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marpel's avatar
marpel
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013

Where's the logic

I am currently in the process of replacing/greasing the bearings on our travel trailer, and have just finished the first two wheels and am putting them back on the trailer. At least I was until I discovered the castle nut requires a 37mm size socket. I have been to five auto parts/tool vendors so far and am discovering that 37mm is so rare that no-one carries that size. 36 is too small, 38 is too large and the SAE equivalents do not work either. 1 1/2 is too sloppy and the next step down won't fit.

Why in heavens would a North American (Crossroads in the US) trailer manufacturer suggest the bearings be tended to every 6000 miles (almost one year for us) and make a part that is crucial to the operation in such an unusual size? They also demand the nut be torqued to a specific torque, so a large crescent wrench can't even be used. I suppose if I was experienced enough in torquing stuff that I could guesstimate with a crescent wrench, but I am not and I know some have/will suggest a method of doing this without using a torque wrench, but I prefer to follow the manufacturer''s recommendation if possible. How bizarre.

Anyway, anyone know where I can find a socket of this size (in the Vancouver Canada area), that I don't have to order and wait for off the net. I am scheduled to leave the Vancouver area for a long trip, in three days and I'm sitting here with two wheels off the trailer.

Thanks in advance,

Marv
  • They do make several styles of "Cresent" adjustable sockets. Don't know if they come big enough though.
  • I have seen more people put these back on more tight then loose. Here is what I have done with any bearing type axle.

    Tighten the nut while spinning the wheel/drum/rotor. A good grunt won't hurt it, but don't hurt yourself. Back the nut off a turn. Spin wheel/drum/rotor a turn then tighten nut by hand without hurting yourself. When the nut becomes hand tight, if the slot in nut aligns with cotter hole, you are done. If it doesn't, loosen the nut to align hole with the last slot in nut. Grab wheel/drum/rotor and give it an in/out pull. If you feel a lot of slop (clunk, clunk) too loose. Just a smidge and I mean very very little, good to go.
  • 36mm is the standard for 24mm bolt. It might just be 1 7/16,as larger Ny-loc are 1/16 less than standard. So may be castle nuts, too. We don't use them enough that I haven't really noticed. Aclands Granger should have what you need.