Ramlin Oil Bath Hubs Conversion

[LT206]

I got a new Ramlin Trailer last year with my boat, and they shipped it with the hardware for the oil bath hubs, but the hubs were filled with grease because, according to David, they weren't complete with their field testing of the oil bath system.

I tow quite a bit and I started noticing water in the hubs through the clear plastic cover, so I thought I'd just go ahead and convert to oil bath. Has anyone else done this? I got the seals from Southeast CC after I called David and asked him to send them to me, so I'm sure I got the right parts, but the rear oil seals have to be pressed in (not tapped in with a block like a regular grease seal).
I had them pressed in at a local machine shop, but when went to put the hub back on the spindle it would not go on all the way. It lacked about 1/4" before the bearings seated on the spindle shoulders. I pulled them back off - afraid to run it like that. Anyone have any thoughts? The oil seal is really tight on the spindle. Is the hub supposed to be pressed on the spindle?

You can buy the Kodiak kit to convert, but if it's really this big of a pain, how do they expect a regular guy to do it? http://www.kodiaktrailer.com/content/view/27/81/

I'm wondering if there's a trick I'm missing.

[j2nh]

Ramlin

Wish I could help but if its any consolation I have a similar setup and while I haven't done the conversion yet I did inquire about it.

My Ramlin came with the oil bearing caps and grease in the bearing. Makes no sense to me but that is what I got. Not really sure how to add grease and also not sure with out a bearing buddy how water is being kept out.

I did have my dealer repack my bearings last fall and asked them about the conversion. Their response was that they had seen more trouble with the oil bath conversion than the grease bearing and recommended I keep them as is. Which translates to me as:
We don't know anything about it,
or,
We don't want to mess with it as we are really busy,
or,
They really don't recommend it.


Be sure to keep us posted on how this goes. Ramlin makes a great trailer, I just wish I wouldn't have gotten one of these "in between"
ones.

[LT206]

I talked to Ramlin this morning, and explained what I was doing, and he said that I was doing everything right. The only thing I really didn't do exactly correct was oil the spindle before I pushed on the hub, but I cannot believe the thing fits so tight it can't be installed without lubing the spindle.

Anyway for today to get me to the lake I'm putting new grease seals back in and running it with grease. I'll try the conversion again later.

It is really inconvenient to have to take off the plastic cap everytime you need to grease the hubs, though.

I beginning to think that the idea of having to press in an oil seal is really the hardest part, and probably why the dealer doesn't want to do it.

[ffmedic74]

I had the same issue with my new Ram Lin Trailer. I had the boat in the water 3 times and the oil hub was whitish (water in the hub). Ram Lin stated that this is normal and that they contacted Ranger boats who also use the same system. They indicated that Ranger did a 50k test with 50/50 oil water mix and the system showed now wear. After that they did a 100% water test. I figure I will just change out the 90wt oil every year when I winterize. Boatmate trailers use a similar oil bath system, but the difference is that theirs uses a positive pressure system. The pressure occurs when the trailer hub spins with about 3-5psi. My friends boatmate trailer has had NO water in the hubs at all.