Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

[Big_Tuna]

Hi all,

I purchased a 1988 Larson DC150 a few years ago. The boat is about 15.5 ' long, 60 hp outboard, and sits on a 19?? Tee-Nee trailer. The trailer was and still is a little beat up. I am sure it is not the trailer that originally came with the boat, but the boat was on it when I purchased it.

Trailer is a single axle with keel rollers (one rubber missing), and two bunks.

What i have done to it.
1. New tires and new spare tire with holder.
2. New lights
3. Greased the bearings as soon as I bought it. (took it to the local meijers and put grease in the bearings at 11pm at night in the parking lot) The bearings were crunching/grinding when i bought it.
4. Changed the winch.
5. Added a fold-away tongue, so it fits nicely in my garage.

I am in the process of repainting the hull of my boat and am going to drop the bunks on each side to do so. However, the boat is mainly resting on the keel rollers (2-3 of them), and wobbles back and forth to each bunk. I have read on the shorelander website, that the boat should be 3/4" above the keel pads/rollers, and most of the weight supported on the bunks. Yet other sources say that the boat should rest on the keel rollers and have the bunks to keep it from rocking side to side.

I plan on replacing the bunks with longer/wider bunks (2x6's), but not sure where to place them. How far up the front of the boat do they go? I know they are to start even with the stern at the back of the trailer. Should all the weight be on the keel? I am afraid of keel rash, as I dont think the keel is that strong. Yet, I dont want to bend the boat like a taco with just the bunks.

Thanks for the advice,

I will try to post pics when i get home.

Jonny 5

 

[JimS123]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

The keel is the spine of the boat, so if it "isn't that strong" then the boat isn't safe to operate.

If the bearings "crunch" forget about greasing them, pull the hubs off and inspect. If the races and hubs are OK, replace the bearings no matter what they look like.

Replace the missing roller, as well as the the ones left. Use poly rollers for better performance and longer life. Line them up straight and then sit the boat on them. Raise the bunks to hold the boat from tipping. The weight should be on the rollers. You have an old boat....do what they recommended back then, not what the kids say to do today.

Leave the bunks as the trailer manufacturer designed it. Longer wider ones will offer no advantage.

IMHO, TeeNee was the bset there was. They only went out of business because others came along and sold them cheaper, and what did the public know except cheep!

 

[Big_Tuna]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

Jim,

Thanks for the advice!

Knowing that this boat did not come on this trailer, and the bunks and hardware are a "hodge podge" of different nuts and bolts, I know the previous owner(s) have changed them all around.

If I only knew what the original setup was for my boat, I would gladly take it back to that state.

In a couple weeks I am taking it up to our cottage and putting the boat in the water and pulling the trailer back to the garage where I can work on it. I plan on replacing all the keel rollers, changing the bunks, as the old ones have a shag carpet on them. Getting longer bunks, or adding a second set up towards the bow.

I plan on distributing the weight on the keel rollers as well as the bunks. Light pressure on the bunks. I think this should give me the best piece of mind.

I know the boat is strong now, as I have replaced all the stringers and cross member and floor boards. I went a little overkill on the materials to make sure she was strong. I just thought that the age of the boat ad its previous shape, that I should be careful with her.

As for pulling the bearings. I have never done this. I am mechanically inclined, and am sure I could but I have no idea where to start. Plus, not to sound dumb, what are the races? What is the general cost for all of this? Maybe send a link to how to do this?

Thanks,
Jonny 5

 

[JimS123]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

I haven't bought parts in many years other than rear seals, so I'm not sure of the cost. My guess would be $10 per wheel. Also don't personally have a link but I would guess a google on trl whl bearing replacement would bring up something.

- jack up the wheel
- remove the dust cap
- remove the cotter pin and nut
- pull off the hub - the outer bearing will come off with it
- remove the rear seal - the rear bearing will come with it
- inspect, grease all parts and put back together in reverse order.

The races are the "flat spots" in the hub where the bearings ride. If they are not pitted or rusty, then merely replacing the bearings should be fine.

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

The keel is the spine of the boat, so if it "isn't that strong" then the boat isn't safe to operate.

If the bearings "crunch" forget about greasing them, pull the hubs off and inspect. If the races and hubs are OK, replace the bearings no matter what they look like.

Replace the missing roller, as well as the the ones left. Use poly rollers for better performance and longer life. Line them up straight and then sit the boat on them. Raise the bunks to hold the boat from tipping. The weight should be on the rollers. You have an old boat....do what they recommended back then, not what the kids say to do today.

Leave the bunks as the trailer manufacturer designed it. Longer wider ones will offer no advantage.

