trailer question

G

Gary Jensen

Active member
Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Life is always getting in the way.

I have a question on bearings for my trailer. The wheels are not held on by lug nuts, so I am assuming that there is a nut on the shaft underneith the hub cover.

Problem I have is I can't get the covers off. I have tried popping them off and have also tried screwing them off, thinking they may be threaded.

Before I put the double farmer on these things and break smoothing, thought that maybe somebody could shine some light on this.

Thanks in advance
Gary
 
Gary,

There should be a castle nut on the end of the axle which is of course under the grease cap. All the grease caps I have dealt with are pressed on and can be a bit of a bugger to get off sometimes. Even if you were to wreck one I think you can buy new ones at Farm & Fleet. There is usually a rim on the outside where it meets the wheel, you need to get a screw driver blade or something like that under that rim and pry it away from the wheel. They WILL come off. After you repack or replace your bearings you might want to consider putting bearing buddies on instead of the dust covers. Bearing Buddies come with a Zerk fitting in the center that is used to grease your bearings without taking everything apart.

Take a look here to get an idea of what that rim looks like: http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Grease_Caps-sf-Standard_Grease_Cap.aspx
 
Gary,

There should be a castle nut on the end of the axle which is of course under the grease cap. All the grease caps I have dealt with are pressed on and can be a bit of a bugger to get off sometimes. Even if you were to wreck one I think you can buy new ones at Farm & Fleet. There is usually a rim on the outside where it meets the wheel, you need to get a screw driver blade or something like that under that rim and pry it away from the wheel. They WILL come off. After you repack or replace your bearings you might want to consider putting bearing buddies on instead of the dust covers. Bearing Buddies come with a Zerk fitting in the center that is used to grease your bearings without taking everything apart.

Take a look here to get an idea of what that rim looks like: http://www.etrailer.com/...dard_Grease_Cap.aspx
Click to expand...


Pete is right on. Only thing I'd add is that I like to worry the taller caps off with a rubber mallet hitting from the side, rather than prying. If the axle is lifted, you can spin the wheel and work the cap right off. I'll second the bearing buddies as well. If you are going bearing buddies, just rip the cap off with channel locks.
 
a picture of you setup would help.
Do you have a grease fitting at the end of you wheel hub?
They are pressed or tapped in place.
Take a block of wood and a hammer. Use the wood to tap on so you do not damage the hub.
Then tap and move the wood again and again till you go around the hole hub. You may have to try several times. When the cover is off you will find the nut and a carter pin that needs to be removed.
 
Thanks for the info guys. This is what I had thought but did not want to get carried away with prying them off and find that they are threaded on.
Not sure if I want to drop the money on bearing buddies, as I hope to replace the trailer next year.

I want to remove the wheels and clean and repack the bearings (there is a grease zirks) and clean out any sand or water that may have entered.
Also want to repaint the wheels while I have everything torn apart.

The axle is a rubber tortion type. This is an old trailer and I am wondering if I should replace the rubber insert while I have it apart?
 
Gray
If the hub cover is rusted on, you may have to destroy it to get it of. Most covers are just a press on fit. Replace the seal and bearing for the hub. You have to eliminate any voids in the hub by filling it completely full of grease. No voids, no water, no rust. The seal is to hold the grease in not the water out. Also check the grease fitting on the hub and replace them if needed. After you re-installed the hub, fill hub cover with grease before you put back on. When you use the grease fitting on the hub, watch that you do not put the seal out.
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