Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Pizza Festival Post Log: Nearly Lost a Wheel and Didn't know it!

You may have seen our video blog regarding our trip and performances at the Pizza festival. What wasn't on the video was something that could've made for a very bad trip. When we got back I smelt a metallic burning smell around the van and trailer. I walked around the units and discovered the smell was coming from a rear wheel of our trailer. I touched the hub cover and burnt my finger. After pouring gallons of water on it and creating plumes and plumes of steam for over 10 minutes I let it sit to cool.
The next morning we discovered the bearings were burned out and the wheel was sitting askew. Closer inspection showed metal on metal damage around where the hub met the axle and burnt grease and metal chips clinging to the inside of the wheel and wheel well.
When my mechanic lifted the trailer up he was able to lift the tire off without loosening a nut! There was 1" play all around the axle. We could've lost the wheel while driving but by the grace of God we didn’t. Especially if you saw the roads we had to go over on the drive.
It explains the worse than usual gas mileage.
$488 later we have a better axle, better bearings, better grease system and a lesson to always check the bearings before a long trip! Yes it's the same trailer that had a bent axle two years ago.

Never a dull moment and this adventure of life goes on!

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