Timpte Tender - Hub Maintenance; Wheel Bearing Inspection; Wheel Bearing Adjustment; Bearing Lubricant

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Date of Origin – 02/24/11
Updated – 02/03/20
HUB AND BEARINGS
HUB MAINTENANCE
Check wheel studs for good condition – no stripped threads – no bent or loose studs. Replace any broken or bent studs
or studs with damage to the threads. When a broken stud is replaced, the stud on each side of it should be replaced at
the same time. If more than two studs on the same hub are broken, replace all of the studs.
WHEEL BEARING INSPECTION
Periodic inspection of wheel bearings and lubricants as well as regular lubricant changes are necessary for good
maintenance and maximum wheel bearing life. The hub and/or wheel assembly must be properly cleaned to obtain
optimum bearing life. This step also applies to eld service. When adding or checking oil level, make certain cap and
plug are clean. This step will minimize the possibility of dirt and road grime entering the system. Wheel end-play is
recommended to be conrmed annually (mininum) for all axle wheel-ends to improve wheel bearing life. Timpte recom-
mends wheel-end play inspections every 100,000 miles of trailer use to properly maintain wheel-end play and extend
wheel bearing life. A reading of 0.001-0.005” of wheel-end play is normal. Use the wheel bearing adjustment procedure
directly below to conrm and adjust wheel-end play as required or contact Timpte for a Branch review.
WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTMENT
1. Install adjusting nut so that pin on nut faces away from the hub.
2. Tighten inner nut to 200 ft. lbs. while rotating the hub in both directions.
3. Completely loosen the inner nut, then retighten to 50 ft. lbs. while rotating the hub in both directions.
4. Loosen the inner nut ¼ turn. Do not include socket backlash in the ¼ turn.
5. Install the lock washer. If the hole in the lock washer is not aligned with inner nut pin, remove the washer, turn
it over and reinstall. If the washer hole is still not aligned with the pin, loosen the inner nut slightly until the hole
and pin are aligned.
Note: The washer may have to be reversed again with minimum loosening of the nut.
6. Install the jam nut; Torque to 300 ft-lbs.
7. Check the hub end play with a magnetic base and dial indicator.
a. Place the magnetic base and indicator on the end of the spindle. Touch dial indicator stem to hubcap
gasket face.
b. Slightly rotate the hub & drum in both directions while pushing inward until the dial indicator reading
does not change.
c. Set the dial to zero.
d. Slightly rotate the hub & drum in both directions while pulling outward until the dial indicator reading
does not change.
e. Read the end play from the dial indicator.
8. End play between .001 and .005 is acceptable.
a. If the end play is less than .001, loosen the jam nut; Repeat steps 1 through 8, and retorque to
300 ft. lbs.
b. If the end play is greater than .005, increase the jam nut torque to 300 ft. lbs.
9. Repeat Steps 6 & 7 as necessary until the end play is within the acceptable range.
10. Bend tabs on lock washer over opposite ats of the jam nut.
BEARING LUBRICANT
The lubricant change interval depends on the type of lubricant used; oil or semi-uid grease. Oil levels should be checked
as part of the daily inspection. Oil should be changed whenever seals are replaced, brakes are relined, or at least every 12
months or 100,000 miles. Fill hubs with new oil to the level indicated on the hub window using HD80-90W heavy duty oil with
an API rating of GL-15 or GL-4.
CAUTION! DO NOT overll oil. Oil seal damage may occur due to excessive
internal pressure.