Please identify this part

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I apoligize for posting this in General Welding Questions, but this has high viewers. Can anyone identify this part. On one of my semi-trailers the hub oil cap cracked. At first I thought an operator hit it. Upon replacing it, I found the outer lock nut was off and this plastic part was inside the cap. For those of you familiar with these, you know if that dual came off it could have been very tragic. I did the brakes towards the end of last year, and I replaced all the caps and I know I did not put that in there. Now, if I can find out what it is, maybe I can get lucky and remember where someone could have messed with my truck when it was out of my site, which does not happen often, very rare. Thanks for any help."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:nevermind im a retard
Reply:It sort of resembles the device on a ship a rope is wrapped around to create friction, except for the angles. Also looks a bit like some kind of spacer.  I'm assuming that you think someone put it inside the cap to cause problems? How large is it, and the cap?How about the decorative part of a gate or fence?
Reply:Just to clarify?It's plastic....Not metal,,,,,,,,,?1981 Lincoln SA 200Miller Trailblazer 302gMiller 211 Mig Welder w/ AutosetI'm learning to stick metal together
Reply:Oldiron2 - Thats exactly how I described it to people a "dock cleat". Yes, I KNOW someone put it in there because I am the only person to work on and maintain my equipment unless it's something major which has not happened with this trailer. The center rubber plug hole in the cap is approx the size of a half dollar. This piece is approx 1" long and 3/4" wide and 3/4" tall.jsm11 - Yes it is plastic. And it has that little round tit on the bottom so as to fit and retain in something."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Looks like the handle on one of those pull-out 'tarps' in the back of an SUV to conceal the cargo.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:My hubby'd been a driver for a long long time, and did a lot of work on his rigs and trailers - I showed him. His answer:Looks like a stopper to keep the oil fill plug from dropping to the ground when you pull it out to fill the hub, but not sure.  Just to clarify though, what do you mean by the "hub oil cap"?Ruthie (& Lee)The family toys:Miller Maxstar 150 S, with TIGGoWeld baby wirefeedOxy/Acetylene rig
Reply:Duane - If it wasn't for the tit on the bottom. That tells me it fit's in somewhere. Maybe the hook that the net's loop hangs on to?iwannaweld - I have never seen a retention device used on that little rubber plug. But you are refering to the same thing I am. I just called it a hub oil cap because it has six bolts attaching it to the hub, and that is where you fill the hub with 80w90 gear lube (hub oil, at least that is what I use mixed with 50% STP oil treatment to thicken it up some)."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manDuane - If it wasn't for the tit on the bottom. That tells me it fit's in somewhere.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55If I'm correct, that would lock in a 'key hole' on the opposite side of the vehicle from the tarp roll.
Reply:Let's have a cup of coffee and  take a fresh look at this. We'll presume that a potential saboteur has some knowledge of axle wheel-end hardware. The saboteur would know that depending on the specific axle type, the trailer's hubs ride on wheel bearings which are retained by some combination of very large and very tight nuts, along with washers which are used to pin or stake the nuts together and to the spindle, all riding under a spacious cap in a bath of oil.Could a saboteur realistically expect that a plastic piece small enough to drop in through the hub's oil-bath fill opening, then would somehow engage the large bearing retainer lock-nut with enough force to overcome the very tight nut and its staked retainer? To me that doesn't seem plausible.And if somehow the small plastic piece managed to back the lock-nut off, there is  still the main nut which would have to take a very slow walk off of the spindle's threads. Of course all this would have to go unnoticed by the driver, or fellow drivers, who most likely could spot clues of a  wheel problem long before separation.Personally, I don't think that the sabotage theory adds up. Regardless, however the plastic ended up in the hub, I don't believe it was capable of loosening a tight and staked  lock-nut. The trailer has three more hubs, let's keep looking for a better answer.Which side had cap damage? Was the cap damaged or just the window? Was the cap damage caused from inside or outside? Any picture?  Is the spindle hollow and not capped? Is the plastic piece small enough to be inserted through an installed cap?Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 06-08-2010 at 06:13 AM.
