M101A2 trailered home from auction. This is why.

[Tinstar]

Won a M101A2 last week from GP.
Picked it up Wednesday in Texas and trailered it the 3+ hours home.

Was even considering just driving down and pulling trailer home.
Glad I didn’t

Bearings were quite dry.
GAA grease on one side, Red grease on the other.
You can plainly see the rollers on both bearings.
Caps were bone dry also.

These would not have lasted a 3 1/2 hour drive.

Picking up new bearing sets and seals today.
New axle nut retainers ordered.

Already have plenty of grease.

The wheels spin freely with no noise and pulled it about 8 miles at 45mph and afterwards hubs were slightly warm

I trailered home my other two M101A2’s also.
This one was by far the worst for lack of grease.


This is the exact reason I trailer my auction trailers home.

One trailer I didn’t and it was almost a disaster, but that’s another story……..

 

[Barrman]

I picked up a M101A2 in OKC years ago and had the same thought process. Trailer or pull? I wanted to pull. So, I removed the hubs, bearings, brakes and wheels from another M101 and brought them all with me. Then swapped them over so I knew all the parts were ready to go.

Good thing I had done that because your pictures very well could have been the ones I took that day. It wouldn't have made it to Norman, much less 400 miles to my place empty. I had a 6.2 in a can loaded in the back as well. I love those M101A2 trailers.

 

[juanprado]

How is the spacing with the hmmwv rims on it?
Or does it have the drop axle of an a3?

 

[Tinstar]

How is the spacing with the hmmwv rims on it?
Or does it have the drop axle of an a3?

Regular axle.
It’s very close.
Probably an inch or less.
They have the brake cables tied inward. Otherwise the cables would rub on the tires.

Their coming off and regular CUCV rims and tires going on.
Shame too. Tires look new.

Love the look of them, but can’t stand a trailer that’s not level with tow vehicle.

 

[Tinstar]

I love those M101A2 trailers.

Best trailer the military ever fielded, in my opinion.
These things are tanks!!

This one had new brake handles, new brake cables, and two new front shackles.
Also has the heavy spring kit installed, according to Data Plate.

The brakes work!!!
Master cylinder clean and full and surprisingly the surge brake shock doesn’t need replacement!

These are kinda rare at auction now.

 

[Tinstar]

It gets worse.

I pulled off the drivers side tire today to install new bearings.
One drum retaining screw came out easy.
The other one had been completely rounded in the center and impossible to remove.
Someone had tried and failed miserably.


Some heat, liquid wrench, and impact screwdriver finally did the trick.
Another few minutes and the welder was coming out for the old “weld a nut onto it” trick.

Now the drums rusted to the hub. Finally got that broke free.
Then the paint was so thick on the hub, it wouldn’t slide off.
Had to work it back and forth with two pry bars and plow through the old paint. Done

Took off drum and Bearings feel and sound like their toast and you can move the hub side to side about 1/2”.
Up and down a little less.
It’s way worse than I expected.

Tomorrow the hub comes off.
Can’t believe they let it get this bad.

 

[wrenchturner6238]

Nice trailer. I would like 1 for my m1031

 

[Tinstar]

Great trailers
Will get a cover for this one also.
Definitely looks weird behind my 1 ton. Swapping the wheels with CUCV wheels will make a big difference.

For some reason, the top rib on the side panels were reversed.
Once I removed it, you could see it was that way before it was painted tan.

 

[Tinstar]

Passenger side was worse than drivers.
Couldn’t believe how Loose the hub was.
Screwed up my arm with the H1 tire falling on it.
Trailer project on hold.
Pics show the rub marks on the inner fender.
So glad those Tires and rims are off!

 

[Tinstar]

Installed new bearing sets and seals today.
Also new nut retainers.
The Races are some of the worst I’ve ever seen.
Bearings are toast also.

Amazing it was allowed to get this bad.

 

[Tinstar]

Did find a new drum retention screw.
Slotted, but it works.

 

[Tinstar]

She’s all freshly greased
At least I can use it now.

