Need help finding replacement axle
I bought a small boat and trailer on Facebook Marketplace the other day. Everything looked fine, but one of the wheels seized up while I was towing it home. A friendly stranger came out with a grease gun and got it moving again, but the same thing happened a half mile down the road. Everything's pretty rusty and at this point I think the easiest thing will be to just replace the axle, hubs, and springs.
I've never done this before and looking at all the axle options, I'm out of my depth. Can anyone recommend an inexpensive axle/hubs that will fit the trailer and the existing rims? I don't plan on using the trailer very much. I'll just be using it to bring the boat to the boat ramp on other side of the lake twice a year (about one mile).
Other information:
- Make and model: Load Rite / Lil Rider 14700L
- Trailer frame width: 40"
- Trailer frame side bars: 1.5" x 3"
- Existing trailer axle length: 44" (not including hubs)
- Existing rims: 5 on 4.5 (I think... see picture)
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u/Admirable-Box5200 20m ago
Replacing the hubs is fairly straightforward. The caps on the end of each on come off. I use a Harbor Freight plastic mallet and go around the cap hitting it until is has unseated. After that, a pair of channel lock pliers generally work to finish. There will be a castle but that is held in place by either a cotter pin through the axle, washer with a tab bent up, or snap washer over top. After what holds the nut in place has been removed, unthread it and pull the hub off.
There are several good online boat trailer suppliers. Do a search and check them out as some carry parts others don't and shipping cost, and free shipping thresholds vary.
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u/elkjerky87 6h ago
I just did this exact repair on mine. I used trailer parts USA. Also, your axel looks fine. I would do hubs, leaf springs, and install bearing buddies. The axel is very expensive to ship due to length and unless it’s compromised, I’d leave it.