Reply:How much room is there for hitchhikers inside the oil bath of a trailer hub? There are only two possibilities. Well, maybe three. Either that is a busted off obscure little brake part that found its way in there because of some mechanical failure,   or what ever crashed your plastic cap, deposited that thing in there in the process.  Or...someone put it there, by choice or misinformation. I don't know of many plastic parts in heavy trailer brake systems, I am thinking of adjuster slot caps on smaller backing plates, but they would never get sucked inward, they could fall out.  Within the backing plates on your brakes, is there any sort of self-adjusting gizmo that it could be? I doubt it. Perhaps it was hit, and that was deposited by whatever it was that got hit...not likely, but remotely feasible, however improbable. Perhaps you had a senior moment and left it there when last you did brake work, that would have been a doozie! I dunno, sometimes I just can't figure.  This cracked hub is nowhere near as large as yours, but we have done a few larger versions. The double spindle nuts I have run into have a multi-tab tang washer to hold them in place, is that what yours have? Attached ImagesCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:More pics. Here is the 9 month old cap. The center was cracked "out" most likely from the plastic piece along with the outer nut bouncing around in there."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Here are some pics of the plastic piece next to a quarter."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Upon not getting much sleep over this last night I do remember finding the side oil fill/drain plug very loose. It was in the last 2 months. Now I remember why I did not notice the crack in the front till it was pushed out. I seen seepage and just thought it was from the loose plug. I tightened the plug and topped off the oil. But I still can't remember a time when my truck was left alone. MAKE NO MISTAKE, this was intentional. I know I tightened the side plugs, I know I tightened the axle nut and I KNOW there is NO way the plastic was in there because of me.denrep - Which side had cap damage? Drivers frontWas the cap damaged or just the window? See picsWas the cap damage caused from inside or outside? Any picture? InsideIs the spindle hollow and not capped? The axle, cappedIs the plastic piece small enough to be inserted through an installed cap? Yestanglediver - There are only two possibilities. Well, maybe three. Either that is a busted off obscure little brake part that found its way in there because of some mechanical failure,  or what ever crashed your plastic cap, deposited that thing in there in the process. No way.Or...someone put it there, by choice or misinformation. Only by choice, misinformation NOT possible.I don't know of many plastic parts in heavy trailer brake systems, I am thinking of adjuster slot caps on smaller backing plates, but they would never get sucked inward, they could fall out. None existWithin the backing plates on your brakes, is there any sort of self-adjusting gizmo that it could be? No backing platesPerhaps you had a senior moment and left it there when last you did brake work, that would have been a doozie! Not possible. I have never seen piece before, don't even know what it is. It would have to fall "in" the hole before I filled it which again, NOT possible.I do appreciate all the effort, thank you. But I think my best chance is to find out what it is. Then MAYBE, I can find out who did it.After flushing the oil twice there is so much metal dust/shavings, now tomorrow I get to pull it apart, replace the bearings and races and hope I don't have to call the Axle Surgeons. I would just LOVE to find out who did this"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:I'm guessing that the plastic was part of something that a manufacturer used to protect a  new assembly; for example the threaded end of a spindle. That's why I wondered if the axle had hollow spindles without welch plugs, I suppose the plastic could have gone unnoticed in there.Again, regardless, there's no way the plastic sliver could have backed off a torqued and staked lock-nut. When rolling, centrifugal force probably pushed the plastic out into the cap and there it would harmlessly ride. If it did occasionally bump -or even hammer- the lock-nut, the plastic piece wouldn't have enough mass or strength to do didley.Better carefully study the failure with an open mind, the sabotage theory is just gonna create a mental block that prevents getting to the facts. If then you still insist that someone did this to you, and you want to know who, check the mirror when you're shaving tomorrow. Me? I know I've stuck it to myself more than everyone else combined ever has. Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 06-08-2010 at 05:39 PM.