 

[Mullaney]

Installed new bearing sets and seals today.
Also new nut retainers.
The Races are some of the worst I’ve ever seen.
Bearings are toast also.

Amazing it was allowed to get this bad.

View attachment 880593View attachment 880594View attachment 880595View attachment 880596

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.
Pretty amazing. It almost looks like the trailer was parked in a creek, then driven a few hundred miles.

 

[Tinstar]

Someone knew it was like that.
The grease, what little was still in the hubs, didn’t have any chrome bearing flakes or debris in it at all.
I mean zero.
Weird.

This is a textbook example of why you should always check the bearings on any auction trailer you buy.

 

[billm]

View attachment 880604View attachment 880605

Did find a new drum retention screw.
Slotted, but it works.

Is it me or are the 2 pictured bearings NOT tapered roller bearings? They certainly don't appear to have the taper of the other 2 bearings you can just see a part of.
The top 1 also looks like it might be a larger diameter but could just be the camera angle. The wear on these 2 bearings & the outer races don't look like they belong together.
I am sorry for the old'ish thread reply, they just don't look right to me, I have seen enough of them in the last ~40 years.
Thanks, Bill

 

[Tinstar]

Their all tapered.
Just the angle of the photo makes it look weird.
I thought the same thing.

The race wear doesn’t match the bearing wear at all.
That’s why I mentioned that someone knew it was like this and didn’t care.
There was zero debris-flakes in the grease.
Especially for the small amount of grease left.

I bet these made a lot of noise and I still shake my head that someone knowingly put this back together and called it good.

 

[East4x4Coast]

Their all tapered.
Just the angle of the photo makes it look weird.
I thought the same thing.
New here.
The race wear doesn’t match the bearing wear at all.
That’s why I mentioned that someone knew it was like this and didn’t care.
There was zero debris-flakes in the grease.
Especially for the small amount of grease left.

I bet these made a lot of noise and I still shake my head that someone knowingly put this back together and called it good.

It gets worse.

I pulled off the drivers side tire today to install new bearings.
One drum retaining screw came out easy.
The other one had been completely rounded in the center and impossible to remove.
Someone had tried and failed miserably.


Some heat, liquid wrench, and impact screwdriver finally did the trick.
Another few minutes and the welder was coming out for the old “weld a nut onto it” trick.

Now the drums rusted to the hub. Finally got that broke free.
Then the paint was so thick on the hub, it wouldn’t slide off.
Had to work it back and forth with two pry bars and plow through the old paint. Done

Took off drum and Bearings feel and sound like their toast and you can move the hub side to side about 1/2”.
Up and down a little less.
It’s way worse than I expected.

Tomorrow the hub comes off.
Can’t believe they let it get this bad.

New here, have 1997 101A2 camo green marine radio trailer. Owned this trailer 10 years. Best utility trailer in my opinion. I need to replace a cable that broke recently for the parking assembly brake, just now noticed in the thread that these 2 screws hold the drum to the hub. I have been fortunate it sounds like with the bearings. The surge brakes stopped working and I have the master cylinder ready to install as well but could not get the drums off. Is it easier to remove the entire hub assembly to get these screws out. They have never been removed. Covered in camo green still. Looks like the wheels have never been off of it. Still running the 37" Goodyears. Wheels run very freely with no end play pr noise. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Tinstar]

Welcome to Steel Soldiers!

Yes I completely agree that the M101A2 is the best utility trailer ever fielded.

Yes You can remove the hub assembly and work on it that way.
I left mine on. Made it easier for me knowing it wasn’t going anywhere while banging on it

Heat, Liquid Wrench and lots of hammering.
I was on the verge of welding a nut to the screw head when it finally broke loose.

Don’t forget anti seize when you put them
Back.

Pics are always great
Good luck

 

[royalflush55]

Try heating the screws just enough to melt a candle good when touched to them. If you can get the right temperature the wax will melt and follow the threads down. Let the wax set up a little bit before trying to remove them. If the wax flows in correctly it will expand and the screw will come out. You might have to try this a few times to get the right temperature.