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JGeezer · 11-09-2015, 07:32 AM

Hi, everyone.

Refurbishing a fairly heavy vehicle/equipment trailer of God-knows-what provenance, I find that the hubs are not what I expected. Instead of studs from the axle (where the wheel & lug nuts hold on the drum), there are lug bolts that thread into the drum. Instead of the removable grease cap, I have what appears to be a very large nut (pic attached)/

Anybody familiar with such a setup? Any disassembly advice?

Thanks!

SmokeyWren · 11-09-2015, 10:41 AM

I don't know. But I suspect that large nut you see is actually a grease cap.

Use a large pipe wrench (Stilson wrench) and turn the "nut" counter-clockwise. If the nut just spins in the hub and doesn't screw out, then it's a pressed-in grease cap and not a threaded cap.

wingnut60 · 11-09-2015, 12:56 PM

Those type drums were not uncommon years ago--lots of the smaller/medium RVs used them. Had them on mobile home axles a lot.
You ought to be able to find some lug bolts that will work, or change the drum/hub to conventional design.
Joe

MnTom · 11-09-2015, 03:18 PM

That is an older axle. Unscrew the 'nut' looking cap and you will see that it is the same as a newer axle with a nut and two bearings.

JGeezer · 11-20-2015, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MnTom

That is an older axle. Unscrew the 'nut' looking cap and you will see that it is the same as a newer axle with a nut and two bearings.

Guess I never closed this out. Yep, that big "nut" is a threaded grease cap, and under there is the familiar castellated nut and pair of bearings.

Brand new to trailers, and a little paranoid I guess. Thanks guys!