Trailer wheel bearings- too loose/too tight

[jbmaine]

Hi all, I've got a two year Karavan boat trailer I'm getting ready for spring. I repacked the wheel bearings and adjusted the castle nut. I brought it up untill the wobble was gone and inserted the cotter pin. I found both tires will spin free but one more than the other. I backed off and retightened it several times with the same results. I seem to be stuck at backing it off one cotter pin position and feeling a wobble or tightening it up one cotter pin position and not having it spin as free as the other tire. Is this a possible concern or am I just being a little paranoid? A trip up to our favorite lake is about 30miles.

Your thoughts please

Thanks

JB

[skunked_again]

take the trailer out for a 10 minute spin at low speeds and recheck. one set of bearings might be holding more grease not letting the wheel spin as much.

[fishfordollars]

When I repack I run the nut completely down snug and then back off a half a turn or so. I repack all four hubs every 8-12 months, new bearings and races every two years.

Thirty plus years of towing 10,000-15,000+ a year and never, ever lost a bearing or seal.

FYI, bearing buddies are the cause of most bearing and seal failures. Well, the people that use them ruin the rear seals by pumping too much grease into the hub. That's another story though.

Better to be a little loose than a little too tight.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

When I repack I run the nut completely down snug and then back off a half a turn or so.

Better to be a little loose than a little too tight.

I worked at a trailer manufacturer for 2 years , we built them from scratch and this is exactly what should be done.

[Way2slow]

You have to leave it so there is a very slight movement. Get it too tight and there is no room for a grease film that protects from metal on metal contact. As mentioned a little too loose and it will still run a long time, a little too tight and they will overheat and burn out in no time.

[jbmaine]

Thanks for the imput everyone. The book that came with the trailer said to tighten to 30 inch pounds. I don't have a torque wrench and it seemed a bit much to have to go buy one. I will readjust the nut back one position.

                    Thanks again

                                 JB