loose dust cover for hubs

[bobhenry]

I learned something yesterday when packing the bearing on the chuck wagon. I had lost a dust cover and had another wandering around the house and when I went to put it on it fell in place. That's not good, if it "falls" on it will "fall" off. So how do I tighten up the fit? I tried bending the lip out with heavy pliers , I tried puckering the material a bit with diagional pliers as if partially cutting the lip in several places. No luck at all !

I was rooting around for options to expand the diameter of the lip just a bit.

Well it finally came to me I grabbed an extra 1 7/8 hitch ball and went to stand it in the dust cup. Damn it fell right in. Undaunted with my new idea I had a 2" by 1" shank ball I sat in in the cup and it rested on the lip I was trying to expand. I grasped the ball and cup and beat the dust cap flat onto my bench vice flat anvil portion and gave it 25 to 30 whacks and went to check the fit it was better but still not what I wanted so another 25-30 whacks and a recheck it was snug but still a hand pop on situation so one more time and the third try was good a gentle nudge in a couple spots with a hammer and an old flat blade screw driver and my dust cover fit like it should.

[CARS]

It's been a few years but if i remember correctly, I lost a buddy bearing on my dad's car trailer a few hours away from home while delivering a car. I found the local parts store and I had a guy mic the hub opening and he sold me a new bearing buddy. I took my trusty hammer and for the life of me, couldn't get it on. The salesman was watching through the window and I went back in and told him this doesn't fit. He went back to his computer and discovered that there are 2 hub sizes that are extremely close together in size. Like within thousandths.

Maybe you have the wrong cap???

BTW: The second buddy fit like a glove and is still in use today! I just had to tell my dad to quit over filling the bearing buddy.

[bobhenry]

It's been a few years but if i remember correctly, I lost a buddy bearing on my dad's car trailer a few hours away from home while delivering a car. I found the local parts store and I had a guy mic the hub opening and he sold me a new bearing buddy. I took my trusty hammer and for the life of me, couldn't get it on. The salesman was watching through the window and I went back in and told him this doesn't fit. He went back to his computer and discovered that there are 2 hub sizes that are extremely close together in size. Like within thousandths.

Maybe you have the wrong cap???

BTW: The second buddy fit like a glove and is still in use today! I just had to tell my dad to quit over filling the bearing buddy.

I am certain I did just lucky it was the smaller one so with a little redneck engenerin' I was able to make do with what I had.

Just had to spread it " a few thousandths"

[CARS]

I wonder why they would even make "similar" sized hubs?

Must be an Imperial/Metric thing