working on my trailer

[peterdarby]

I am about ready to start working on my trailer. I need to get a bearing packer and some grease before I start wrenching.

My intentions were to get a Harbor Freight Trailer (HF) and Sears cargo box and make a MC trailer. But I found the "Tag Along " Trailer at HF For about the same price as the HF cargo trailer and a Sears Box. The tag along is a black (no painting over the red) less width (no cutting and welding to fit the Sears box) with a side opening box(No repositioning the sears box hinges) that I should be able to make road reay in a couple of hours after I grease the hubs. About the only mods I have planned is to cut the tongue, bolt in an extension and then weld a cooler holder on. The Tag along holds 16 square ft while the sears box is 20 square ft. I figure that if I decide I need the extra four feet I can pick up a sears box on craigs list when one comes up and change out the boxes. I also ordered the hitch and wiring system which should be in by Friday or so. Now I just need to find the time to put it all together and, of course get the license for the trailer. When I am done it will not be the prettiest trailer but then it doesn't cost 1,500 to 3,500 either and it will still carry my camping gear which will leave room for the wife on the pillion. After I get everything assembled I will try to get some pictures.

[ringadingh]

Sounds like a good choice, Ive seen the Sears cartoppers around here at yard sales for $10-$20 once in a while. You can pack the bearings by hand and save yourself the expense of a bearing packer.
Ive always done them by hand with good results.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by peterdarby

I am about ready to start working on my trailer. I need to get a bearing packer and some grease before I start wrenching.

My intentions were to get a Harbor Freight Trailer (HF) and Sears cargo box and make a MC trailer. But I found the "Tag Along " Trailer at HF For about the same price as the HF cargo trailer and a Sears Box. The tag along is a black (no painting over the red) less width (no cutting and welding to fit the Sears box) with a side opening box(No repositioning the sears box hinges) that I should be able to make road reay in a couple of hours after I grease the hubs. About the only mods I have planned is to cut the tongue, bolt in an extension and then weld a cooler holder on. The Tag along holds 16 square ft while the sears box is 20 square ft. I figure that if I decide I need the extra four feet I can pick up a sears box on craigs list when one comes up and change out the boxes. I also ordered the hitch and wiring system which should be in by Friday or so. Now I just need to find the time to put it all together and, of course get the license for the trailer. When I am done it will not be the prettiest trailer but then it doesn't cost 1,500 to 3,500 either and it will still carry my camping gear which will leave room for the wife on the pillion. After I get everything assembled I will try to get some pictures.

Here's your bearing packer: put a gob of grease in the palm of one hand. Pick up the bearing with the other hand. Then push the edge of the bearing (between the inner race and bearing carrier) into the grease. Work around the circumference of the bearing until the grease starts to push out the other end.

Please do post some pictures, I'd like to see it.

[macmac]

Forget the grease packing tool. They just make as much mess as you will hand packing and you can hand pack a lot better anyway. If you must wear latex gloves.

Your gonna get your hands dirty anyway getting out the packing grease un-fit for the road, in the bearings and hubs.

The bearings need to be cleaned out completely and air dried not buzzing up the bearings at all. The hub needs to be totally cleaned out too.

The best way to get the inner bearing and seal out is to pull the hub and pull the ft bearing, then re-install the hub with no ft bearing, spin the nut on to be flush with the axel and snatch the hub off, leaving the inner bearing and the seal on the axel.

Clean the axel too.. Forget that trash tool.

[zoom45]

peterdarby,
Homemade trailers don't have to be pretty to be functional.
Zoom45

[peterdarby]

Okay I am hand packing. Tonight I cleaned out the crap and tomorrow I will pack it. Then the build, licensing and installing the hitch and wiring harness and I will be ready to go. Thanks for all the advice

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by peterdarby

Okay I am hand packing. Tonight I cleaned out the crap and tomorrow I will pack it. Then the build, licensing and installing the hitch and wiring harness and I will be ready to go. Thanks for all the advice

Just curious, where did you get your hitch and wiring harness?

[macmac]

Oh yeah? What's the plan for Euro lighting to the trailers American plan...

Did you see this yet?
http://www.gadgetjq.com/trailer.htm

It is a real wise idea to get that hoppy..... Not only does it fix the light problem, it can save your charging system if the trailer ever has a big dead short.

The device induces current and sences it. Even if i rode an American lighted bike i would still use the right Hoppy isolater converter to haul a trailer.

[macmac]

Originally Posted by zoom45

peterdarby,
Homemade trailers don't have to be pretty to be functional.
Zoom45

I hear that... My trailer is probably uglier than yours. I just don't care, it's a trailer..

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Speaking of packing bearings, I can still recall my Dad packing the bearings on the front wheels of our cars. Of course that was in the day of rear wheel drive cars. I have packed a few myself. You do get your hands dirty and greasy but it definitely gets the job done.

[peterdarby]

I bought the MCHitch and wiring harness. I would have liked to go with chuckster's but he doesn't make one for the 1700 Nomad. The wiring harness has a converter so the trailer lights draw power directly from the battery. Hopefully tonight I will pack the bearings, and put the trailer together. Tomorrow the hitch and harness should arrive and Friday I will install it give it its first test ride. I have a big archery tournement on Saturday and Sunday is full so I will have to make it happen in the evenings.

[macmac]

Oh the way ton pack bearings is to scrape the wide taper hard across the palm of the hand, forcing grease thru the rollers.. Some grease should be lightly applied to all races and hub surfaces.
You don't just gob grease on the taper bearing outside and pray, you litterally pack it full of grease.

[cactusjack]

Here's a video on servicing trailer wheel bearings. The example is a boat trailer, but wheel bearings are wheel bearings.

[peterdarby]

Thanks Cactus Jack and everyone. I am getting more confident by the post. I will look at the youtube when I get home. My plan is to greas the bearings re-assemble the axle then use the grease fitting to fill the axle body. Does that sound right?

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by peterdarby

Thanks Cactus Jack and everyone. I am getting more confident by the post. I will look at the youtube when I get home. My plan is to greas the bearings re-assemble the axle then use the grease fitting to fill the axle body. Does that sound right?

It sounds right if you're into wasting grease. You don't really need to fill the axle body with grease unless you plan to submerge the hubs, like with a boat trailer.