My first time out with new boat...

.... was not a "fun" day but I consider myself very lucky:

Took the day off work to take the boat out for the first time (called in
sick). My friend and I took our time getting to the lake as we had all day.
We were about 1/2 mile from the lake when he thought he heard something.
Sounded like a dog barking in the distance but then sounded like the leaf
springs on the trailer. I pull into the park with the boat ramp (40 miles
from home) and start turning around in order to back into the ramp. This is
when I see the trailer tire about to fall off the trailer! I stop and it's
about 1/2" from the end of the axel! 10 more feet and the tire would have
rolled off and the trailer would have hit the ground. Worse... this could
have happen at 40mph on the road.

I inspected and there is nothing inside of the hub left except for part of
the inside seal. I take the tire and seal up to a nearby auto parts store
but they only have a set of bearings. I drive 15 miles further (stopping at
Advanced Auto to pick up some tools) to a trailer store. They inspect the
hub (connects to the tire) and suggest a new one. I agree completely and buy
everything else, including a difference size set of hubs/seals as we cannot
be sure what size axel it is.I also get 10 minutes training in trailers 101
(wait for the DVD... it's not that interesting).

It's back to the trailer and I put things together only to discover that the
outside nuts I have are too large and too small. We call and the one in the
middle takes a cotter pin, which my axel does not have. I sent my friend
back to the trailer store as I'm just too beat up to do it all over again.
We need a nut with a type of thin locking washer. It locks onto the axel as
one side is flat and then you bend the edges around the nut to hold it into
place. Turns out, they don't have one. He's off to NAPA. They don't have
one. He goes to another place. None to be found. I tell him to go back to
the trailer store and pick up what we had but have them cut off this tab
that sticks up from it. They send him back with 2 originals and 2 of the cut
ones. After an hour with this we finally get it too work... but we are not
sure it will hold.

We back the trailer into the water and he takes the boat out while I park.
He powers it up twice and then comes back. I get in and we go... well, not
quite. The motor dies and won't restart. To make a long store short, the
jets are clogged. The engine will barely run as long as the choke is pushed
in. I've had this happen before and it's clogged jets in the carbs. We limp
back in, load the boat, and start on our 40 mile trip home.

We stop every mile of so at first to check the tire. I notice that the other
side is throwing grease. I had removed the bearing buddy. This side does not
appear to have an outside seal. Huh..? I installed one on the other side.
Did I not do it correctly. Anyway, I _finally_ manage to bang a dust cover
onto the hub and we are off again. 9pm and I'm watching the tire as best I
can while on the highway.

I make it home and my new fishfinders were delivered by UPS. I put my new,
cool cover, on the boat and count my blessings. What would have happen if
the tire would have come off while driving 40mph on the road? I don't want
to think about it. What would we have done if we could not get the nut to
lock? Tried to make it to a hotel and spend the night until stores opened in
the morning? I called in sick for crying out loud. I would have been
screwed.

So I know _a lot_ about my trailer now. I need to redo both side
hubs/bearing/etc. I need to clean the jets on the carb(s)... anyone know if
carb cleaner might work or how hard is it to remove the bowl and clean the
jets (1994 60hp Mariner Bass Tracker Pro)? I've done it on several cars
years ago. Now I know what I have to do so next time I can actually fish

"Todd Copeland" wrote in message
ink.net...
... was not a "fun" day but I consider myself very lucky:

Took the day off work to take the boat out for the first time (called in
sick). My friend and I took our time getting to the lake as we had all
day.
We were about 1/2 mile from the lake when he thought he heard something.
Sounded like a dog barking in the distance but then sounded like the leaf
springs on the trailer. I pull into the park with the boat ramp (40 miles
from home) and start turning around in order to back into the ramp. This
is
when I see the trailer tire about to fall off the trailer! I stop and it's
about 1/2" from the end of the axel! 10 more feet and the tire would have
rolled off and the trailer would have hit the ground. Worse... this could
have happen at 40mph on the road.

I inspected and there is nothing inside of the hub left except for part of
the inside seal. I take the tire and seal up to a nearby auto parts store
but they only have a set of bearings. I drive 15 miles further (stopping
at
Advanced Auto to pick up some tools) to a trailer store. They inspect the
hub (connects to the tire) and suggest a new one. I agree completely and
buy
everything else, including a difference size set of hubs/seals as we
cannot
be sure what size axel it is.I also get 10 minutes training in trailers
101
(wait for the DVD... it's not that interesting).

