Axle hub question

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I have a boat trailer with a 3500 lb axle I am converting to a utility trailer.  The hubs on the axle do not have lug bolts on them, but require the lug bolts to be screwed into them.  Two of the holes in the hub are stripped out.My question is, can those holes be filled in with weld, re-drilled and tapped?  Or, will the entire hole pattern need to be "rotated"?  A local machine shop wants to do the rotation route for $50.Thanks!Wic
Reply:Either way is acceptable. One thing to consider, how are the other holes that aren't stripped?? If there was a lot more stress on the remaining 3-4 bolts, the threads may be out of round. Your repair holes may wind up out of round. If so, this is like an unbalanced/ bent wheel that can never be corrected in that location. It's just food for thought. If the other holes are still very good, then it is worth giving it a shot at the welding and retapping. If they are questionable, the peace of mind for $50 is hard to beat.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Two options here. 1. Drill out the holes and press wheel studs into them.2. Buy a new set of hubs, You can get hubs for far less than the 50 bucks to repair yours.I am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:I just thought of option number 3. Send me an address and I could send you a used hub for the price of shipping. I've got about 2 dozen used hubs laying around. DaveI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:I'ld go with option 2 or 3 myself, being semi-new at trailer service work. 4 years in this shop, over 6 with mobile office trailers before that. Out with the old, in with the new. Mmm, come to think of it, how are the brakes? Boat trailers are routinely set up with surge hydraulic brakes. Land lubber trailers normally use electric drum brakes. What does your trailer have, and do they work?City 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:It's a single axle boat trailer, they don't normally put brakes on singles. Brakes are only required on trailers over 3500 lbs single axle but are required on all  tandems and triples (at least here in Florida)Last edited by dabar39; 08-11-2008 at 06:23 PM.Reason: spellingI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:Helicoil maybe...Mike
Reply:How about fitting the bad holes to use conventional wheel studs and wheel nuts?EDITNote to self:Read first, post second.Dabar39 already suggested wheel studs.Last edited by denrep; 08-11-2008 at 08:14 PM.
Reply:Thanks for all of the replies.Its a single-axle trailer for a 16' fish and ski.  It doesn't have brakes.If I can find a local place to get the new hubs I will.  Otherwise, I will probably just drop it off at the machine shop.  This is a side project in my over-busy schedule....Thanks for the help!
Reply:Originally Posted by dabar39It's a single axle boat trailer, they don't normally put brakes on singles. Brakes are only required on trailers over 3500 lbs single axle but are required on all  tandems and triples (at least here in Florida)
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverMy single has them!
Reply:I concur with mrmikey.  Helicoils (and the numerous copies now) are stronger than the parent metal in many cases (especially with cast iron) and you end up with more thread load bearing area in the parent metal than the original threads had.  While the Helicoil kit in lug bolt threads size will probably cost about as much as the $50 machine shop bid, you will have a number of inserts left over for future stripped threads.awright
Reply:Another vote for the helicoil or timesert. This might be the right size..[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Helicoil-5528-8-Thread-Repair-Kit/dp/B000RFOORI[/ame]free shipping as well on this one.
Reply:I would not recommend using helicoils or any other type of threaded insert on a through bore hole. Blind bore maybe, but I still wouldn't trust it for something as critical as wheel studs. I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would even suggest repairing a hub in the first place. I just looked up my cost on a 5 on 4 1/2 bolt pattern 3500 lb. hub with all bearings, seals, lug nuts...etc is only $18.44 ea. plus shipping to wherever you call home. DaveI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:Check out the Northern tool catalog or website .....   just gotta match up bolt patterns and bearing size .....
Reply:I would not recommend using helicoils or any other type of threaded insert on a through bore hole. Blind bore maybe, but I still wouldn't trust it for something as critical as wheel studs.I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would even suggest repairing a hub in the first place. I just looked up my cost on a 5 on 4 1/2 bolt pattern 3500 lb. hub with all bearings, seals, lug nuts...etc is only $18.44 ea. plus shipping to wherever you call home. Dave
Reply:I have purchased alot of trailer parts from Champion Trailers (essentially 1 or 2 trailers a few pieces at a time...), and have been happy.  They generally have better prices then I could find elsewhere, even accounting for shipping.  Painted hubs start at $24.http://www.championtrailers.com/hubs.html#painted_hubsBuy a new hub, repairing the old one is pouring money down the drain.Tim
Reply:Originally Posted by mrmikeyHelicoil maybe...Mike
Reply:new hub.....
Reply:You can probably buy a new hub with new bearings cheaper than bringing  the old hub to a machine shop and repairing it.Check northerntools.com
Reply:Be careful using weldmetal for pad welding holes to cut threads. Weld metal has very low carbon therefore is very ductile, no good for threads. There are welding options though.Use mild hard face consumable up to 20 HRC max.Use nickel based inconel types - They work harden up nicely when the thread is cut.As stated before, helicoils seem logical, but I'm unsure about items like hubs subject to fatigue loadingCheers