18 replies to this topic

[jiminwatford]

My trailer uses 10" mini wheels and the tyres have perished

 

I have some 12" steels to go on but with their offset i am using spacers to clear the trailing arm

 

The centre of the wheel sits over the trailer hub which is conical shaped

 

With the wheel sitting further out there is a larger gap between the wheel centre and the hub. See below

 

 

Is this safe?

 

Here you can see how the hub is shaped

 

Edited by jiminwatford, 02 July 2013 - 04:49 PM.

[Bungle]

the screw in extension studs aren't safe and should be replaced with longer ones

[Ethel]

I'd say no. Those (horrible) screw on extensions usually have another piece, similar to a conventional spacer. You can see the rusty area on the drum, between the wheel studs, that the wheel needs to be clamped against. A good spacer will be the filling in the sandwich between there and the wheel.

 

It's a fair bet specific Mini spacers won't fit over the hub either, just be wary of forcing 100mm PCD spacers over the studs. You could enlarge the holes though.

[jiminwatford]

yes i'm interested in centre-bore gap

 

The studs / spacers shown are a temporary measure

Edited by jiminwatford, 02 July 2013 - 04:34 PM.

[jiminwatford]

Bungle and Ethel,

 

You have both replied in relation to the spacers shown

 

This is not the question

 

The question is, with the wheel moving out, by whatever means, it is no longer tight around the centre hub

 

Is this safe, being held in place by the four studs?

[Bungle]

i have no idea so haven't guessed an answer

[jiminwatford]

Good idea ;)

Edited by jiminwatford, 02 July 2013 - 05:14 PM.

[Ethel]

A wheel is held by the tension in the studs and the friction it creates between the mating faces of the wheel & hub, brake disc/drum, drive flange. Having a close fit, as you describe, could make things worse as the slightest error in tolerance could easily stop those faces mating freely. The studs are perpendicular to the wheel rotation, they can do very little to resist those forces on their own; they'd fatigue & break without a good contact area around the stud holes and hub etc.

 

The sticky out bit is just a consequence of incorporating the hub with drum, it's also handy for guiding wheels when they're fitted, but they should seat solely on the wheel nuts.

[jiminwatford]

This is how the 10" wheels sit,  a lot further in and more snug around the centre

 

 

But if, as you say that is irrelevant, thats all good

 

thanks :)

[tiger99]

You are misinterpreting what has been said. It does not matter whether it fits the central boss exactly or is loose, but too tight and it will not seat against the drum.

 

If the wheel is not sitting TIGHT against the face of the hub or brake drum, it is unsafe. You seem to be saying that the 10" wheel sits properly and the 12" does not. In that case the 12" is completely unsafe. As Ethel says, clamping load is what keeps it stable, and if it is not clamped tightly, there will be cyclic shear loading on the studs, WHICH WILL FAIL.

 

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE THE TRAILER IN THAT CONDITION. IT WILL VOID YOUR INSURANCE, AND VERY LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

[jiminwatford]

You are misinterpreting what has been said.

 

 

 

No, i'm not, i just wanted to clarify that that was what was being said. Which you've done. Thanks ;)

 

 

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE THE TRAILER IN THAT CONDITION. IT WILL VOID YOUR INSURANCE, AND VERY LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

 

Could you explain that? Apart from the wheels / studs & spacers, what else is wrong with the trailer? (it's useful to know)

[Rob Gavin]

I'd add to this that, depending on what the trailer is being used to carry, the car tyres may not be adequate.  I've just spent a fair bit of time researching this and am having to fit 8ply trailer/van tyres to provide the correct loading capacity

[jiminwatford]

I'd add to this that, depending on what the trailer is being used to carry, the car tyres may not be adequate.  I've just spent a fair bit of time researching this and am having to fit 8ply trailer/van tyres to provide the correct loading capacity

 

Thanks for that

Edited by jiminwatford, 03 July 2013 - 01:51 PM.

[tiger99]

I am not saying that anything is wrong with the trailer itself, just what I understood to be wheels that were not fitting up against the hubs correctly. Glad you had understood correctly, it is easy to misinterpret things on forums.

 

As to the load capacity, that is a very good point, which always needs to be checked, although small to medium trailers should be ok, considering the weight that the front pair of tyres of a Mini normally carry, especially in later injection models. Certainly  over 1/2 ton.

[jiminwatford]

Thanks,

 

I think it is on the safe side of weight

 

The trailer weighs approx 400kg, and i tend to carry 500kg

 

The tyres can take 1300kg max and i don't know how much the tow hitch takes

 

James