It's back to the trailer and I put things together only to discover that
the
outside nuts I have are too large and too small. We call and the one in
the
middle takes a cotter pin, which my axel does not have. I sent my friend
back to the trailer store as I'm just too beat up to do it all over again.
We need a nut with a type of thin locking washer. It locks onto the axel
as
one side is flat and then you bend the edges around the nut to hold it
into
place. Turns out, they don't have one. He's off to NAPA. They don't have
one. He goes to another place. None to be found. I tell him to go back to
the trailer store and pick up what we had but have them cut off this tab
that sticks up from it. They send him back with 2 originals and 2 of the
cut
ones. After an hour with this we finally get it too work... but we are not
sure it will hold.

We back the trailer into the water and he takes the boat out while I park.
He powers it up twice and then comes back. I get in and we go... well, not
quite. The motor dies and won't restart. To make a long store short, the
jets are clogged. The engine will barely run as long as the choke is
pushed
in. I've had this happen before and it's clogged jets in the carbs. We
limp
back in, load the boat, and start on our 40 mile trip home.

We stop every mile of so at first to check the tire. I notice that the
other
side is throwing grease. I had removed the bearing buddy. This side does
not
appear to have an outside seal. Huh..? I installed one on the other side.
Did I not do it correctly. Anyway, I _finally_ manage to bang a dust cover
onto the hub and we are off again. 9pm and I'm watching the tire as best I
can while on the highway.

I make it home and my new fishfinders were delivered by UPS. I put my new,
cool cover, on the boat and count my blessings. What would have happen if
the tire would have come off while driving 40mph on the road? I don't want
to think about it. What would we have done if we could not get the nut to
lock? Tried to make it to a hotel and spend the night until stores opened
in
the morning? I called in sick for crying out loud. I would have been
screwed.

So I know _a lot_ about my trailer now. I need to redo both side
hubs/bearing/etc. I need to clean the jets on the carb(s)... anyone know
if
carb cleaner might work or how hard is it to remove the bowl and clean the
jets (1994 60hp Mariner Bass Tracker Pro)? I've done it on several cars
years ago. Now I know what I have to do so next time I can actually fish




Lucky that you did not lose the wheel. I came back from Salmon Fishing 2
weeks ago and pulled into West Marine in Santa Cruz. Nice guy on way
to/from church pulls in and tells me my wheel is at an odd angle. Bearings
are gone, seals are gone, bearing buddy is gone, axle has got hot enough to
have the threaded part of spindle bend. I have disk brakes and the caliper
is the only thing that kept the wheel on the trailer. New axle was
delivered Friday, but new hub is at the dealer as of yesterday. I have a
tandem trailer, but still do not know what would of happened. I think I
would be ok, as I tow with a diesel Crew cab Chevy and the 1100# camper was
on the truck. Lots of weight to keep me in control. Installing the new
motor and did not get to my todo list of the repacking the wheel bearings.
Boats, gotta love them.

Lady luck was with you that day Todd.


On Wed, 13 Apr 2005 03:13:09 GMT, "Todd Copeland"
sent into the ether:

... was not a "fun" day but I consider myself very lucky:

Took the day off work to take the boat out for the first time (called in
sick). My friend and I took our time getting to the lake as we had all day.
We were about 1/2 mile from the lake when he thought he heard something.
Sounded like a dog barking in the distance but then sounded like the leaf
springs on the trailer. I pull into the park with the boat ramp (40 miles
from home) and start turning around in order to back into the ramp. This is
when I see the trailer tire about to fall off the trailer! I stop and it's
about 1/2" from the end of the axel! 10 more feet and the tire would have
rolled off and the trailer would have hit the ground. Worse... this could
have happen at 40mph on the road.

I inspected and there is nothing inside of the hub left except for part of
the inside seal. I take the tire and seal up to a nearby auto parts store
but they only have a set of bearings. I drive 15 miles further (stopping at
Advanced Auto to pick up some tools) to a trailer store. They inspect the
hub (connects to the tire) and suggest a new one. I agree completely and buy
everything else, including a difference size set of hubs/seals as we cannot
be sure what size axel it is.I also get 10 minutes training in trailers 101
(wait for the DVD... it's not that interesting).

