Trailer hub

Have just bought a new pair of 4 inch PCD trailer hubs off ebay. Quality not the best of course. Look at the photo. Do you think this will cause problems eg metal bits getting into the grease?  

Edited by Strangler - 08 Mar 22 at 10:58am

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Strangler Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 24 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 154	Post Options Post Reply Quote Strangler Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Trailer hub Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 10:56am
	Have just bought a new pair of 4 inch PCD trailer hubs off ebay. Quality not the best of course. Look at the photo. Do you think this will cause problems eg metal bits getting into the grease? Edited by Strangler - 08 Mar 22 at 10:58am

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3406	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 1:28pm
	Looking at the picture on ebay, should be OK, any metal from what looks like water damaged area, will be micro sized, no worse than road dust. Give it a coat of hammerite if you are concerned, but try not to get any on the bearing surface.
	Robert

Strangler Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 24 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 154	Post Options Post Reply Quote Strangler Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 3:42pm
	Ok thanks. Water damage? I thought it was just poor manufacturing in the lathe or whatever they use.

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3406	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 6:54pm
	Think the gold part is drop forged, bearing surface will have been pressed in. The lathe marks will be where they have removed excess material, hole pitch and being central to bearing surface is what counts.
	Robert

ohFFsake Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 04 Sep 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 219	Post Options Post Reply Quote ohFFsake Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Mar 22 at 10:34am
	The parts that don't need to be accurately machined are only roughly finished which is how they produce them so incredibly cheaply. Nothing to worry about as long as the bearing shells are the correct interference fit when you press them in and out. Bearings and hubs are so cheap now I generally change them every season as a precaution, and keep a complete spare hub with new bearings in a plastic bag in my spares box so I can change the whole thing in the side of the road in about 10 minutes should the need arise. Had so many dramas with trailer wheels and bearings in the past that this seems very cheap for the peace of mind!

piglet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote piglet Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 22 at 9:30am
	Sand casting & rough turned, absolutely fine. Bearings of any quality, if adjusted & greased, should go for years with our light occasional use. Until the grease seal fails then the bearing will quickly follow.

ohFFsake Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 04 Sep 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 219	Post Options Post Reply Quote ohFFsake Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 22 at 9:51am
	I agree don't waste money on expensive bearings, it's water ingress that causes them to fail every time. Bearings will last for years on combi trailers, but if your trailer has to go into the water every time you launch, as for example with RIB trailers and most keelboats then they will usually get contaminated fairly quickly and a new set every season is a sensible precaution. The thing to really avoid is launching straight after towing, when the bearings are still hot. The water cools them, they contract and positively suck water in past the seals