Trailer hubs won't go back on

[Bluesmobile]

I've been helping my brother maintain his boat/trailer because it was in storage for 3 years.
His trailer has a bearing buddy on one hub and a dust cap on the other. I noticed grease pissing out the back seal of the hub so I took them off and put in new raceways, bearings, and seals.
When I tried to put them back on, I can only get the nut on to be flush with the end of the spindle and so I can't get the cotter pin in.

The part numbers all matched the old part numbers and I even used a raceway driver to get the raceways seated all the way.

Any help is appreciated

 

[colbyt]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

Did you clean the old grease off the back of the spindle where the grease seal slides over it?

That's a long shot but I don't know how much force you are using. I also recall reading somewhere that using a wrench and the backing it off after full seal can help.

 

[joelybob]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

Sometimes you have to wiggle hub and bearings at the sametime so the bearings slide all the way in. don't know if that is the problem. just a guess.

 

[Bluesmobile]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

I did clean the old grease off the spindle and put new grease on it. Even tried using a rubber mallet whacking the hub as I spun it. All it did was push the seal in a fraction of an inch. It really makes me wonder if that's the right seal. I'm tempted to just replace the whole axle/spindles and get new hubs because its a weird combo of 3/4" outer and 1 1/4" inner with a 1 1/2 seal.
I'll try using a wrench to tighten it then back it off.
Thanks guys.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

I did clean the old grease off the spindle and put new grease on it. Even tried using a rubber mallet whacking the hub as I spun it. All it did was push the seal in a fraction of an inch. It really makes me wonder if that's the right seal. I'm tempted to just replace the whole axle/spindles and get new hubs because its a weird combo of 3/4" outer and 1 1/4" inner with a 1 1/2 seal.
I'll try using a wrench to tighten it then back it off.
Thanks guys.

Wait! Did you fully seat the grease seal in the back of the hub? The metal lip of the seal must be flush with the back of the hub. It is a bit tricky the first time you do it, flat surface and hammer required.

 

[joelybob]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

Wait! Did you fully seat the grease seal in the back of the hub? The metal lip of the seal must be flush with the back of the hub. It is a bit tricky the first time you do it, flat surface and hammer required.

Just going to suggest that

 

[Bluesmobile]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

Yes the seals are in place and when I take a hammer to get it on all it does is dent in the inner ring of the seal(and not go on). So apparently, the metal part of the ring is a hair bigger than 1.7" (which is the size of the spindle) and the rubber gasket seal thingy takes up the rest of the space to make it for a 1.5" seal. I've been told by a coworker to look up Tull Bearing because they make trailer hub seals. Just give them the dimensions and the hub and they will either have something that will work or they will make custom seals for you.
Also found out that this trailer has a custom made axle so just going out and buying a new axle/spindle set of standard sizes just wont work. I kinda see one reason why tim got this boat for $400...

 

[ricohman]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

The seal is supposed to be a tight fit. Use a seal driver or the like to drive it in. Using just a hammer can be tricky if you haven't done this a lot.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

I would guess one of the bearing races isnt seated all of the way in, thats about all that will keep it from going all the way into place.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

Yes the seals are in place and when I take a hammer to get it on all it does is dent in the inner ring of the seal(and not go on). So apparently, the metal part of the ring is a hair bigger than 1.7" (which is the size of the spindle) and the rubber gasket seal thingy takes up the rest of the space to make it for a 1.5" seal...

No insult intended. You are putting the rubber side towards the center of the hub?

Are you saying that the seal will not go over the axle stub? That the seal center hole is too small?

 

[Bluesmobile]

Re: Trailer hubs won't go back on

Anyway, I took the hub to Tull Bearing and gave them the hub. Told them the sizes for the spindle and they gave me the correct seals. Northern Tool definitely doesn't carry that size (obviously the last person to repack the hubs didn't know that either). The seal is ID:1.68" OD:2.33". I got home, put the seals in, and the hubs slid on perfectly.
Thanks to everyone that helped.