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, Years ago I was in Clearwater, Florida riding around the local area on my bicycle. In those days (BM - before Montgomery 15) I had a Bolger MICRO, which was a great boat, but, ..... stepping a free standing mast had become a problem. I had to hold the mast at about an 80 degree angle to get it into the front compartment and into the mast step. Ergo, I needed a solution for that problem. In my bicycle travels, I discovered a derelict ComPac16 sitting on a rusted out trailer. I stopped and had a look. The ComPac16 had an aluminum deck-stepped mast with shrouds and a forestay. It whispered to me; "I'm the solution to your mast-stepping problems" so I inquired among the neighbors; got the owners name phone number; called him and made a ridiculous offer, that was instantly accepted. So, a day later, I became the owner of the derelict ComPac16 and the rotted trailer. My first problem was to repair / rebuild the trailer so that I could get the ComPac16 from Clearwater, FL back to Glastonbury, CT where I could do a boat overhaul. Knowing nothing about trailers, my first job was get knowledge. I finally found, and can only highly recommend a_*"GLEN-L MARINE" Glen-L.com, tel. 562-630-6258 published book on TRAILERS. *_ This gives you detailed information about trailer construction; suspension systems; bearings; wiring; State Trailer Laws; proper trailer balance and trailer tongue weight .... I found it to be the Trailer Bible, answering all my questions; telling me what to do; and why to do it this way. Now, equipped with knowledge, I bought a hack saw; bottle jack; scrounged some concrete blocks, jacked up the trailer, and then cut off all the rusty (and immovable) bolts. I removed the whole axle; took off the badly rusted wheels; and the springs; and removed all the wiring. Then using the YELLOW PAGES of the Telephone Directory (remember Yellow Pages - the Internet of its time?) I located a Trailer Supply Shop. There I was able to buy a new axle with bearings; new springs; new bolts and nuts; a trailer electrical wiring harness; a trailer jack .... and go to work. Reassembly was the easy part. Our trip from Florida to Connecticut was completed without a problem. I gave the ComPac16a total overhaul. When we drove to Lake Champlain for sailing trials, and sailing the ComPac for a week, I quickly discovered that I'd bought in haste: and now repented at leisure ...! The ComPac was a miserable excuse for a sail boat. Sail to windward...? You want me to do that? Sorry, I only do broad reaches. So, I unloaded it as fast as I could. That's when I became a Montgomery 15 owner. Get the Glen-L Trailer book and a major part of your problems will be solved. Ciao, Connie