New Harbor Freight trailer..dust caps

[hammer & tongs]

I have always used Tractor supply trailers, but I wanted a 4'X4' trailer for chores, so I bought a Harbor freight..with the same same 12" wheels as on their 8' model. My inner bearings seemed to be prepacked and the inner hubs have grease zerks. I packed the outers in the conventional "palm" way and one-fingered the inners....I don't see how the grease zerks will penetrate the bearings.
Primary question... Why won't those dust caps fit into the hubs ? I think I could beat them into a cocked hat..and they still wouldn't be in place !
I tried a board to spread the blows, but still no success..just figured I better check with you guys before I take them to my belt sander..
What am I doing wrong ?
...Forger

[eamarquardt]

I made a SST (Special Service Tool) to install dust caps. I took a piece of steel and bored it out till it fit over the cap and fit against the "rim". Then I use a hammer on the end of the tool and it transfers the blows nicely to the rim of the cap without damaging the end of the cap.

Scrounge around and see if you can find a piece of pipe, tubing, or an old socket that will fit your caps.

HF stuff is not necessarily standard.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

[canned o minimum]

Sumtimes ya jus GOTTA engineer yer own SST's fer stuff.. I don't have a HF trailer , but that SST sounds perfect.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

PVC fitting works well to distribute the blows from rubber mallet. Forget what size though. Take a measurement and go wander through the PVC section at your local big box store.

[Corwin C]

PVC fitting works well to distribute the blows from rubber mallet. Forget what size though. Take a measurement and go wander through the PVC section at your local big box store.

Even better, since the caps aren't installed ... take one with you.

[KCStudly]

Exhaust tubing in 1-1/2 size, IIRC, just like Gus said.

[hammer & tongs]

Hey ..thanks guys..this is the point where I hit myself side of the head and ask.."what was I thinking of" ? You guys brought me back to logic..

[hammer & tongs]

I went to my shop and found a piece of pipe which just fit..easy installation. Thanks Guys..

[Aaron Coffee]

I too use an SST. Mine is a piece of heavy wall pipe, I'm guessing it is well pipe, it just fits over the caps. I need to remember to take it to work on the next home project Friday(last Friday of the month)and cut the ends square. It is now a DDSST(Double Duty Special Service Tool)as I used it to install new axle seals in the rear end of my pickup.
I replaced the caps on my Menards bought trailer kit axle and they required a fairly heavy blow to get them on, and also if you get the silver looking ones they will polish up to near chrome appearance(ok somewhat near chrome appearance) with some metal polish, as will the safety chains, and hitch latch mechanisims.