[DustyRusty]

Hello,

I bought a 2nd hand camper trailer recently (simply box-trailer style). Been painting and fixing a couple of things and decided to replace the bearings (trailer is 16 years old and suspect they are original bearings). Replaced races and bearings with Timken bearings on both sides. One wheel spins for longer than the other when jacked up. Probably about 45 seconds longer. Haven't taken for a test tow yet but everything else seems ok. Nuts not tight, no noises, virtually no play in wheels. Should i be worried? Or is this something that will even out with a bit of a run?

Thanks for your help

Dusty

 

[Porsche986S]

How did you set the pre-load on the bearings ? And do you think you were consistent on both sides ? I think spinning the tires while in the air is a " rough " way to check but probably not that accurate . I would get them as snug as you feel comfortable with and then check the temp of the axle/bearing area with a temp gun after a drive on the highway . Drive 20 miles ( as an example ) on the highway then pull over . Hit each side with the temp gun and see what the results are . If you don't have a temp gun then touch the bearing area with your hands/fingers and feel if one is much warmer than the other .

 

[SeniorSitizen]

I like for them to have just enough end play i can feel it. If you haven't already done so, consider backing the nut of the slower wheel off 1 cotter pin hole then try it. As a final test, after pulling the trailer 3 or 4 miles check both hub temperatures by just feeling of them. If one is too tight it'll be warmer. They should stay relatively close to ambient temperature.

 

[DexterII]

As mentioned, it's mostly about feel, and things need to be pretty snug so that the bearings engage properly and do their job. You mentioned one wheel spinning 45 seconds longer than the other, and I don't know what that means as far as total time, but 45 seconds sounds pretty long just by itself so I would definitely look at that one again and suspect that it is not tight enough.

 

[DustyRusty]

Thanks so much everyone.

Preload i tightened with a spanner (but not rock hard) and then backed off to finger tight. Then spun the hub a few times. I did this probably 5 times. It's possible i didn't preload it quite as much with the faster wheel.

Interesting that the faster wheel being too fast might be the problem. It spins for maybe 1.5 mins (but i haven't timed it). Nuts were not overly tight. I put them at finger tight (not my full force though) then backed off to the first notch.

Maybe one of the seals is causing more drag on the bearing? Both were Timken sets but one was quite an old set (still in packet but old). They could have had slightly differently designed seals?

Great to know what to look for on the test tow.

Thanks for all your help!

Dusty

 

[Missouri Bound]

If you wheels are spinning that long they certainly aren't tight enough to generate any heat. Try switching the bearing around and see if the symptom moves with it. I would think it's a matter of breaking in more than anything else. After you do the temperature test see if the nuts need adjustment. I'll bet they will.
But put a few miles on the trailer first. Everything needs a bit of break-in.