It's back to the trailer and I put things together only to discover that the
outside nuts I have are too large and too small. We call and the one in the
middle takes a cotter pin, which my axel does not have. I sent my friend
back to the trailer store as I'm just too beat up to do it all over again.
We need a nut with a type of thin locking washer. It locks onto the axel as
one side is flat and then you bend the edges around the nut to hold it into
place. Turns out, they don't have one. He's off to NAPA. They don't have
one. He goes to another place. None to be found. I tell him to go back to
the trailer store and pick up what we had but have them cut off this tab
that sticks up from it. They send him back with 2 originals and 2 of the cut
ones. After an hour with this we finally get it too work... but we are not
sure it will hold.

We back the trailer into the water and he takes the boat out while I park.
He powers it up twice and then comes back. I get in and we go... well, not
quite. The motor dies and won't restart. To make a long store short, the
jets are clogged. The engine will barely run as long as the choke is pushed
in. I've had this happen before and it's clogged jets in the carbs. We limp
back in, load the boat, and start on our 40 mile trip home.

We stop every mile of so at first to check the tire. I notice that the other
side is throwing grease. I had removed the bearing buddy. This side does not
appear to have an outside seal. Huh..? I installed one on the other side.
Did I not do it correctly. Anyway, I _finally_ manage to bang a dust cover
onto the hub and we are off again. 9pm and I'm watching the tire as best I
can while on the highway.

I make it home and my new fishfinders were delivered by UPS. I put my new,
cool cover, on the boat and count my blessings. What would have happen if
the tire would have come off while driving 40mph on the road? I don't want
to think about it. What would we have done if we could not get the nut to
lock? Tried to make it to a hotel and spend the night until stores opened in
the morning? I called in sick for crying out loud. I would have been
screwed.

So I know _a lot_ about my trailer now. I need to redo both side
hubs/bearing/etc. I need to clean the jets on the carb(s)... anyone know if
carb cleaner might work or how hard is it to remove the bowl and clean the
jets (1994 60hp Mariner Bass Tracker Pro)? I've done it on several cars
years ago. Now I know what I have to do so next time I can actually fish



Remove the x for e-mail reply
www.outdoorfrontiers.com
www.SecretWeaponLures.com
A proud charter member of "PETAF", People for Eating Tasty Animals and Fish!!!

Dan, danl, danny boy, Redbeard, actually Greybeard now wrote:

Lady luck was with you that day Todd.


Man - if that is lady luck, I want no part of her! I guess it is all
relative - like an uncle nobody talks about.

On Wed, 13 Apr 2005 13:07:47 -0400, Ronnie Garrison
sent into the ether:

Dan, danl, danny boy, Redbeard, actually Greybeard now wrote:

Lady luck was with you that day Todd.


Man - if that is lady luck, I want no part of her! I guess it is all
relative - like an uncle nobody talks about.
Ronnie,
No one was hurt, trailer and boat didn't flip, trailer losing wheel
didn't dig an axle in and cause an accident.
I call that lucky.
Now about the rest, lady luck finished, got distracted and looked away
allowing everything else to happen. Typical fickle woman :}

Remove the x for e-mail reply
www.outdoorfrontiers.com
www.SecretWeaponLures.com
A proud charter member of "PETAF", People for Eating Tasty Animals and Fish!!!

On Wed, 13 Apr 2005 03:13:09 GMT, "Todd Copeland"
wrote:

... was not a "fun" day but I consider myself very lucky:

Took the day off work to take the boat out for the first time (called in
sick). My friend and I took our time getting to the lake as we had all day.
We were about 1/2 mile from the lake when he thought he heard something.
Sounded like a dog barking in the distance but then sounded like the leaf
springs on the trailer. I pull into the park with the boat ramp (40 miles
from home) and start turning around in order to back into the ramp. This is
when I see the trailer tire about to fall off the trailer! I stop and it's
about 1/2" from the end of the axel! 10 more feet and the tire would have
rolled off and the trailer would have hit the ground. Worse... this could
have happen at 40mph on the road.

.....snippage....

Todd

You are not alone, must be somethin' in the Florida water....

