2001 Cool Hub Leaking Seal / Lost Bearing Oil Cap ADVENTURE

[TopwaterAaron]

Hello,
I have a 2001 520VX with Cool Hubs. Have maintained these hubs and they have worked perfect for the last 12 years....until last weekend. Noticed a leak behind the front wheel on the Starboard side. So I replaced the seal. When I did this, I read all of the posts on here on how to do correctly but must have not done it right! 30 miles after the replacement noticed the oil cap w/ sight window had fallen off. Thankfully I was in the BPS parking lot and even though they didn't have a Cool Hub Oil Cap, they had some bearing grease. So I packed the bearings inside the hub(didn't remove the inside bearings so I wouldn't mess up the seal ) this would be a temp. fix until I got 15 miles down the road to the nearest Ranger Dealer(Cabela's in Dundee, MI). Got there and they didn't have the Cool Hub Cap in stock.. so I continued to Erie and fished since I had greased the bearings.

The next day WENT back to the lake...got to the ramp and noticed a clicking noise coming from the wheel that I had greased. Took off the lugnut cover to find out that the 3 lug bolts had broken and I only had 2 bolts holding the wheel on.... So I limped it to cabelas on the 2 bolts and a puckered A$$....

My questions are... why in the hell did the cap fall off and how in the world did the bolts break? I tightened the lug nuts good and the nut that holds the bearings as directed (tightened then back off and tightened to finger tight) then replaced castle nut and cotter pin. I put RTV Sealant on the the oil cap and wacked it back on the hub with a rubber mallot and then applied a RTV bead around it once seated..

What did I do wrong?

Does anyone have any experience with replacing this hub with these? Will this be a basic bolt up like the stock hub will be since I now need a new one?
Trailer Buddy UFP replacement torsion axle trailing arm 3750lb.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks guys

[howieranger]

I would suspect that you did not have enough of an interference fit on the sight glass when you drove it on or got it a bit crooked which will compress the hub. Usually lug studs break because they are loose and flex, are over tightened or corroded. Use a torque wrench set at 100 ft. lbs. and tighten the lugs in a cross pattern. I would back off the other wheel lugs and retorque them.
The link you show for new hubs are for torsion axles, unless your trailer has been updated you do not have torsion axles.

[Blue Magic]

Just had two hubs fail (came right off ) but mine were severely neglected by the prior owner. I picked up new caps from Waymire Distribution 317-631-7551. PART # 0583OU ( oil BRG Cap New Style) $30 each. The new style cap does not have a outside O ring . They recommend some RTV on the seam when you tap them in. Make that bang them in ! I cleaned out the bearings but didn't not remove mine. I did read up a little and I saw some guys that had this issue due to a bent axel ? I replaced all four of my caps and no leaks so far.

[fishingman1950]

Unless I am mistaken your 2001 trailer does not have trailing arms. Not sure the hub in your link is what you need. Also I have serviced my hubs often since 1997 and the only way I can see the cap coming off is if it wasn't seated properly. I always take care to see if they are seated evenly all around the hub. Also I never put rtv sealant on the cap before I tap it in place and then apply a good amount to the cap where it meets the hub.

[TopwaterAaron]

How much am I looking to pay for these parts? Does any of you guys know where to order online?

[TopwaterAaron]

Where can I order a new hub? Since my bolts broke, I assume I'll need a new hub. Can you order these online, if so, what size if you can provide a link that would be great. any ideas? Thanks!

[Alan 492VS]

Where can I order a new hub? Since my bolts broke, I assume I'll need a new hub. Can you order these online, if so, what size if you can provide a link that would be great. any ideas? Thanks!

Not really. The studs can be pounded out and new ones pounded in. trailer wheels need to be retorqued twice. Once on initial install, then again after 1-5 miles of travel. Check again after 50 miles for an ounce of prevention. I learned this the hard way after loosing the tire and rim somewhere. Poor hub studs tried there best but 3 lug nets backed out and the last two snapped.

