Roller problem

[Keith7481]

I've checked this forum and not seen a problem like mine posted. I have a roller trailer, 16 rollers (4 sets of 4 rollers) The trailer is under a 1988 boat and am guesing the trailer is the same age. I recently noticed all of the rollers were aging an cracked so I replaced them all. Before I replaced them, I noticed that two (starboard, foward outer rollers were very badly cracked, in fact one came apart just as I was changing them. Well, I just checked the new ones and the same two rollers already have developed cracks in them, and judging by appearance, they are supporting more weight than the other rollers (they are distinctly flatter where they contact the hull). Nothing looks out of adjustment, each gang of rollers can be raised or lowered, and I can't imagine that this part of the hull is somehow heavier on those two cracked rollers. Anyone have any ideas as to why this might happen? Thanks in advance.
Keith

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Roller problem

pictures of complete set up, and then problem area.

 

[Keith7481]

Re: Roller problem

Should have thought of that, will post them first thing tomorrow. Thanks.
k

 

[Keith7481]

Re: Roller problem

Here are some photos first is of the set of rollers on the problem side, then the rollers on the opposite side and a few close-ups of the rollers that seem overloaded. The boat seems off center by about an inch. All of the roller sets seem to be set at the same height. You'll see some of the hull dings that I'm working on that were caused by off loading the boat when the old roller had disintegrated.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Roller problem

That trailer is set-up wrong. Those rollers should never be that close to that strake. The angle of the hull going into the strake is concentrating the force on the outside of that roller.

You need to move the rollers inward 4-6" to keep them entirely on the flat surface of the hull even when loading

 

[Keith7481]

Re: Roller problem

Ok, I'll give that a try. Thanks very much for the suggestion.

Keith

 

[Keith7481]

Re: Roller problem

Moving the rollers inward about 2" did the trick, no more squished rollers. Thanks very much for the suggestion.
Keith

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem

keith that looks very similar to my shorelandr trailer setup, a 1985 model year trailer.

what kind of rollers are those? do they ride on their axle in a way that allows each individual roller to have a great deal of side-to-side play or is all the lateral movement due to the rocking motion of the set of 4 rollers? does that make sense? mine don't seem to ride correctly on the individual axle---they flop around a lot side to side. I wonder if the PO put the incorrect sized rollers on the trailer?

Joe

 

[dingbat]

Re: Roller problem

keith that looks very similar to my shorelandr trailer setup, a 1985 model year trailer.

what kind of rollers are those? do they ride on their axle in a way that allows each individual roller to have a great deal of side-to-side play or is all the lateral movement due to the rocking motion of the set of 4 rollers? does that make sense? mine don't seem to ride correctly on the individual axle---they flop around a lot side to side. I wonder if the PO put the incorrect sized rollers on the trailer?

Joe

Here is a diagram of your typical wobble roller assembly. You have a hog clip, and a large flat washer in the back. Then comes the roller, with a reducing bushing if needed, then another large flat washer and then another hog clip on the outside to hold it all together.

Do me a favor. Measure the diameter of the roller and it's width. I'll also need the diameter of the shaft for the roller. Not the bushing. The shaft.

I'll also need the length of the bushing that came out of the roller and the distance between the big washers that holds the roller on the shaft.

Once I know these I'll can direct you to a solution.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem

Thanks I will get those measurements and let you know tomorrow.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem-edited

Re: Roller problem-edited

the rollers are manufactured by Moeller:

dia. of roller = 4.25"
width of roller=4.25
shaft dia. = 0.75
bushing length= 1.5"

distance between washers is hard to estimate because with this black rubber roller each end is concave and the middle hole is a metal washer set in the rubber maybe 1/8" thickness of this metal piece? so these two washers could sit right up against that metal center. the axle has the roller secured by a cotter pin on the outside tip. or do you want the distance between the metal stamping on the axle that the inner washer sits up against and the end of that axle? that measurement would determine the maximum width of roller that can work on that axle.

That axle/shaft is approx. 5" total length, its hard to get a measurement with the boat on the trailer.

Joe

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem

I measured the roller axle/shaft today-
from the washer stop on the inside of the shaft to the other end of the shaft where the cotter pin goes through is 3.25". I wish I had some type of drawing program then I could draw a diagram of what this set up looks like for you.

Joe

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem

any other ideas on these rollers?

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem

dingbat-
any ideas on these rollers?
do you need any other information?

thanks,

Joe

 

[dingbat]

Re: Roller problem

Those old roller sare most likly propritiery with those "weird" outside diemensions.

I'd keep the OD similar but go with a conventional 3" wide roller instead. The Yates 4 3/8 X 3 x 3/4" shaft should work as would any of the 5" x 3" with a 3/4" shaft and a 1.5" bushing rollers.

If you still can't figue it out there is a good chance I'll be in Follansbee for a meeting toward the end of next week and could stop by and take a look for you.

http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.catalog&categoryID=200

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem

Thanks.

the ones on the trailer now are very similar to this one-
http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=4684&categoryID=200

I think the 3/16 bearing length is what is messing me up. The old metal bushings that are on the trailer are 1.5" so the roller would ride very differently on the axle if the bearing length was actually 1.5" as in this one-
http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=6839&categoryID=200

Am I correct in that assumption?

Since these are so expensive can I replace them in sets maybe bow section first and then stern section? Thanks for the help.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Roller problem

It sounds like you're on the right track now.

Keep your eyes open for rollers in the classifieds and E-Bay. I was able to pick-up 32 of them for $75 when a guy decided to upgrade to the Stoltz poly rollers on a brand new trailer.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem

Good suggestion about Ebay! Thanks for your help.

What brings you to Follansbee????

 

[dingbat]

Re: Roller problem

I work in the steel industry. I'm going to see a customer at the Wheeling-Nisshin plant

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Roller problem

Some good folks over there. I was trying to sell them a consultant proposal, as I have my own management consultation firm specializing in employee wellness programming.

Joe