Trailer axle question

[Bigtimber]

I have a old boat trailer with a greaseable axle. The end of the spindle has a grease fitting that pushes grease through the axle to the rear seal and pushes the old grease out the front and fills the whole deal with new pretty much.
Question is......the grease fitting is not in the center of spindle...either side. Its located on the edge of the end of spindle........like that on both sides. You dont mean a person has to remove the grease caps completely every time to grease the axle? Not a special cap of some sort designed for this? Seems outrageous not to put it in the center of spindle....I see grease caps with rubber removalable centers for spindles with the grease fitting centered but nothing "offset" or otherwise. What is the deal?

 

[bassboy1]

I have a old boat trailer with a greaseable axle. The end of the spindle has a grease fitting that pushes grease through the axle to the rear seal and pushes the old grease out the front and fills the whole deal with new pretty much.
Question is......the grease fitting is not in the center of spindle...either side. Its located on the edge of the end of spindle........like that on both sides. You dont mean a person has to remove the grease caps completely every time to grease the axle? Not a special cap of some sort designed for this? Seems outrageous not to put it in the center of spindle....I see grease caps with rubber removalable centers for spindles with the grease fitting centered but nothing "offset" or otherwise. What is the deal?

It's not in the center of the spindle so that it'll clear the cotter pin hole.

The alternative to the offset zirc is to have it in the center, and not have a hole for the cotter pin, instead having a D shaped spindle end, and use a little stamped steel widget to hold the nut from loosening. The problem with this being when you have a bearing failure on a trip, no one stocks the little stamped steel piece, and you have no hole in the spindle for a cotter pin, so you're driving home with nothing holding the nut on your passenger side (and being sure not to end up needing to back up or the nut loosens).

You're way better off with the offset zirc and a normal cotter pin hole.

As for how to access it, you just need one of these cover sets. Large enough hole to access offset zirc, and an easy to remove rubber plug.

https://www.easternmarine.com/superlube-1980-id-hub-drum-dust-cap-81168

Various sizes in this link, if the one in the above link is wrong size.

https://www.easternmarine.com/dust-caps-oil-caps

 

[Bigtimber]

It's not in the center of the spindle so that it'll clear the cotter pin hole.

The alternative to the offset zirc is to have it in the center, and not have a hole for the cotter pin, instead having a D shaped spindle end, and use a little stamped steel widget to hold the nut from loosening. The problem with this being when you have a bearing failure on a trip, no one stocks the little stamped steel piece, and you have no hole in the spindle for a cotter pin, so you're driving home with nothing holding the nut on your passenger side (and being sure not to end up needing to back up or the nut loosens).

You're way better off with the offset zirc and a normal cotter pin hole.

As for how to access it, you just need one of these cover sets. Large enough hole to access offset zirc, and an easy to remove rubber plug.

https://www.easternmarine.com/superlube-1980-id-hub-drum-dust-cap-81168

Various sizes in this link, if the one in the above link is wrong size.

https://www.easternmarine.com/dust-caps-oil-caps

Your the man!!! It all makes sense now. Many thanks for your help Sir.