On 5/28/2021 8:51 AM, David Grah via montgomery_boats wrote:
We found I did not check the tightness of the lug nuts on our trailer yesterday and managed to destroy a wheel, the studs on the hub, probably the bearings, and maybe the axle on the drivers side before we stopped to figure out what "that noise" was. The trailer is unusable because of the damage so the boat on the trailer sits in Lida, Nevada until I can make a repair or, more likely, get the trailer on a trailer, bring it home, and do the work here. I think the Trail-Rite trailer is original to the 1986 Montgomery 15. I am almost certain the inside bearings were destroyed in the carnage and the axle was damaged where the inside seal rides. I admit to having almost no experience working on trailers but think it may make sense for me to plan on replacing the whole axle and hubs assembly, assuming I can get an appropriate quality axle / hub set. Although the first project is to get the boat home, any insights and advice on how to evaluate the damage to the trailer and go about getting parts for it would be greatly appreciated!
David GrahMontgomery 15Bishop California
Hi David, Chapter 2 in Trailerology: I had a trailer tool box in my car's hatch whenever we traveled. It contained: - A grease gun for my Bearing Buddies. A can of wheel bearing grease. A small oil can for the trailer ball connector, and for the trailer tongue jack. (prevent corrosion) - A set of wheel bearings; inner bearing and outer bearing; as well as my home-made tools to putting them back in place if I ever had to do the job at the side of the road - A 12 inch square of plywood. The thicker the better. You need this so that your bottle jack base doesn't sink into soft ground. - A bottle jack - Lug wrench with extension if your lug bolts are rusty (I grease mine to make sure I don't have to call for King Kong to undo the lugs) - A hammer if you need some persuasion when installing the bearings - A cheap volt / ohm meter to check trailer light wiring continuity / bulb filaments - Enough wrenches or sockets to fit every nut on the trailer. (my boat tool box had pliers and screwdrivers) Spare bearing cotter pins. - A warning triangle - A cheap led flashlight or a flashing warning light. Remember, MURPHY will always pick the worst time to do his mischief. These things happen only at night; when it's raining; and you are far from help Your intent should be to "defeat the bastard". Ciao, Connie