Replacement axle

davej · 14 April 2020, 22:16

Hi, I have a 22 yr old snipe Un braked 750 GVW trailer, which hasgiven great service. However due to its age and my suspicions that the rubber suspension is tired and has sagged are looking to replace. Does the rubber suspension get tired and lose it’s give/spring and secondly where is the best place to seek a replacement. The bearings are taper roller, which are not sealed and I just grease at every pre launch and annually clean and repack.

Would A new axle have these or sealed bearings as I like the none sealed ones I can inspect and replace easily, rather than the sealed up ones that need a press to change them.

Any thought please?

Thanks David

Allye · 14 April 2020, 22:30

Almost all trailer bearing are taper. There is a couple website where you can spec the width and type of axel you want, so should be just a case of bolting a new one up, carefully check your PCD.

Maybe just repack the bearings with waterproof grease when you get it. I was looking at these when I had a 750kg snipe last season.

https://www.trailertek.com/trailer-p...-torsion-axles

Callum B · 14 April 2020, 22:54

Indespension is a good site to find the parts you need but towsure are cheaper.

Given the age of your trailer, its worth having a good look at the A frame, if its box section, these tend to corrode from the inside out......no point bolting on new bits if the structure is shot!!..... run over it gently with a hammer, paticularly at the low points underside, and listen to the tone it makes.....the tone should be fairly consistent, if its good.

davej · 15 April 2020, 10:48

Thank you both for your good advice, which I will act on. I had a measure of the stud PCD on the old hubs and thought it was 104 mm, which I guess means it’s old money 4inch!

Are all the replacements I would buy galvanised?

Many thanks

Dave

Allye · 15 April 2020, 11:01

None they will just be painted. Not sure if trailertek do it but there are some suppliers where you can pay extra for galv.

Callum B · 15 April 2020, 11:02

http://www.indespension.co.uk/213-un-braked-units-with-stub-axle

I dont remember the trailer parts being galv.

Orwell boy · 15 April 2020, 18:38

I wouldnt make rocket science out of it ,snipe ,is now mersea / bramber / rapide ,all made near colchester essex ,plenty of spares for collection , give the m a ring ,maybe its this one !
https://www.merseatrailers.com/store...PCD-p156170624

Orwell boy · 15 April 2020, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by davej

Thank you both for your good advice, which I will act on. I had a measure of the stud PCD on the old hubs and thought it was 104 mm, which I guess means it’s old money 4inch!

Are all the replacements I would buy galvanised?

Many thanks

Dave

If it has grease nipples in the cast part of the hub it will be 4" ,not 100mm, i have a new snipe 750kg here from last year and they are still using 4" on some unbraked ,about three different mbc (measurement between centres ) that they do ,they are happy to see visitors ,good people imo

diver 1 · 15 April 2020, 20:07

I think some of the Alko hubs have the pressed in bearings you refer to, I have them on my SBS trailer. My indespension trailer has taper bearings and I'm much more confident using it as despite maintenance I know I can always change the taper bearings roadside if I really have to and always carry the spares to do so in an ice cream tub tucked away in the car. A great thing to buy is the bearing saver cups that push onto the hub and allow grease to be injected into the bearings using a grease gun regularly. Since using these I've yet to find any pitting or corrosion on the taper bearings when I change them despite normally having a fair bit of use and long distance mileage throughout the year.

davej · 17 April 2020, 19:27

Thanks will do.

Dave

Ribtecer · 17 April 2020, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callum B

[

I dont remember the trailer parts being galv.

I bought my Galv wheels from the States where that's all they have, why don't we use them here.

davej · 19 April 2020, 15:48

Thank you all for the comments, I have emailed Mersey trailers back with the dimensions they requested to help them find my axle I did this last week so hopefully they will get back to me ASAP so that I can get on replacing it during the lockdown. I will chase them tomorrow. I also feel more comfortable with taper rollers that I can change on the roadside with a new hub and a few basic tools. The bearing buddies I will fit again.

Thanks for the confirmation Orwell boy that Mersey are a helpful company to deal with. I do know that area of Essex fairly well but where exactly are Mersey trailers? Where do you get replacement tyres, they are the 10 inch size?

Orwell boy do you use that super steep slip at Levington, I once used it with my dive club but never again, to me it seemed v dangerous?

