Lost Wheel Bearing

V

vans

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Sep 26, 2004
Messages
78
On way home yesterday, I looked out my mirror and saw a lot of smoke coming off axle, of course it was on a major freeway in a large city, pulled over and found bearing shot, removed tire and fortunately my brother lives 3.2 miles from where I had problem. So I one wheeled it to his house to repair.
I was lucky he was so close as I was 100 miles from home. Bearing got hot enough that it melted my plastic wheel center piece, lost my easy lube cap-grease everywhere, luckily my spindle looks good.
Buying new bearing kit tonight and headin back to bring home the boat
 
H

haulnazz15

Captain
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Had similar situation last weekend when I came home. The hub was hissing and pushing grease out, the wheel was covered. Pulled the wheel/hub and inspected the bearings. They were all fine, but the brakes had been dragging a bit. So I adjusted the brake shoes to where they didn't cause drag. A dragging brake can really heat up a bearing/hub/wheel, so make sure to check that as well if your trailer is so-equipped.
 
redneck joe

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
11,478
from a nice spring outing of mine:

#1
[h=2]Great day on the water. Until....[/h]


Coming back home on the back roads, a couple cars sitting in the middle of the road with the folks talking (not an unusual event here) so slowed down to about 10 mph until they moved off. The truck in front of me going real slow so looked in the sideview to see if I had any traffic coming as I might pass him. One of my wheels about 45 degrees angle to the road and smoking like a bbq grill....




No shoulder to speak of so kept moving about 5 mph until I could find a place to pull off. Oops, there went the wheel. Pulled into the first drive. There is a flatbed semi and an old boat (pics to follow)

Truck pulls up from the house (which is set way back) and old guy rolls his window down. 'Are you the homeowner' I ask?

"Yep" as he eyeballs the axle.

"Think I could leave my boat here for a day or two until I get fixed"

"Let me take a look I might could help you out"

He checks it over.

"You get the parts and I'll put them on for you, but I'm busy tomorrow. How about Thursday?"


WTF? Nobody is that nice. Well, he is. Retired diesel mechanic from the base (Arnold Airforce Base) We talked for a bit, turns out he knew the mrs daddy who retired from there as well.


God takes care of the fools and the idiots, I guess i'm one or the other (maybe both). Would have lost the wheel at speed if not for the folks chatting it up in the middle of the road. First drive we find has lots of room to leave a boat. The homeowner is a good person.

Life is good.





Side note - when I bought the trailer two years ago I paid someone to get it road ready in which I specifically called out bearings. I had one hub bearing replaced a month ago because it was wobbly and I asked him to make sure the others were road ready. that irritates me. I replaced a set when I bought my first boat about 25 years ago so I guess I'm going to re-learn how to do it.
 
S

Starcraft5834

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 2, 2013
Messages
1,677
I too learned the hard way.... did not give much thought to bearings and axle,, after (2) roadside incidents, I ended up installing new axle, bearings, breaks, the works.... since then,,, every haul been perfect... ;)
 
redmen62

redmen62

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2011
Messages
103
The only time I didn't service my bearings in the spring and thought I could get by I found myself in a farm and fleet parking lot with a hammer and punch replacing them... last time I didn't at least regrease them
 
V

vans

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Sep 26, 2004
Messages
78
I have just replaced all bearing/race on trailer, the other three sets looked good, not sure what happened, my neighbor let me borrow his set of race drivers to install bearing races, they worked well, probably should own a set.

My trailer now has new bearings/master cylinder/brake calipers, next will be changing out the marathon tires, plan to wait until spring.
I've been reading a lot of reviews on trailer tires and thinking the Kuhmo's 857 tire is the one for my 14" rims
 
S

Starcraft5834

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 2, 2013
Messages
1,677
Look at Road Star Karrier. 205 75 14. 2020lb ea... max load in 14 in tire ive seen. They have performed very well for me
 
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