Repack bearings

[Gerry Zagorski]

A few things I've read which make sense.
- Make sure the grease fills up the hub and buddy bearing this helps water from getting in. When greasing, do it once cold, run the trailer to get them hot and do it again to be sure as much air is displaced as possible.
- If launching in salt water, use marine grease.

[Walleyed]

2 things I learned from my father:

1) slowly tighten the nut until the wheel stops spinning (don't crank on it) and then back off a 1/4 turn and pin it.

2) Bearing buddy's do not grease the bearings. It simply attempts to provide a seal to keep water from getting in. When you pump new grease into the BB, it does not introduce any new grease into the bearing itself.

Repacking the bearings is a rite of spring. I'm a big fan of this little device:

Lisle 34550 Handy Packer Bearing Packer

Makes the job just a little less messy.

[Dupes]

It's not a hard job. If you have to replace the race it's a little more time consuming.

[Capt. Debbie]

Exactly how to install. But I disagree about the Bearing Buddies.

In my 30 years of trailering I swear by the buddies.

The bearing buddies if working correctly are spring loaded and push the axle grease against the bearings. They may prevent water intrusion but do much much more. In fact when you are loading them via grease gun you will see the spring loaded front surface rising towards you.

As long as you don't over load them with grease and blow out the back seals they work great for years and years.

I top them off every 2nd or 3rd trip. Knock on wood and BB's never failed me since I started trailering in the Summer of 1982.

If working properly they make axles worry free with minimal maintenance. 30 years and multi 100,000 miles of use prove it.

Of course there is the labor intensive way re-packing them too. What the bearing buddy does with its spring packing you can do by hand too. I'd rather use a motor to move my boat, than get the sense of accomplishment from rowing there. LOL

Originally Posted by Walleyed

2 things I learned from my father:

1) slowly tighten the nut until the wheel stops spinning (don't crank on it) and then back off a 1/4 turn and pin it.

2) Bearing buddy's do not grease the bearings. It simply attempts to provide a seal to keep water from getting in. When you pump new grease into the BB, it does not introduce any new grease into the bearing itself.

Repacking the bearings is a rite of spring. I'm a big fan of this little device:

Lisle 34550 Handy Packer Bearing Packer

Makes the job just a little less messy.