On Sun, 1 Feb 2004 10:33:31 -0500, "Frank Taylor, Jr."
wrote:

I recently had one of the wheels on my trailer overheat after only about 4
miles of driving. As it turns out the one of the bearings has totally
disintegrated and a piece of the drum had broken off. I replace the drum
and the bearings.

Inspection of the spindle revealed that it was not bent but it did have a
few gouges on it. The new bearings and the new drum all fit on perfectly
and after about 25 miles of towing (with the boat on the trailer), the hub
was just barely warm.

My question is . . . are the gouges in the spindle going to cause a problem
or is it okay? I'm thinking that since the drum turns on the bearings and
not the spindle, it should be no problem but I want to be sure.

What do you all think?

As long as the gouges are not along where the bearing seals are
located allowing the grease to escape, then you should be all set.
The load being carried is spreard across the spindle, so a minor gouge
isn't much of a problem. Take a piece of emory cloth and just smooth
the area around the gouges down so there aren't any minor hills or
sharp edges to cause uneven wear. Keep them greased and check often
until you are comfortable with the situation.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------
The years will bring their Anodyne,
But I shall never quite forget,
The fish that I had counted mine
And lost before they reached the net.

Colin Ellis, "The Devot Angler" quoted
in A. R. Macdougall, Jr's "The Trout
Fisherman's Bedside Book" (1963)