Thanks Dave

Orwell boy · 19 April 2020, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by davej

Thank you all for the comments, I have emailed Mersey trailers back with the dimensions they requested to help them find my axle I did this last week so hopefully they will get back to me ASAP so that I can get on replacing it during the lockdown. I will chase them tomorrow. I also feel more comfortable with taper rollers that I can change on the roadside with a new hub and a few basic tools. The bearing buddies I will fit again.

Thanks for the confirmation Orwell boy that Mersey are a helpful company to deal with. I do know that area of Essex fairly well but where exactly are Mersey trailers? Where do you get replacement tyres, they are the 10 inch size?

Orwell boy do you use that super steep slip at Levington, I once used it with my dive club but never again, to me it seemed v dangerous?

Thanks Dave

Hi Dave ,mersea trailers is located where the a120 Harwich rd splits from the 133 to clacton ,however i think you have to go past the 133 turning towards harwich and drop back from the next roundabout ,personally i usually drop in that way as i come down from manningtree. They will have 10" wheels and tyres but probhably expensive ,if you go internet then make sure you get the right ply rating for at least 375 kg per side ,many cheapies are far lower and therfore dangerous when running at 750kg
secondly ,yes that is my local slipway ,i am very comfortable with it now but it does take time and several uses ,i pulled a defender out last summer ,in half way up the screen ,two major common factors ,1)all terrain tyres on the green are leathal 2) people back in to deep ,handbrake on when sitting in ,get out car, boat takes float lifting rear of car/defender with winch still connected taking weight off back of car and handbrake and car slides slowly into the water ,ussually with driver frantically trying to get back in , personally i always go in dry above tyre wall ,and leave in park ,dont think it would work with bunks though .

davej · 24 April 2020, 15:49

Thank you Orwell boy, that slip at Levington, I will leave to the likes of real locals, it’s just too much for me!

I have since I last posted spoken to Mersea trailers and hopefully they will be getting back to me soon, so that I can get on with the replacement, while we are in lockdown.

Thanks Dave

HDAV · 26 April 2020, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orwell boy

,i pulled a defender out last summer ,in half way up the screen ,two major common factors ,1)all terrain tyres on the green are leathal 2) people back in to deep ,handbrake on when sitting in ,get out car, boat takes float lifting rear of car/defender with winch still connected taking weight off back of car and handbrake and car slides slowly into the water ,ussually with driver frantically trying to get back in , personally i always go in dry above tyre wall ,and leave in park ,dont think it would work with bunks though .

Which tyres work best of hungry green ramps?

I agree lots of people like to go too deep when launching and recovering (particularly recovery as they seem to want to float the boat into the winchpost!)

Coastie · 27 April 2020, 06:37

“Which tyres work best of hungry green ramps?”.

Not a lot, best to keep driving wheels off the stuff. Use drawbar extension or have a tow rope or two would be my advice.

Orwell boy · 27 April 2020, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coastie

“Which tyres work best of hungry green ramps?”.

Not a lot, best to keep driving wheels off the stuff. Use drawbar extension or have a tow rope or two would be my advice.

Absolutely agree ,if you can keep along way out of the water ,then you will be along way from the green ,the slip is steep meaning there is lots of depth off the back of the trailer ,rollers and a good braked winch is helpful ,rollrbunk works even better , but there is alot of winching involved ,so a good winch in and out is essential ,take it steady ,you dont want to be rushed by the speed merchant pushing you along
with regard to tyres ,i personally reckon soft compound showroom tyres on my Disco seem to be best but thats a smooth concrete slipway ,that may well differ on more rugged slips ,some of those hard compound off road tyres are known as now you see me know you dont ,in our neck of the woods

Coastie · 27 April 2020, 18:49

Agreed. I use All Seasons on my 4x4 and usually the diff locker and low ratio. Less wear on the clutch. But even with that, I never get my wheels on the slippy green stuff.

davej · 03 May 2020, 08:24

Now have my replacement axle from mersea trailers, just need to fit it this week. One thing I have noticed is that this new axle is straight across and doesn’t have a crank in it that gives increased clearance for the keel. Measuring it up it still gives about 100mm but I hope this won’t be a problem. Just have to see when winching up, maybe need an extra roller there?
Sarah at Mersea trailers was really helpful, seems an excellent company to deal with. Many thanks for all the help from forum members. Dave

davej · 03 May 2020, 08:26

An extra point is that I need to just inspect the bearings and see if I hopefully have taper rollers , fingers crossed.