I agree, sealed bearings do not cope with salt water launching. I fitted bearing savers on my M19 trailer. If you've not come across them they are a replacement for the cap that has a spring loaded piston and grease nipple. The idea is that the piston keeps some pressure pushing the grease into the bearing and can move to cope with the expansion and contraction as the warm bearing is plunged into cold water. It may sound a bit unlikely but it seems to work.
Bearing savers are very good I have them on a smaller boat trailer. If your bearings are warm / hot when you back into the water any air space inside the bearing will contract and suck water in past the oil seal. You can get double edged seals which may help to stop inward flow, but most seals are principally designed to keep the grease in and are sloped inwards. Whilst they will keep ordinary wet out, when submerged water is quite easily sucked past the seal
I try to leave the trailer an hour or so to let the hubs cool before submerging.
I now have alko bearings on my trailer that is 3 years old now. I haven't had any problems . The wheels soon fine and the is no play. In contrast I had a lot of problems with my previous indespension bearings , that is until I fitted flush hoses and bearing savers. The latter are a way to keep a positive pressure of geese in the hub so if any leaks out o heating up it is replaced and it deters ingress of salted grease. I thought they worked. I had thought the alko bearings would be great so rather disappointed to hear these reviews.
Hi all, I had my tapered bearings renewed on my Mac 19 trailer before the Big Mac - salt water. A week after returning they were inspected and there was a lot of water ingress and wear so they have been cleaned, re-greased and re-packed. My mechanic says the problem is the axle that is now pitted and worn and therefore it's impossible to create a seal. He says a new axle is the only solution otherwise it's an ongoing issue and the wheels will need to be stripped and re-greased everytime I put the boat in. I see that some of you do this routinely but I'm not a confident mechanic. My first question is, has anyone replaced their axle for similar reasons? My second question is, and it might be a bit obvious, if I was to replace the whole trailer what should I be searching for? Thanks for your observations. Quentin
I replaced the axle on another trailer for the same reason. This is also the most likely reason Andrew had to get an axle replaced at the Big Mac. The axle where the rubber seal sits is very vulnerable to rust as well as ware. The seal will ware a notch in the steel if it resists rust long enough making it difficult to re-sit a new seal effectively. Our axles are attacked and pitted by the rust so water gets in, the grease emulsifies and the bearings fail.
Measure your axle and price a new one on the Internet and see if your mechanic will fit one. Andrew was charged a fortune and if you are faced with that look at new or nearly new trailers.
Thank you Commodore, this confirms a few things for me and I will do as you say. I suppose Andrew was at the mercy of the marina and circumstances. I will measure up and enquire.
All I can say is that after repeated bearing problems and two bearing turnouts on my old trailer it was solved by getting bearing savers and hub flushes. ....without changing the axles. New alco bearing trailer good so far.
We did a review of suitable trailers some years ago and the conclusion was that Lizard Trailers in Cornwall were somewhat better that Mersea Trailers. Mersea used to modify the M's trailers before sending them down to Falmouth for sale and delivery. They still have the plans.
I discovered an unused M trailer wheel, bought 2015 in my garage. A reasonable donation to our charity would secure. Buyer to collect. IG2 6YH.
I agree, sealed bearings do not cope with salt water launching. I fitted bearing savers on my M19 trailer. If you've not come across them they are a replacement for the cap that has a spring loaded piston and grease nipple. The idea is that the piston keeps some pressure pushing the grease into the bearing and can move to cope with the expansion and contraction as the warm bearing is plunged into cold water. It may sound a bit unlikely but it seems to work.
Bearing savers are very good I have them on a smaller boat trailer. If your bearings are warm / hot when you back into the water any air space inside the bearing will contract and suck water in past the oil seal. You can get double edged seals which may help to stop inward flow, but most seals are principally designed to keep the grease in and are sloped inwards. Whilst they will keep ordinary wet out, when submerged water is quite easily sucked past the seal
I try to leave the trailer an hour or so to let the hubs cool before submerging.
Jonathan
I now have alko bearings on my trailer that is 3 years old now. I haven't had any problems . The wheels soon fine and the is no play. In contrast I had a lot of problems with my previous indespension bearings , that is until I fitted flush hoses and bearing savers. The latter are a way to keep a positive pressure of geese in the hub so if any leaks out o heating up it is replaced and it deters ingress of salted grease. I thought they worked. I had thought the alko bearings would be great so rather disappointed to hear these reviews.
Grease not geese! ....honest , I don't use goose fat!
Hi all, I had my tapered bearings renewed on my Mac 19 trailer before the Big Mac - salt water. A week after returning they were inspected and there was a lot of water ingress and wear so they have been cleaned, re-greased and re-packed. My mechanic says the problem is the axle that is now pitted and worn and therefore it's impossible to create a seal. He says a new axle is the only solution otherwise it's an ongoing issue and the wheels will need to be stripped and re-greased everytime I put the boat in. I see that some of you do this routinely but I'm not a confident mechanic. My first question is, has anyone replaced their axle for similar reasons? My second question is, and it might be a bit obvious, if I was to replace the whole trailer what should I be searching for? Thanks for your observations. Quentin
Quentin Sands, past owner
1991 26C Mrs MacGregor
1993 Mac19, Margarita
Hi Quentin
I replaced the axle on another trailer for the same reason. This is also the most likely reason Andrew had to get an axle replaced at the Big Mac. The axle where the rubber seal sits is very vulnerable to rust as well as ware. The seal will ware a notch in the steel if it resists rust long enough making it difficult to re-sit a new seal effectively. Our axles are attacked and pitted by the rust so water gets in, the grease emulsifies and the bearings fail.
Measure your axle and price a new one on the Internet and see if your mechanic will fit one. Andrew was charged a fortune and if you are faced with that look at new or nearly new trailers.
Jonathan
Thank you Commodore, this confirms a few things for me and I will do as you say. I suppose Andrew was at the mercy of the marina and circumstances. I will measure up and enquire.
Quentin Sands, past owner
1991 26C Mrs MacGregor
1993 Mac19, Margarita
All I can say is that after repeated bearing problems and two bearing turnouts on my old trailer it was solved by getting bearing savers and hub flushes. ....without changing the axles. New alco bearing trailer good so far.
Might be worth asking Peaktrailers for a quote. I have used them for lots of different trailer parts in the past. They are located in Bidford on Avon
We did a review of suitable trailers some years ago and the conclusion was that Lizard Trailers in Cornwall were somewhat better that Mersea Trailers. Mersea used to modify the M's trailers before sending them down to Falmouth for sale and delivery. They still have the plans.
I discovered an unused M trailer wheel, bought 2015 in my garage. A reasonable donation to our charity would secure. Buyer to collect. IG2 6YH.
Simon Armitage
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