Urgent help - Trailer bearings for HF 1720#

[tcolar]

Hi there i have a trailer built on a HF 1720# frame (4*8) , it has about 9k miles on it.

Currently on a trip with the family near moab utah, UT. One of my tires blew. Had a spare and changed it but seems to me the wheel is a little lose and seem to be able to travel a little "in and out" of the axle ..... I don't think it use to be like that. Drove some after changing the wheel and the axle/hub cap to did not get warm so maybe it's all ok.

In any case i'm thin king the bearings might be getting bad maybe.

I dis find some bearings #30205 which I believe are the right one but I'm not 100% sure.
They do have the 25mm inside size that seems good, but i thought i read somewhere the external size should be 52mm but the sleeve is that size and not the actual bearing (that seems around 48 or so) so I wanted to make sure if that was correct.


also if their is a link as fas as an howto replace the bearings, its's been a while since i originally did it !

Thanks.

[tcolar]

Bearings picture:

http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image_page.php?album_id=358&image_id=118777&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&display=popup

[Nobody]

52mm should be the outer diameter of the oil/grease seal, not the bearing. The 30205 is the correct bearing for 'MY' HF 1720 trailer & probably for yours. The bearing 'race' outside diameter is probably 52mm. Most folks use a seal that is 30 or 31x52x10 but the 'journal' of the spindle on which the seal turns on my trailer is slightly larger & the 30/31 inner diameter wouldn't go on so my son (a NAPA store Mgr) found the 32x52x8 seal which fits perfectly. If your hub is slightly loose (in & out) it may just be a little wear. I'd try tightening the 'castle' nut maybe one slot & see if that tightens it up before replacing the bearings. Also, check the grease in the spindle & around the bearings for severe discoloration/contamination...

[aggie79]

If your hub is slightly loose (in & out) it may just be a little wear. I'd try tightening the 'castle' nut maybe one slot & see if that tightens it up before replacing the bearings.

I agree with what Harvey says. If you've never rechecked/retightened the castle nuts since you installed the hubs, I'd do that first.

The above said, I would order two sets of bearings and seals - one for each side - ahead of time just to have when you need them. This is cheap insurance and gives you peace of mind. Also, in my experience, trailer axle bearings are like tail light bulbs. If one goes out you better change them both because if you don't the old one you didn't replace will fail soon after the new one on the other side is installed.