In Feb of 2003 - I had a work related trip to Orlando, and
subsequently hooked up w/ Doc for what was supposed to
be fishing on Okeechobee. We made the trip on day one,
but day 2 brought disaster, for Doc's trailer had much the
same problem as yours.

We managed to limp his trailer back to his house, and I think
he ended up replacing the whole axle, as it was chewed up bad.
We too were lucky....

Re-pack those bearings every year - even sooner if you do the
salt water - I wonder it that's what got yours (ie orevious owner)?

If you look on the ROFB web site, there is an article on repacking
trailer wheel bearings.

Best of luck

Jim

"Jim Laumann" wrote in message
...

You are not alone, must be somethin' in the Florida water....

In Feb of 2003 - I had a work related trip to Orlando, and
subsequently hooked up w/ Doc for what was supposed to
be fishing on Okeechobee. We made the trip on day one,
but day 2 brought disaster, for Doc's trailer had much the
same problem as yours.

Hmmm... I feel better. I'm in good company

We managed to limp his trailer back to his house, and I think
he ended up replacing the whole axle, as it was chewed up bad.
We too were lucky....

Re-pack those bearings every year - even sooner if you do the
salt water - I wonder it that's what got yours (ie orevious owner)?

If you look on the ROFB web site, there is an article on repacking
trailer wheel bearings.

I just bought the boat and went out an bought many items... such as Bearing
Buddy's as I'd rather be safe. Turns out I did not understand that this
trailer has a Speindle Lube Axel (I found out today). But also, one of the
special dust caps either was never on the trailer or fell off when I was
towing it home the first time. This is another reason why I put Bearing
Buddy's on it. Turns out, from what I can tell, BB's won't do anything for
me on this axel. While the info on Spindle Lube axel's is that when new
grease is applied it forces out all the old grease, it looks like a BB won't
push grease into the hub from the outside.

I replaced the seals and bearings but I think they sold be incorrect items.
From Champion Trailers site, it seems that I might need to have two seals on
the inside and none on the outside (?). I"m going to go to a local trailer
store now that I'm hope and get all the correct items. I'm then going to
replace items on _both_ wheels.

But at least now I will know everything about my trailer for the future.

....snipped....

Todd


Hmmm... I feel better. I'm in good company

Run a boat trailer long enough, sooner or later you will have
trouble....


We managed to limp his trailer back to his house, and I think
he ended up replacing the whole axle, as it was chewed up bad.
We too were lucky....

Re-pack those bearings every year - even sooner if you do the
salt water - I wonder it that's what got yours (ie orevious owner)?

If you look on the ROFB web site, there is an article on repacking
trailer wheel bearings.

I just bought the boat and went out an bought many items... such as Bearing
Buddy's as I'd rather be safe. Turns out I did not understand that this
trailer has a Speindle Lube Axel (I found out today). But also, one of the
special dust caps either was never on the trailer or fell off when I was
towing it home the first time. This is another reason why I put Bearing
Buddy's on it. Turns out, from what I can tell, BB's won't do anything for
me on this axel. While the info on Spindle Lube axel's is that when new
grease is applied it forces out all the old grease, it looks like a BB won't
push grease into the hub from the outside.

In my experience, Bearing Buddys help, but aren't the total solution.
I searched Google for Spindle Lube Axle, and what I found was
something that looks similar to Buddy's by Northern Tool & Equipment.
I have had Buddy's on my trailer, currently they are off, due to the
fact that as you install and remove Buddys (for repacking), they tend
to cause wear on the hub, and susquently get thrown off the hub when
the wheels turn at highway speed. I threw TWO sets of Buddy's off
my trailer attending the NWC in 2003.

I will be the first to admit that my trailer and boat are older, and
as such, are somewhat shop queens - needing regular maint. As a
result, I've gone back to just using dust caps until I can put on a
new axle (my trailer is a Shoreland'r and as such, uses parts only
available from marine dealers at confiscatory prices).

Bearing Buddy's (and similar products) shouldn't be seen as a tool
(aka crutch) that let you avoid bearing maint. The idea behind a Buddy
and similar products is that when a warm hub is imersed in cool water,
there is a change of air pressure, and as a result, water is sucked in
to the hub. Buddy's attempt to provide a grease resovoir, so that more
grease is pulled in to the hub instead of water.

