How much can you cook a trailer wheel bearing...

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Trailer Guy

Both bearings had collapsed, the shoes were brand new, hence they don't look too bad I guess, but I agree, they were lucky it didn't catch light.

Good to see you took the split pin out. I bet the look on your face was a picture as 'it just came off in my hand' moment .:-)

[Trailer Guy]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

So ... bearing collapse .. long motorway run .. can you elaborate on the conditions before the failure TG ?

All of the above. Came up from South Devon IIRC. Bearing collapsed at the bottom of the A34. Would say the chap towing wasn't to blame as it had been serviced three days prior to the drive, ergo he'd be confident all was ok.

Single axle. Only 1500kg GVW. They were lucky as it could've turned out a lot worse.

Anyway, replaced the axle in-situ, with boat on, and towed it the rest of the way to their house for them, within a day. So all's well that ends well

[Trailer Guy]

Originally Posted by paintman

I will admit to once overtightening a taper roller bearing on the front wheel of the Scimitar I owned at the time. The resultant heat destroyed the bearing cage & welded the inner rear race to the stub axle.
What fun that was to get off

Lol, that's about every fifth job I do - a bearing inner stuck on a stub axle! The amount I've had to cut off with a grinder, or shatter with a cold chisel, as even the big puller won't get them off.. Little buggers.

[BogMonster]

Thanks all. I'll keep an eye on it - that's what I was thinking, that the rumble should give it away before it goes into orbit (he said foolishly). I've yet to get it back in the garage and check both wheels to be sure, but if it seems OK now then I will just keep an eye on it. I've got a spare set of bearings already in drums to go on anyway, at which point the brakes might get upgraded to the same spec as my old boat trailer, which never gave any brake trouble at all

I never leave brakes on with any trailer (or any vehicle) - if I go away on holiday the vehicles will be left in gear with handbrake off. Any brake shoe/drum left in contact usually freezes on after a while.

The persistent sticky brake is, I think, down to a mixture of a sticky cable and the fact that due to circumstances and location, the brakes get flushed and then it sits for a bit and goes in the garage, without having the benefit of a good run to dry out. The upgrade will sort that out too

[BogMonster]

Well, having now checked the bearings with the wheels jacked up, both sides are perfect, which is good after 3 years use. I'm starting to be less uncomfortable about sealed wheel bearings.

Any cunning tips for getting oil or other lube into a sticky brake cable without disassembly? I've previously tried dribbling oil on to it with the brake applied and then releasing it, but it doesn't go in far enough to do anything useful.

[steco1958]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Ahh! Well, knock that chip off your shoulder young sir, you see slights at every turn I was using "Mainland" in the Falklands-British Isles context. If I'd said UK, that would have implied that the Falklands aren't part of the UK, which they very much are & I hope remain so. If I'd said England, I'd have had the Sweatys & Sheep worriers on my case, so here's me thinking that "Mainland" was a pretty safe bet & up pop the Spuddies, I can't win This Polytickley correct business is a bloody minefield

Pikey,

You could have used "Britain" ???