the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

[rsw21282]

i have a 18ft 81 cajun brute bass boat, i took it out and when i got home the center of the wheel was smoking, and cap popped off. I decided to jack it up and with the lug nuts still connected the whell pulled right off! the nut is still on the axle and the thing the lug nuts bolt to is fine but there is nothing to bolt it to anyone have any suggestions? pleas tell me there is a way to just order a part no have to replace axle.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

Go buy a lottery ticket while you are still lucky.
Now to the bad news it sounds like you need a complete new hub and spindle. post a pic and it will be easier to tell what is going on.

 

[rsw21282]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

what those run? will post pic later

 

[rsw21282]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

sorry bout back to back replies but i just looked at the hub on iboats store and looks like thats whats missing, there is just a square fitting to the axle and all the bearings where gone and just some washers and a cotter keyed nut where still there and that what was ridding on the the wheel, the lug nuts are still in the wheel just nothing behind them, and my question now is i have a 5bolt wheel and there are a bunch of hubs in the store is it just a brand thing or do i need a bunch of specific dimensions and if so what dimensions do i need to order the part assuming that is the part im missing, o

 

[triumphrick]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

Ditto the lottery ticket. I was just out working on mine today to help prevent something like what happened to you. That hub kit won't cost you anywhere near as much as a tow truck or flatbed would have!
Here is alink to a site I had used before. doesn't seem like iboats sells bearings and hubs.
By the way, the reason I am changing mine out is after noticing a little grease leaking thru the seal and wanting to change it I noticed the bearings are all Chineese. They will ALL be changed...I already found Timpken bearings at this site.

http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.catalog&categoryID=187

 

[slasmith1]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

just make sure that the spindle is not gouged or damaged or it will just eat your new hub assembly.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

How many years has it been since you even looked at the trailer wheels and hubs, much less pumped a shot of cheap grease into them? Even if you just bought the rig, It is always buyer beware and the first thing you should have checked was the condition of the hubs and bearings. And a brand new grease gun and tube of grease would still have been cheaper than the repair you now need to do. Give you the benefit of the doubt though--Learn from this experience and don't let it happen again.

Much as I do not trust chinese steel, Timken bearings are made in Romania--or one of those eastern bloc nations. However, they are branded and ARE SUPPOSED to conform to standards. Difficult to find anything made in USA anymore.

 

[arks]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

Aw, that's nuthin' rsw21282.

About 10 years ago I completely lost a wheel while trailering my 5000#, 23 footer. Fortunately, it was a tandem axle trailer and I was turning slowly into a parking lot. In my case, all 5 lug bolts sheared clean off the hub. The lateral force exerted by turning was apparently too much for them.
The 15" aluminium wheel wasn't damaged but I had to leave the trailer in the lot until I could get new bolts installed in the hub. It was one of those "lessons learned"- Check the lug bolts every spring.

 

[rsw21282]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

i prob should have checked the wheels however being new to the boating community didnt really think it was that big a problem, i cleaned the zerk fittings and shot 5shots of marine grease into them 2wks ago thinking that would do the trick, didnt really think inspections was necessary. My question here is i understand my outside bearing and cap could have been lost but what about the whole hub assy, and inner bearing how is there nothing left but a bar with a nut ridding on a wheel rim?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

the bearing were worn out, and they were beat to death. bearings should be service at least once a year, in salt water twice a year. tire air pressure check before each tow. how did you not hear the roar of them failing?

 

[triumphrick]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

how did you not hear the roar of them failing?

Good point. May be the reason I always tow with the window down and a keen ear out the window. I once picked up on a trailer ball that had vibrated loose that way.
There is usually some advance warning something is going wrong.

 

[rsw21282]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

i didnt hear anything and i have a jeep wrangler with the back and side windows off! didnt hear anything even when backing into my driveway heard nothing. anyone have any info about how to order the hub? dimensions required? and i figured greased and check tire pressure everytime(have a tire with a bit of a trickle leak) didnt think anything else was needed

 

[triumphrick]

Re: the wheel almost fell the f@#* off!

anyone have any info about how to order the hub? dimensions required?

I sent you a link in one of my previous posts....

You can click on "wheel hub information" to get the dimensions and spacings........