I suspect this is the same concept w/ the product you have.


I replaced the seals and bearings but I think they sold be incorrect items.
From Champion Trailers site, it seems that I might need to have two seals on
the inside and none on the outside (?). I"m going to go to a local trailer
store now that I'm hope and get all the correct items. I'm then going to
replace items on _both_ wheels.

Sounds correct to me. The sequence I have seen on the trailers I've
worked on over the years is (from the outside working inward):

1) dust cover
2) cotter key
3) flat washer (usually has a tab to fit a keyed slot on the axle)
4) castel nut (or a castel washer and plain nut)
5) outer bearing (and race - pressed in the hub)
6) hub
7) inner race (pressed in back side of hub)
8) inner bearing
9) grease seal


But at least now I will know everything about my trailer for the future.

Yup - and I got to stress - repack those bearings at least once a
year. I do mine in the fall, before I put the boat into storage for
the winter (MN). Even with Buddy's, I have found traces of water
in the hubs - its going to happen. Re-packing isn't hard, just messy.

Best of luck w/ the new toy

Jim

"Jim Laumann" wrote in message
...


...snipped....

Todd


Hmmm... I feel better. I'm in good company

Run a boat trailer long enough, sooner or later you will have
trouble....


We managed to limp his trailer back to his house, and I think
he ended up replacing the whole axle, as it was chewed up bad.
We too were lucky....

Re-pack those bearings every year - even sooner if you do the
salt water - I wonder it that's what got yours (ie orevious owner)?

If you look on the ROFB web site, there is an article on repacking
trailer wheel bearings.

I just bought the boat and went out an bought many items... such as
Bearing
Buddy's as I'd rather be safe. Turns out I did not understand that this
trailer has a Speindle Lube Axel (I found out today). But also, one of the
special dust caps either was never on the trailer or fell off when I was
towing it home the first time. This is another reason why I put Bearing
Buddy's on it. Turns out, from what I can tell, BB's won't do anything for
me on this axel. While the info on Spindle Lube axel's is that when new
grease is applied it forces out all the old grease, it looks like a BB
won't
push grease into the hub from the outside.

In my experience, Bearing Buddys help, but aren't the total solution.
I searched Google for Spindle Lube Axle, and what I found was
something that looks similar to Buddy's by Northern Tool & Equipment.
I have had Buddy's on my trailer, currently they are off, due to the
fact that as you install and remove Buddys (for repacking), they tend
to cause wear on the hub, and susquently get thrown off the hub when
the wheels turn at highway speed. I threw TWO sets of Buddy's off
my trailer attending the NWC in 2003.

I will be the first to admit that my trailer and boat are older, and
as such, are somewhat shop queens - needing regular maint. As a
result, I've gone back to just using dust caps until I can put on a
new axle (my trailer is a Shoreland'r and as such, uses parts only
available from marine dealers at confiscatory prices).

Bearing Buddy's (and similar products) shouldn't be seen as a tool
(aka crutch) that let you avoid bearing maint. The idea behind a Buddy
and similar products is that when a warm hub is imersed in cool water,
there is a change of air pressure, and as a result, water is sucked in
to the hub. Buddy's attempt to provide a grease resovoir, so that more
grease is pulled in to the hub instead of water.

I suspect this is the same concept w/ the product you have.


I replaced the seals and bearings but I think they sold be incorrect
items.
From Champion Trailers site, it seems that I might need to have two seals
on
the inside and none on the outside (?). I"m going to go to a local trailer
store now that I'm hope and get all the correct items. I'm then going to
replace items on _both_ wheels.

Sounds correct to me. The sequence I have seen on the trailers I've
worked on over the years is (from the outside working inward):

1) dust cover
2) cotter key
3) flat washer (usually has a tab to fit a keyed slot on the axle)
4) castel nut (or a castel washer and plain nut)
5) outer bearing (and race - pressed in the hub)
6) hub
7) inner race (pressed in back side of hub)
8) inner bearing
9) grease seal


But at least now I will know everything about my trailer for the future.

Yup - and I got to stress - repack those bearings at least once a
year. I do mine in the fall, before I put the boat into storage for
the winter (MN). Even with Buddy's, I have found traces of water
in the hubs - its going to happen. Re-packing isn't hard, just messy.

