TwilightLane Cubbie Build

[exminnesotaboy]

it's coming right along - looking good!

[TwilightLane]

Thanks Tony - brace yourself, you are going to get a lot of Qs about electrical soon!

[TwilightLane]

So I decided to finally pull apart those hubs and see what's what. One critical side note before I get started: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING. Heh.


I read up on the axle thread. I got a LOT of help from the START HERE thread in the Trailer and Chassis Secrets. So I pulled apart everything and spread it out.

[TwilightLane]

I pretty much destroyed the seals, so I'll have to pick up a new set of those. There was really NOT that much of the cosmoline type grease in the hubs. As I was reading different threads on this site, it seems some folks felt it was optional to clean and repack the bearings on this HF hubs. I think it's clear you need to do it. Even if you think you didn't need to re-do the grease, there didnt seem to be enough in there to safely run the hubs without doing something.

The directions that came with the trailer clearly (actually not that clearly) state you need to clean and repack the bearings. It's kind of buried in the assembly instructions for the trailer, but it clearly says you need to clean and repack the bearings prior to first using the trailer. It wasnt that hard to pull everything apart.

[TwilightLane]

I was surprised to see the grease fitting on the hub. I was under the impression that the HF hubs didnt have that on them.

[TwilightLane]

I didn't get any pics, but I used regular paint thinner to clean the bearings and everything. I permanently borrowed one of my wife's holiday cookie tins (don't tell her or I'm busted) and used it as a basin. It took several rinses to get all that crap out.

[TwilightLane]

Next job is to paint the asphalt on the underside of the deck. Here is the before pic:

[TwilightLane]

Hmmm. Nasty looking stuff. It absorbs light like a black hole!



And don't you love that paint can openers can also open bottles of beer. It's just cosmically appropriate.

[TwilightLane]

I wound up pouring out a glop and using the roller to spread it out. That worked pretty well. I used the brush to cut in the sides.

[TwilightLane]

This is nasty stuff, but I can see that it will protect the underside really well.



You know, I'm not sure it's actually black. I think it's like a black hole, it's so sticky that even light can't escape. So it just looks black.



My hands cleaned up really easy with some paper towels and paint thinner. I had some gloves I planned to wear - but I bet they would have protected better if I had worn them. I just threw away the brush and the whole roller. I've got about a third of a can left. I plan to use it to cover the underside of the subfloor hatch and wooden crosspiece.

[synaps3]

Rob -

Were you able to find new seals? I figure it's probably just as easy as going back to HF and finding the right ones.

I have to tear down the bearings on my build and on the utility trailer soon... Not looking forward to it..


Nice Subaru in the background. I was torn between a white Subaru Outback (I think almost identical to yours) and the Honda CR-V that I ended up with. Subaru makes great cars.

[TwilightLane]

Dave - I haven't even gone to look yet. I was going to try the HF store, at least as an opportunity to get back over there and wander around the aisles. I'm sure I'll post the story when I do get em.

[synaps3]

Okay, cool.

[Newman39Fan]

Good news/bad News - The seals are only $1 each. Bad news - not stocked in the store, you need to call them to order them. I just ordered 4 seals, just in case and 4 new bearings, just in case. Total was $15. Of course then there was the $7.99 shipping and 10 to 14 days for delivery. And I will warn you, I have heard someone on here say that if you go out the back door of your HF store it goes directly into China. Well that might be true, but when you call them, you call India. Have the parts list from the instructions with you when you call and the model number of your trailer, this will make it a smoother call.

[volfanatic72]

You can always check at your local bearing houses... i.e. Applied Industrial Technologies or Motion Industries.