IMHO, TeeNee was the bset there was. They only went out of business because others came along and sold them cheaper, and what did the public know except cheep!

Not intending to hijack this thread, Ran across this thread doing a search for re-doing my bunks. My Sea Chaser 175 has rollers and 4 bunks, but is only resting on the forward roller, the middle and rear rollers are not touching the boat. The new Sea Chasers I looked at do not have rollers at all. Should I lower my bunks to distribute the weight on the rollers also?

 

[superbenk]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

I buy my trailer parts from championtrailers.com, etrailer.com or right here on iBoats. Definitely replace those bearings. Hopefully the races or spindles are still ok.

I'll second spending the extra few dollars on the poly rollers an bow stop. They don't scuff the boat like rubber & will last way longer.

 

[daveydoodle]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

Agree on the crunch/grind sounds-shot . In my humble opinion: Get 2 bearing kits,one for each side, each will include inner and outer bearing-inner seal-and inner and outer race(race is what bearing seats/turns on inside the hub). I just pd. 40.00 ea. for each side on a untlity tlr, I was shocked as havnt bought them in yrs. Best to remove all above first, take the bearings with you when you get replacements. To get all this out: wheel usually off-cap or bearing buddy off-clean grease to see a castle nut spun on and held by a cotter pin-pull out pin take off nut-you can now pull off hub and bearings may or my not fall out-clean out the hub with inner/outer bearings removed-left with hub,inner grease seal and in/out race that has to be tapped/pounded out.Chk.threads for install(common sense).good luck, you can do this.

 

[daveydoodle]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

Agree on the crunch/grind sounds-shot . In my humble opinion: Get 2 bearing kits,one for each side, each will include inner and outer bearing-inner seal-and inner and outer race(race is what bearing seats/turns on inside the hub). I just pd. 40.00 ea. for each side on a untlity tlr, I was shocked as havnt bought them in yrs. Best to remove all above first, take the bearings with you when you get replacements. To get all this out: wheel usually off-cap or bearing buddy off-clean grease to see a castle nut spun on and held by a cotter pin-pull out pin take off nut-you can now pull off hub and bearings may or my not fall out-clean out the hub with inner/outer bearings removed-left with hub,inner grease seal and in/out race that has to be tapped/pounded out.Chk.threads for install(common sense).good luck, you can do this.

 

[daveydoodle]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

By the way I totally agree with Commander jims 123, I always overkill on a repair especially with the time to tear all this apart, Think from now on I will closely inspect races to avoid x tra work/ money....Guess that's why the guy threw me a kit$$, he knew I was in a hurry! but I think the inner seal will have to be replaced too .

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

For the OP: Weight on the keel rollers; a little gap on the bunks. Thgat's tghe proper set-up. Supports the boat and makes for easy launch/retrieve--and you don't even have to get your axle wet. If you replace with bigger bunks you will have that much more to pull across. And old carpet is fine for bunks.
But if you insist on replacing them, don't use pressure treated wood as it conflict with aluminum.

Mac you might want to check with Sea Chaser; I say this b/c Carolina Skiff, which makes your boat, told us not to use rollers on the J series boats--but that was a perfectly flat hull with no keel. I would think that yours with a keel would be better on rollers and may evebn do well on wobble rollers like Venture. Still a good idea to check w/ the manufacturer.

 

[Big_Tuna]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

Thanks for the info guys. I looked up some youtube videos online, and there was a video showing exactly what I need to do. All of you are right on, and i appreciate it. I did find a video where the guy doesnt remove the wheel, and this made it much easier to pound the races out, as it doesn't scuff the rim. The only tool that i see I will need is a race driver. i will have to check the local harbor freight for that, as I will not need it very much and dont want to spend a fortune.

The bearings dont "crunch" anymore since I had put more grease in after I bought the boat. But it still is going to get done, as I dont want a failure on the freeway.

I looked online for bearing kits, and found them to be fairly inexpensive from sea sense and tow master. I just need to find the right size.... yikes. I want to order them today and how are bearings measured? Diameter? I see a bunch of 1-1/16" x 1-3/8" kits. This is probably the standard. My trailer is a single axle with bearing buddies. I can keep my bearing buddies right, or do I need to order new?

Thanks.

 

[daveydoodle]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

You can re use the buddies under normal conditions, tap with hammer while spinning wheel in an outward directions, you'll put some nicks on it but no problem.

 

[Josh P]

Re: Bunk adjustment / replacement. Keel rollers, what to do?

how many lugs are on your hubs? if its 5 its a 3500/3700 lb axle should be
Race L68111
Race L44610
Bearing L44649
Bearing L68149