[fishingman1950]

Check this website, think you will have to call them to order but they are very knowledgeable in UFP parts and Ranger trailers. Tell them what trailer you have and what your issue is and they will know what parts you need and they will have them. A new hub without brakes should not be expensive. Waymire Distribution, Leading the Industry

[Ranger519VS]

On my 1999 trailer the first time I replaced the inner seals I had a couple of the caps fall off on my first trip. Luckily they remained inside the hub cap cover and I was able to refill them in a parking lot. The problem with the caps on the original "cool hubs" it that they stamped out and very flexible. What I did that fixed that problem is to lay the cap on its side and whack it a couple of times with a 32oz ball pein hammer. This made the cap slightly egg shaped and tightened the fit inside the hub. Never had any more problems after that.

About 4 years ago I replaced the hubs on the braking axle because I wore the rotors out. Waymirers sent me new hubs which had an improved design for the cap. The cap was machined out of billet SS and there is a internal O ring inside the hub. The hubs themselves are not expensive I believe under $30 each.

I believe Ranger went to the torsion axle in 2005 or 2006 so your axles are not torsion sprung and do not have the trailing arms.

[TopwaterAaron]

On my 1999 trailer the first time I replaced the inner seals I had a couple of the caps fall off on my first trip. Luckily they remained inside the hub cap cover and I was able to refill them in a parking lot. The problem with the caps on the original "cool hubs" it that they stamped out and very flexible. What I did that fixed that problem is to lay the cap on its side and whack it a couple of times with a 32oz ball pein hammer. This made the cap slightly egg shaped and tightened the fit inside the hub. Never had any more problems after that.

About 4 years ago I replaced the hubs on the braking axle because I wore the rotors out. Waymirers sent me new hubs which had an improved design for the cap. The cap was machined out of billet SS and there is a internal O ring inside the hub. The hubs themselves are not expensive I believe under $30 each.

I believe Ranger went to the torsion axle in 2005 or 2006 so your axles are not torsion sprung and do not have the trailing arms.

Did you hit it with the flat side or the ball side?

[TopwaterAaron]

Would the size I need for the Cool Hub Bearing Protector be 2.328" ?

[Blue Magic]

LOL, I said all this on my post. The new Cap is only $30 and is complete with all new internal parts( O-rings, spring, internal clip) . Don't hit the cap directly, get a small piece of wood and cover the cap then bang it in place. The new design cap is much better and the folks at Waymire Distribution recommended the RTR seal on the outside . Not making this shit up...LOL I was going to replace just the two of mine that failed but after replacing the two I ordered two more and have them all with new caps now http://www.ufpnet.com/Portals/0/trai...ygoldmaint.pdf

[Blue Magic]

[TopwaterAaron]

LOL, I said all this on my post. The new Cap is only $30 and is complete with all new internal parts( O-rings, spring, internal clip) . Don't hit the cap directly, get a small piece of wood and cover the cap then bang it in place. The new design cap is much better and the folks at Waymire Distribution recommended the RTR seal on the outside . Not making this shit up...LOL I was going to replace just the two of mine that failed but after replacing the two I ordered two more and have them all with new caps now http://www.ufpnet.com/Portals/0/trai...ygoldmaint.pdf

That part number does not return any results on their site

[Ranger519VS]

Did you hit it with the flat side or the ball side?

Hit it with the flat side. Not hard enough to make it visibly out of round, just a little.

The new style hubs are designed much better.

[Von]

IMO, the cool hubs leave alot to be desired.

Buddy has a 01 518. I borrowed it last summer and had the EXACT same issues you had, with the cover anyway. Wasted the bearings on one side due to rear seal leaking. IDK if the bearing went first or the seal?? Ranger was nice enough to charge me for bearings that were MADE IN CHINA. WTH??? Anyway, put it back together and it made it back to my buddys house.

Fast forward 11 months. Buddy hasnt used boat since I dropped it off. Go to hook up to it and oil is all over the floor. Buddy said it started leaking as soon as I brought it back. Crap... For some reason the there was not enough preload on the bearings and it was leaking out the backside. Tried to pull the hex fill plug out and it strips. !@#!@#!@#!@. So I pulled it apart, packed both bearings full of grease and left. Used it for a couple weeks. No issues. Took it back to my buddy. The freakin cap was loose, tumbling in the wheel, when I unhooked from my truck.

Told him that I will find a bearing buddy end for it and be done.

IMO, the design is weak. Maybe great when new, but no so great down the road.