Annoyed at my LoadRite boat trailer

[Donald]

Pulled my boat back to the marina on my LoadRite trailer. The trailer is 4 years old I think and never been used to launch the boat at a boat ramp.

The basic trailer is in great shape. But some parts are rusting. For example the cap for the crank jack looks like cheap electroplate galvanizing and is rusting. The rest of the crank jack is rust free. On one of the hubs, four of the studs are fine but one is pretty rusty.

Today I tried to lubricate the the surge brake coupler and the 4 hubs. The Zerk fitting pulled off the surge brake coupler when I pulled off the grease grease gun and same thing, one Zerk pulled off one of the trailer hubs. I need to pull the grease gun off but did not yank it off. The Zerk fittings that were pulled off looked they stripped. Now I need to find the thread of the Zerk fittings to buy new ones.

 

[AZjeff]

Blame C19 build date and parts?

 

[Donald]

Blame C19 build date and parts?

It was built during COVID-19. It was hard to even get a trailer back then. I bought a boat without a trailer and needed a trailer.

But LoadRite buys the hubs and axles, couplers and many other parts. Maybe all they make is the frame?

The hubs are Knott.

I am hoping that only the thread on the Zerks are stripped. Not the hole it screws into.

 

[mk378]

Some grease fittings are press in instead of threaded. If you look closely there are splines on the side not threads.
The coupler on a grease gun is designed to grab when pulled straight. It needs to be tilted to remove.

 

[Donald]

The directions for the Lincoln grease gun say to move it from straight on the fitting to a slight angle of the fitting to release it. Not sure I tried exactly that.

 

[Donald]

Some grease fittings are press in instead of threaded. If you look closely there are splines on the side not threads.
The coupler on a grease gun is designed to grab when pulled straight. It needs to be tilted to remove.

Here is a picture of one. Looks stripped to me

 

[Donald]

It kind of looks like it pulled out part of a metal sleeve it was screwed into or something.

 

[ls1mike]

Were those threads? It looks barbed. Either way that is a failure.

 

[BrendanC]

It kind of looks like it pulled out part of a metal sleeve it was screwed into or something.

looks like the threads rolled over on the zerk. i’d inspect the bore it goes into, 99% of the time the bore isn’t threaded and relies on the zerk to cut threads.

easiest thing would be to drill oversized and bump up a zerk size. or, in the case of the axles get some bearing buddies and clean them out every two years or so.

 

[AZjeff]

Press fit. Looks like yours.

 

[Donald]

View attachment 281497
Press fit. Looks like yours.

I think my Zerk looks like that. Now what?

 

[AZjeff]

You need a little tool to drive new ones in and maybe a gun that releases easier or try tilting it off.

Tool

 

[ls1mike]

I thought it was barbed. I have seen them used other places. You should be able to drive a new one in, just make sure the hole isn't damaged.

 

[Donald]

I thought it was barbed. I have seen them used other places. You should be able to drive a new one in, just make sure the hole isn't damaged.

So why would they not use a threaded Zerk rather than a press on one? This is not a cheap hub. It's designed to push grease from the Zerk through a hole on the middle of the spindle to the inner side of hub and then from the inner side of the spindle push old grease through the bearings to the outer side of the hub.

 

[repairman54]

Cheaper manufacturing to use press in zerks. No extra thread taping process.
Hub is not a high pressure grease fill like a tight bushing application. Not a lot of pressure to force grease through a passage and passing through some rubber seal lips.
I've had snowmobile front ski leg spindle zerks that were push in ones that would pull out properly disconnecting the grease gun.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

@Donald a couple thoughts to fix your problem...

Find a self tapping zerk. Here is one option -> https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/10923787

Get yourself one of these to help the release of the gun on the zerk. nozzle

 

[Donald]

@Donald a couple thoughts to fix your problem...

Find a self tapping zerk. Here is one option -> https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/10923787

Get yourself one of these to help the release of the gun on the zerk. nozzle

How do I know the size? I can measure the grease fitting that pulled out. But that will be the outside of the barbs.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

How do I know the size? I can measure the grease fitting that pulled out. But that will be the outside of the barbs.

I would measure the one that came out. You should be able to find the details online for the correct size. If I was a betting man (I am ) I’d say it’s a 1/8” zerk. The threads will be significantly bigger than 1/8” for reference.

 

[Donald]

The Zerk that pulled out measures .26" on the outside of the barbs. So 1/4" one I assume.

 

[Gillsy]

I think my Zerk looks like that. Now what?

Once you make the repair, might I suggest Locknlube. It's a collet style coupler that is easy on, and easy off, but doesn't leak. I bought two.