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Author Topic:   Trailer Bearings.

Landlocked posted 05-21-2002 11:30 PM ET (US)
I'm in the process of preparing my trailer for a trip to Fla. ~400 miles. I have always kept the bearings greased and recently installed bearing buddies. Tonight while finishing up some work I've been doing while I had the boat off the trailer, I decided to check the bearings. By check I mean I grabbed each wheel and pushed and pulled on it to see if there was any play.
I noticed that there is a very slight amount of play maby 1/16 - 1/8 inch in side to side motion. Not loose but you can feel the wheels move sideways just slightly in each direction.
I checked my utility trailer which has relatively new bearings and it does exactly the same thing.
Anyone know if this is normal? I always check the hubs when towing at each stop and they have never been even the slightest bit hot.
Ll.
Drisney posted 05-22-2002 12:33 AM ET (US)
The slight play you mention sounds very normal to me. When you tighten the nut that compresses the bearings there are only so many positions that will accept the cotter pin which prevents it from loosening. It is better to have a very small play than to run them too tight. IMHO....Dave
whalerron posted 05-22-2002 08:20 AM ET (US)
If you read some of the literature on the Timken Bearing webpage, you will find that preloaded bearings will fail far sooner than those that have a little play in them. What you are seeing is normal and correct.
http://www.timken.com/products/bearings/techtips/PDFs/Vol6No3.pdf
- ron
Landlocked posted 05-22-2002 09:20 AM ET (US)
thanks for the re-assurance. Didn't want to take a chance at loosing a wheel.
Ll.

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Author	Topic: Trailer Bearings.
Landlocked	posted 05-21-2002 11:30 PM ET (US) I'm in the process of preparing my trailer for a trip to Fla. ~400 miles. I have always kept the bearings greased and recently installed bearing buddies. Tonight while finishing up some work I've been doing while I had the boat off the trailer, I decided to check the bearings. By check I mean I grabbed each wheel and pushed and pulled on it to see if there was any play. I noticed that there is a very slight amount of play maby 1/16 - 1/8 inch in side to side motion. Not loose but you can feel the wheels move sideways just slightly in each direction. I checked my utility trailer which has relatively new bearings and it does exactly the same thing. Anyone know if this is normal? I always check the hubs when towing at each stop and they have never been even the slightest bit hot. Ll.
Drisney	posted 05-22-2002 12:33 AM ET (US) The slight play you mention sounds very normal to me. When you tighten the nut that compresses the bearings there are only so many positions that will accept the cotter pin which prevents it from loosening. It is better to have a very small play than to run them too tight. IMHO....Dave
whalerron	posted 05-22-2002 08:20 AM ET (US) If you read some of the literature on the Timken Bearing webpage, you will find that preloaded bearings will fail far sooner than those that have a little play in them. What you are seeing is normal and correct. http://www.timken.com/products/bearings/techtips/PDFs/Vol6No3.pdf - ron
Landlocked	posted 05-22-2002 09:20 AM ET (US) thanks for the re-assurance. Didn't want to take a chance at loosing a wheel. Ll.