Trailer Bearings

Turkeyman · Post by **Turkeyman** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:13 pm

I lost another set of bearings coming home from Clear Lake yesterday. That makes 4 sets in less than a year all on the left side of the trailer. Anybody know of a good axel shop in the Modesto/Turlock area? Im thinking when I get my boat back from Lake County I need to put a different axel under the trailer with oil bath bearings.

Rich hamilton · Post by **Rich hamilton** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:03 pm

http://local.yahoo.com/info-21769914-ma ... NNRTI4OF8x

Worth the drive to fix it correctly. I worked with Marv for 20 years and is one of the most stand up guys I have ever met. Call him it is worth the extra drive.

bassz21 · Post by **bassz21** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:12 pm

don't use the oil bath hubs too many problems with seals going out I switched to vortex hubs I like them a lot

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:17 am

Get the hubs with the vaseliine-like lubricant that melts as it gets hot from the axle running, and then thickens back up when it cools. Avoids the problem of water being drawn into the "sealed" oil chamber when you back hot axle hubs into the water to launch.
Call Pacific Trailer for some advice. Ask for Joe.

909 902-1102

clearlakeoutdoors · Post by **clearlakeoutdoors** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 5:03 am

I agree with bassz21 the oil bath hubs fail to often lots of guys switching them out

bassrman · Post by **bassrman** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 5:07 pm

Macatee's Marine in Lakeport do great trailer service & repair! they have save my butt a few times!

toddmc · Post by **toddmc** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 12:45 pm

The reality is that all seals will leak and you need check whatever system you have on every trip. My first boat (1997)had the good old grease zerk and an inner seal that leaked. The inside of the left hub/wheel must have had two tubes of grease on it before I realized it was leaking. I took the hub off myself and I had an auto parts store punch out the old seals and put in the new. I learned to check my hubs more often. Fortunately, the bearings were still good.
My latest boat (2008) has the Vortex system and it is less maintenance, but a seal on the left hub had to be replaced after the first and third years. Another mess, but I caught it early each time and I saved the bearings. The first seals and labor were covered by the boat manufacturer under warranty. The manufacturer of the Vortex hub is easy to work with and did give a new set of seals for the fix after the third year, but I had to pay for the labor. The Vortex manufacturer acted like they have never heard of a problem with their seals and they claim they are the most reliable system, but it doesn't matter what system you have if you have a bent axle. Get it checked out.