer help needed

Dani

Dani

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Well earlier this week I was headed out to do some morning hunting, as I was crossing the bridge from my house to get to the highway I started hearing some intermittent squealing.

hmmmm Can't turn around on the bridge. Get to the bottom and start heading home when it turns into full blown screaming and wailing. I'm wondering who's waking the dead. Anyway, I figure bearings. I take the slowest route (speed wise) home when I feel the bearings totally lock up and I start dragging instead of pulling the trailer, 10 blocks from home.

I call my dad at 3 am (he's not thrilled, but at least I'm close to home) for him to bring his trailer out to load my trailer on. Yup, the bearings are bad. Switch out trailers and boats when we get home, take out the bearings, seals and races and off hunting I go. Thank goodness for multiple boats.

Anyway, on the way home I stop at Schumann Casters and pick up four new bearings, races and two seals. The problem: THE BEARINGS ARE 50/1000's TOO SMALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a Harbor Freight trailer that I converted into a boat trailer to carry my little foamy boat around on. So...is there anyone who can help me out on the bearings or races and where I can look to get some new ones that fit? Or am I pretty much screwed with Harbor Freight and need to look for another trailer? If that's the case, I'm in the market for a boat trailer (preferably) for a 12 ft boat that has a flat bottom. Only thing is, I can't afford much. So bearings would be better for me. Thanks in advance for any help that can be given.

Dani
 
Dani,

I doubt harbor fright makes the axle spindles - they probably source them from someone - most trailer manufacturers do.

If you can find the manufacturer and or a part number on the spindle you can go to your local Napa dealer and they'll get you the right seals and bearings (as you discovered, they're not universal one-size-fits-all).

If that fails, you could measure the diameter of the spindle with a micrometer or calipers and take that to your local Napa store. They might be able to find you a good substitute.

The other thing to do (may be too late if you threw them out) is to clean up the trashed beatings and look for a part number on them. They're probably some common brand like Timken or SKF. They often have part numbers etched into the bearing housing and races - that'll help to source replacements.

Charlie
 
sounds like you have a metric trailer and they gave you the wrong bearings id try harbor frieght for the bearings or go to napa napa out here is fermilier with the harbor freight trailers and knows the bearing numbers that work that was my expieriance with my quad trailer good luck
 
I have a harbor freight local to me and would be glad to give them a call for you. As far as the bearings goes if that doesn't pan out, I use to work for INA USA and if you can find a part number I can have it referenced and MAYBE, can come up with a couple pair. Like said NAPA is an excellent source for bearings they usually carry timikens and INA bearings. What type trailer? size wheels ,bolt pattern, etc? If the trailer has a part number it would be great as they sometimes can't find their head.
 
Dani, I will also call my local HF and see what they say. It may very well be made in China as is 99% of what the sell. Metric may be the answer then.

Dave
 
Dani as Charlie said every bearing has a number on it. On one of the old bearings you should be able to find it. Finding the number on the old bearing is the easest way. With that number a parts man should be able to get you the bearings If not We have a store in Antigo Wis that only sells bearings. I have been in there when people have traveled two hundred miles to get a bearing that they had on the shelf.
 
Thanks y'all. We still do have a set of the bearings and we did find a part number on it. I'll check with Napa and see what they have, and my dad and I will measure the bearings again tomorrow sometime just to make sure the new ones match the old ones. I don't know who made them though, so that is a bit problematic I would think. But I'll see what happens. Thanks again

Dani
 
Dani:
I had the same problem discovered the bearings etc. were made in Mexico? For what ever that's worth.
wis boz
 
Take the bearings with you. The guys at the Napa store pulled the new ones out and lined them up with the old one to make sure they fit. Don't just look at the OUTSIDE diameter, make sure the INSIDE diameters match also.
 
Dani, the harbor freight carries the replacement bearings for the boat trailer they keep in stock now, however you need to verify the part number of your trailer. This number for the trailer they have now is 5002-0VGA it is manufactured by US general. As far as the bearings dimensions goes here's what I got when I called them~ the width is .650 the i.d. is .982 and the o.d. is 2.047. I cross referencd the dimensions at Napa (i use to work there) today when I went by, Myself and Dan the owner agreed that Napa part number BR80 is the replacement part you are looking for. The only difference in the two is the width, and that boils down to Napa having a better built bearing.
 
I'm going to put on a wig, change my name to Stevie, and pretend I'm a "damsel in distress".....I love it....I've seen the folks on this site offere "help" in the past but I can't recall ever seeing anyone actually track down part numbers on an obscure non-duck specific product in the past....

Dani, you're missing the perfect solution here.....post one of those animated avatar things of you fluttering your eyelashes and say, "but boysssssssss, I just can't seem to figure this out" and not only will the bearing show up on your doorstep I'm betting that there will be a helpful male type person holding the box and offering to install them for you......

Steve
 
of the pond with a loud, meaty, plop.....

The predatory Bass turned as the fly hit the water...his pupils dialated and his gills flared.....

He moved slowly in the direction of the apparant mouse who trembled slightly on the surface of the water.....

The Bass flexed his muscles and prepared to launch an attack but saw the hook at the last instant.....

He relaxed and went back to doing what he was doing before the clumsy angler made a particularly poor presentation of the bait....

REFUSAL I believe they call it.....

Steve
 
Jesus Steve, I think i'll keep this post and remember it if you ever ..... no that's not my personality. I can't help if I have alot of resources, working at a parts store, and a bearing manufacturer. Oh yeah, having a freind that works at harbor freight. Nevertheless, Dani I hope that helped and you DON'T have to worry about me showing up at your door looking like a wearing your bearings!
 
Leslie-

Thanks a lot. We picked up bearings today from Napa, so hopefully we'll get this little problem all worked out. As for Steve, he gets quite amused about many things when it's related to me. Rarely does he ever mean anything by it, other than to tease.

Thanks a lot again, and to everyone else.

Dani
 
Maybe our sense of humor doesn't click, i thought it was funny. Sooooorrrry! I was waiting for you to nail me up for understanding html. oh well that's NERD talk.
 
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