Help for a less than handy person

I need to replace this keel roller on my trailer. Is there a way to just replace the roller or do I have to replace the whole bracket. There are no nuts holding the axle for the roller, just these cap looking things? I know, pathetic

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Roller only can be replaced usually the new one will have the end caps with it. Looks like you could get a block of wood to hold it up or take the boat off way easier. Using a big pliers pop the end cap off they can be a pain. Sometimes a side cutter opened and put behind it will pop it off or just keep peeling away it will come of nothing to tuff put the new one on and use a block of wood to tap the end caps back on, I use I light layer of marine grease on the shaft hope this helps cost for the roller around 5-10 bucks.

Fleet Farm has a whole section of just rollers to buy. Measure what you have and buy something the same length. While your there buy a long bolt the same diameter as the shaft and get a nylock nut for the one end. Hardware at fleet farm is usually purchased by the pound too. Next time you put your boat in the water bring some tools and try and swap it out in the parking lot with your boat off the trailer. Good luck.

Don’t worryaboutit wrote:

There are no nuts holding the axle for the roller, just these cap looking things?

Those are called “push nuts” and a readily available at most big box stores.
Home DepotHome DepotHome Depot

By the look of the picture it looks like your boat has a bit of a bend there. You might want to add a roller to help disperse the weight. It is very easy.

Yeah thanks, I noticed that I’m the picture but didn’t see it when I was outside. Going to check it out and see if it was a camera trick or something

Yes, as others have said, the roller can be replaced.

I never bother fooling around with replacing those push on nuts. Instead I replace the entire axle assembly with a bolt of the same diameter and then put a lock nut on the other end. Makes all future replacements much easier.

Obviously it greatly helps the process if you have a hydraulic jack to Jack the boat up so that there is no weight on the roller when you replace it.

You might want to consider replacing that ruler with a urethane roller. They are harder than the black rubber rollers.

Grouse

If it was me, I’d raise the nose of the boat a bit and remove the bracket to work on replacing the roller and then reinstall.

X2 on the urethane roller.