Best of luck w/ the new toy

Jim




Drill and tap a set screw hole in the hub to lock the bearing buddy in
place. As to axles, go to a place the supplies truck springs, etc. In
Oakland Calif, it is Oakland Spring. They build and sell axles. When I had
a leasing company, the delivery trucks would break springs and shackles.
They would build the shackles if none were in stock. Also mearsure the axle
and Champion Trailer can supply you one to fit.

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
k.net...

"Jim Laumann" wrote in message
...


...snipped....

Todd


Hmmm... I feel better. I'm in good company

Run a boat trailer long enough, sooner or later you will have
trouble....


We managed to limp his trailer back to his house, and I think
he ended up replacing the whole axle, as it was chewed up bad.
We too were lucky....

Re-pack those bearings every year - even sooner if you do the
salt water - I wonder it that's what got yours (ie orevious owner)?

If you look on the ROFB web site, there is an article on repacking
trailer wheel bearings.

I just bought the boat and went out an bought many items... such as
Bearing
Buddy's as I'd rather be safe. Turns out I did not understand that this
trailer has a Speindle Lube Axel (I found out today). But also, one of
the
special dust caps either was never on the trailer or fell off when I was
towing it home the first time. This is another reason why I put Bearing
Buddy's on it. Turns out, from what I can tell, BB's won't do anything
for
me on this axel. While the info on Spindle Lube axel's is that when new
grease is applied it forces out all the old grease, it looks like a BB
won't
push grease into the hub from the outside.

In my experience, Bearing Buddys help, but aren't the total solution.
I searched Google for Spindle Lube Axle, and what I found was
something that looks similar to Buddy's by Northern Tool & Equipment.
I have had Buddy's on my trailer, currently they are off, due to the
fact that as you install and remove Buddys (for repacking), they tend
to cause wear on the hub, and susquently get thrown off the hub when
the wheels turn at highway speed. I threw TWO sets of Buddy's off
my trailer attending the NWC in 2003.

I will be the first to admit that my trailer and boat are older, and
as such, are somewhat shop queens - needing regular maint. As a
result, I've gone back to just using dust caps until I can put on a
new axle (my trailer is a Shoreland'r and as such, uses parts only
available from marine dealers at confiscatory prices).

Bearing Buddy's (and similar products) shouldn't be seen as a tool
(aka crutch) that let you avoid bearing maint. The idea behind a Buddy
and similar products is that when a warm hub is imersed in cool water,
there is a change of air pressure, and as a result, water is sucked in
to the hub. Buddy's attempt to provide a grease resovoir, so that more
grease is pulled in to the hub instead of water.

I suspect this is the same concept w/ the product you have.


I replaced the seals and bearings but I think they sold be incorrect
items.
From Champion Trailers site, it seems that I might need to have two
seals
on
the inside and none on the outside (?). I"m going to go to a local
trailer
store now that I'm hope and get all the correct items. I'm then going to
replace items on _both_ wheels.

Sounds correct to me. The sequence I have seen on the trailers I've
worked on over the years is (from the outside working inward):

1) dust cover
2) cotter key
3) flat washer (usually has a tab to fit a keyed slot on the axle)
4) castel nut (or a castel washer and plain nut)
5) outer bearing (and race - pressed in the hub)
6) hub
7) inner race (pressed in back side of hub)
8) inner bearing
9) grease seal


But at least now I will know everything about my trailer for the future.

Yup - and I got to stress - repack those bearings at least once a
year. I do mine in the fall, before I put the boat into storage for
the winter (MN). Even with Buddy's, I have found traces of water
in the hubs - its going to happen. Re-packing isn't hard, just messy.

Best of luck w/ the new toy

Jim




Drill and tap a set screw hole in the hub to lock the bearing buddy in
place. As to axles, go to a place the supplies truck springs, etc. In
Oakland Calif, it is Oakland Spring. They build and sell axles. When I
had
a leasing company, the delivery trucks would break springs and shackles.
They would build the shackles if none were in stock. Also mearsure the
axle
and Champion Trailer can supply you one to fit.


Bill, you are a well spring of useful information. We need to get together
and go fishing. I think this summer I'm gonna head up towards Sac and try
to hook up with Jarod Bollardo for a day. Maybe you and I can get together
for a couple hours.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com