Reply:Posted by Denrep:Better carefully study the failure with an open mind,
Reply:stickman i don't know what that thing is. And to the rest of you something like that doesn't accidentally end up in the hub. I have had these apart many times on a lot of trailers. I agree that someone intentionally put it there. There is no way something like that could end up in a hub unless someone deliberatly put it there.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2. . .any chance someone removed the cap, loosened the nut, got interrupted,... so quickly reinstalled the cap after sticking the part inside, either without thinking or for some other strange reason? . . .
Reply:I would think a handful of sand would have been much easier and done more damage.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:I have been around trucks and trailers since 1976 as either a driver, mechanic, supervisor, and shop manager and I have never seen anything like that in a hub cab. my son and I just did one yesterday on a steer axle same principle and there would be no party like it in there especially if is plastic it would not hold up to the heat generated, it got in there somehow other than something you did, Ron
Reply:denrep I do not think that plastic could loosen the nuts. All i am saying is that it was deliberately put there. No way something like that could end up in there unless it was. Maybe you should look at one and maybe then you will know what you are talking about.Last edited by nodak ironman; 06-10-2010 at 01:18 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by nodak ironmandenrep I do not think that plastic could loosen the nuts. All i am saying is that it was deliberately put there. No way something like that could end up in there unless it was. Maybe you should look at one and maybe then you will know what you are talking about.
Reply:I hope Stick-man didn't find any damage under the bearings, he hasn't posted since Tuesday.It would be nice to see the inside of the hub, the locking face and outside diameter of the outer locknut, and the retainer. Also if it is possible a macro photo of the cage and rollers on the outer bearing itself.Finding shavings and bits is bad, bad...Matt
Reply:Insanity is hereditary, your kids give it to you.Sometime when all normal logic fails, we must apply abstract analytical methods to determine root cause.   Facts:  We don’t know what the offending plastic part is.We don’t know when the offending part was installed.The offending part is not likely to cause catastrophic failure.  Let us rule out intentional sabotage.We do know that any mature adult would not bother the hub on a wheel axle.My theory is a small child with an attraction to trucks inserted the part.   Look for a kid with greasy fingers and face, chewing on a wheel bearing.  I was that type of kid…Hanging around the local garage pestering old Charley the mechanic.looks to be the cover for the brake adjusting hole in the backing plate of your brakes.is there a rectangular hole in the plate that piece would be shoved into???FelonCaution lurker lives here" hmmm That is serious,pass the ganja and pick up a  24 of MGD"
Reply:Sorry guys for not posting. When bad luck rains, it pours. My main computer just caught a "buy our antivirus, or you will not have access to your computer", virus. So it will be limited posting for me for a little while until my bro fixes it. I am not inclined to believe the plastic piece loosened the outer lock nut. However, as I said the side plug was loose and you could get a chisel type something in there to give a quick nudge to start the nut to loosen.FACTS:1. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY, THAT PLASTIC PIECE ARRIVED THERE BY ME. FORGET IT, DROP IT.2. I have never had a nut come loose. 3. How much of a coincidence is it that one hub has; A. a loose side plug, B. a mysterious plastic piece and C. the nut comes loose.Is it all that far fetched, I don't know. I can't remember when I left my truck long enough for this to be done. I am not saying I didn't, obviously I did, I just can't remember when. I also don't think it was just random or a kid. I think it is someone who dislikes me, and wanted to cause me a problem. I know that is hard to believe because I am such a nice guy!I want to find out what the piece is so maybe I can associate it with someone. If it was a bolt or sand, it could be anyone. If this is a part used for ony one uncommon use, maybe I can find out.I did tear down that hub and replaced the bearings and races and all nuts, washers and a tab lock washer. Axle looked fine. Oh and in the process of installing the races, I smashed my thumb pretty good. So now I am really ."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"