E
El Pescador
Guest
Last year I made a post about my ordeal with a Road Runner trailer.
http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8495
Fast-forward since last time I posted, I am in the process of replacing (again, third set in three seasons!!!) the bearings because of water ingress (again). Packing and inspecting the bearings every season and keeping the "bearing protectors" (AKA "bearing buddies") filled has not cured the problem because now I have also found pitting on the spindles surfaces where the seals make contact, which makes the seals become ruined in no time (and before someone asks, yes, they are the double-lip with spring, marine seals). I have done some research, and found that two ways of dealing with that problem are:
1) Installing a speedi-sleeve. The quotes I got for those sleeves vary from $54 to over $100 apiece (54 mm ID).
2) Installing an original BearingBuddy spindle-seal kit.
http://www.bearingbuddy.com/spindle_seal.html
Don't know if spindle-seal kits are available here in VI or I have to order them directly from BearingBuddy. However, from a cost perspective, it seems (in principle) the spindle-seal kits are a better alternative than the speedi-sleeves (mine would be kit #11).
http://www.bearingbuddy.com/orderss.htm
Since I am sure I am not the only person experiencing this type of problem, I would like to hear some opinions from other people who have gone through my same situation,a nd how they managed to cure it.
Regarding the rest of the trailer, I am installing a new set of galvanized electric brakes, but this time I am coating them with Fluid Film (excluding, of course, the drums, brake lining and the part of the magnet that comes into contact with the drum) hoping that they will last longer than the original ones. Additionally, the battery for the breakaway system is toast (the voltage drops to zero when the breakaway switch is pulled and it won't energize the brakes). And at least one of the bunks needs new carpet, as the original one is split (actually, that's the case since 2 years ago).
I have never had so many problems with a trailer in my life, and this is the sixth trailer I own. Next time (that is, if there is a "next time") I will make damn sure it is NOT a Road Runner, and I will likely explore alternatives to electric brakes if the new set deteriorates as fast as the original (yes, I flushed them every time I came home from fishing and launched many times at Clutesi, where it is virtually fresh water).
http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8495
Fast-forward since last time I posted, I am in the process of replacing (again, third set in three seasons!!!) the bearings because of water ingress (again). Packing and inspecting the bearings every season and keeping the "bearing protectors" (AKA "bearing buddies") filled has not cured the problem because now I have also found pitting on the spindles surfaces where the seals make contact, which makes the seals become ruined in no time (and before someone asks, yes, they are the double-lip with spring, marine seals). I have done some research, and found that two ways of dealing with that problem are:
1) Installing a speedi-sleeve. The quotes I got for those sleeves vary from $54 to over $100 apiece (54 mm ID).
2) Installing an original BearingBuddy spindle-seal kit.
http://www.bearingbuddy.com/spindle_seal.html
Don't know if spindle-seal kits are available here in VI or I have to order them directly from BearingBuddy. However, from a cost perspective, it seems (in principle) the spindle-seal kits are a better alternative than the speedi-sleeves (mine would be kit #11).
http://www.bearingbuddy.com/orderss.htm
Since I am sure I am not the only person experiencing this type of problem, I would like to hear some opinions from other people who have gone through my same situation,a nd how they managed to cure it.
Regarding the rest of the trailer, I am installing a new set of galvanized electric brakes, but this time I am coating them with Fluid Film (excluding, of course, the drums, brake lining and the part of the magnet that comes into contact with the drum) hoping that they will last longer than the original ones. Additionally, the battery for the breakaway system is toast (the voltage drops to zero when the breakaway switch is pulled and it won't energize the brakes). And at least one of the bunks needs new carpet, as the original one is split (actually, that's the case since 2 years ago).
I have never had so many problems with a trailer in my life, and this is the sixth trailer I own. Next time (that is, if there is a "next time") I will make damn sure it is NOT a Road Runner, and I will likely explore alternatives to electric brakes if the new set deteriorates as fast as the original (yes, I flushed them every time I came home from fishing and launched many times at Clutesi, where it is virtually fresh water).