Jacking up torsion axles
 

I have a triple axle aluminum trailer with a Fastech 353 on it. I want to repack all the axle bearings this winter. My problem is that my floor jack won't fit on the torsion part of the axle. I'm told a bottle jack is too wide (will hit tire and not make contact with torsion axle). What do you DIY use? I'd prefer to keep the boat on the trailer when I do the bearings.

Would something like this work?

Depends on the trailer. Here is how I did it:

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...y/IMG_0151.jpg

DM
I thought about that set up. I was hoping to get all three tires on one side in the air at the same time. That way I can get all the bearings cleaned and greased at the same time.

I am able to get a bottle jack RIGHT behind the tire and catch the back of the spindle holder (drop part of the torsion axle). I've made this work on my last three trailers.

Not with torsion axles,,,, just the one tire would go up

Thanks for the replies. Sydwayz I was hoping you would shed a little wisdom on the subject. I'll look for a bottle jack.

Actually that setup is for torsion axles. The trailer manufacturers tell you not to jack them up but to run a wheel up on a 6x6. You're not going to get all 3 wheels off of the ground at one time that way though.

That said, its more difficult to do on my Myco. I have one my trailer toolboxes full of 2x6s to build ramps with; as well as carrying a bottle jack.

So you guys are telling me you change one bearing/wheel at a time? You never have all three tires off the ground at once?

I lift all three wheels off the ground with a large floor jack lifting against the bottom of the main beam of the trailer immediately behind the back axle.

Did my pictures in post #3 not show up???:confused:

Negative, I thought you were goofing on me. lol

That's wierd. I put a bottle jack directly in front of the front axle and a bottle jack directly behind the rear axle. Jack the front up a bit, jack the reat up a bit, and repeat until all wheels on one side are off the ground and able to be pulled off the hubs. Then put a couple of 6 ton jack stands directly under the axles and slowly drop the weight off the bottle jacks.

I can send you a pic if the one really didn't show up. It worked out great, I was able to do the entire side.

I can see the pic fine.

See if this shows up for everyone.....

I will try posting the pic for you instead of linking the pic.

C Deezy I got the pics (Sea Dated thanks for helping out). I will give your method a try.

Cool. I don't take it up that high, just enough to get the wheels out from under it. I kept a little tension on the bottle jacks to help even the load after I dropped it on the jack stands.

Its funny to see it sitting there without any wheels on it, I had to order the bearings so it sat like that for a couple of weeks :D