I'm rehabbing a 35 year old steel trailer that I bought with a Hobie 14 about 3 years ago. It's mostly sat in a storage lot until now. It's your typical small catamaran trailer - 1000 lb capacity.

The wheel bearings were growling pretty bad when I brought it home, so I decided to replace the hubs and bearings along with the springs that were badly rusted.

Long story short: I can't find replacement bearings anywhere.

The number on the rim of the old bearings is L44648. The closest common bearing is L44649 that fits a 1.0625" axle.

I measured the axle diameter on the trailer and it's 1.134" (approximately - I don't have a micrometer) L44649 bearings will not fit on the axle - I've tried.

The L44649 bearings appear identical to L44648 bearings except for the bore (axle) diameter.

Do I:
1) Spend a lot of time / $ tracking down the odd bearings?
2) Grind the 0.0715 off the common bearings / axle until they fit?
3) Spend $100 on a new, common diameter axle?

I'm seriously tempted to go with #2, since I have all the parts, but how critical are the tolerances between the axle and the bearing?

The plan would be to use emery cloth on the axle stubs to smooth them out, but not take off a significant amount of material. The bores of the L44649 bearings would be carefully ground by hand using a Dremel tool until they just fit on the axle. Based on the measurements above, I'd be taking off about 1/32" of the material in the bore. Keeping it perfectly circular will be the biggest challenge.

Whaddaya think?

Not what I'm looking for. I already have new springs.

And they don't carry the L44648 bearings, either.

I think your best bet is to turn down the axle spindles, especially if you can find someone with a lathe. Boring out the bearings, by hand with a Dremel, and getting them smooth, concentric, etc. sounds wishful. Also, the bearing races might be hardened steel?

Save yourself the headache and the serious potential for weird problems with the bearings if you grind it. The bearing races and most bearing components are hardened and not intended for machining post-heat treatment. Get the new axle and be relaxed with the confidence that the job is done correctly on the next trip you take.

I agree with replacing the axle, Matt. You'll extend the life of the trailer a great deal more by putting on a new axle that has available bearings. Something the size you're talking about is probably pretty cheap as a part direct from a trailer manufacturer, or better, a steel supply house. New axle and bearings = no worries.

The problem with turning the axle stubs is that the axle isn't straight (by design). It's got a slight bow to it so that when loaded up, it flattens out.

I can see trying to chuck that into a lathe and having it wobble all over the place. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Jake's probably right though - better to have standard components that can be purchased / replaced wherever you happen to get stranded.

What started out as a "I think the old trailer could use a new paint job" has turned out to be a major production.

I'd try Napa. A good one can find just about anything like that. If not I'd just get a new axle. Your time is worth something, and the fuel running around trying to find parts is definetly worth something. Bearings like to fit perfectly so modifying the bearing is a not a good idea. Chances are the spindle can't be removed from the axle, so turning it won't work. I bought a new torque tube axle (1750# gvw) and hubs, and bearing buddies for $160. Torsion suspension is so much nicer than springs for a trailer.

The guy's name is Charles Brennan. I know him from the Trailer Sailor Bulletin Board. He's one of the nicest, wisest, most experienced, most helpful sailors you'll ever talk to and I believe he knows EVERYTHING when it comes to trailer bearings! If he can't help you out, no one can. You can e-mail him and tell him the Doug from NC with the cat 'Special Treat' gave you his name. Just go here:

http://www.sailboatowners.com/db/sendmail.tpl?sku=73173272998&fno=300

Matt, I have been able to get the right bearings for various applications by taking either the measurements of the needed bearings, or the bearings themselves to a bearing company where they measured them and found a similar or very nearly similar part in their catalog.

You might even try to see if there are bearing catalogs on line and search for yourself.

GARY

You've already spent $100 worth of your time. You must be a lot younger than I am. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I was faced with a similar problem this fall with an old axle from a trailer I was rehabbing, and I finally opted to just buy a new axle when I found out how cheap it was, especially compared to having a wheel lock up or come off when going 45mph+. Now that would cost more than an axle, wouldn't it? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A much better quality axle than the one I was trying to fix was only $75 or so.

Rather than screw around with odd-size bearings, I ordered up the new axle. I'm finding more and more uses for that MIG welder I bought last fall. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (spring seats come unwelded)

Anybody need a 66" long piece of scrap steel? Freshly painted gloss black?

I have rebuilt quite a few trailers with this company.
Much cheaper than the local shop.
Helpful on the phone too.


Click

You'll feel much safer going down the road if you know you did it right. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've got to second the torsion axles. My horse trailer has a pair of them and they're soooo much nicer/smother than springs!!