Bearing Buddy Question
 

I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer. They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install? is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

Must have... you can do it yourself.

CM

"No Spam" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
| I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
| suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
| which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
| installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
|
| Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
| it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
| Thanks for any advice..
|
| N.S.
|
|

Bearing Buddy Question
 

Definite must have.
Towed that boat thousands of miles and launched/hauled dozens of times
each year and never had a problem. I used synthetic grease and repacked
them every fall prior to storage. I think I paid $25 for a pair.
To install them, remove the dust caps and use a 2 X 4 and hammer to
pound them in, just make sure you pound them in evenly. Then use a
grease gun to fill the hubs with grease. I have heard it said that the
grease will not make it into every void but the air/grease pressure in
the hub will help prevent water from being sucked in by the hot bearings
as they are cooling down. I always put the grease in just prior to
launching the boat (while in the launch prep area) so that they were
under maximum pressure.All in all, cheap insurance.
Kevin

No Spam wrote:

I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer. They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install? is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

My old trailer came with them. Never had any bearing problems.


"No Spam" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

No, they are easy to install, I use a wooden mallet (I have an old croquet
mallet) and hammer them onto the wheels after you take off the caps. Then be
careful how much grease you pump into them. Not too much, careful not to
blow the seals off the inside of the bearing assembly. Only about 2 or 3
pumps from a grease gun and only about every 1000 miles or depending on salt
water launching. Use good grease also not that cheap brown stuff.






"No Spam" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

I agree they are a must have,BUT they do not replace a good spring
repack.It's easy takes about 20 min per wheel and then let the buddies take
care of the season."No Spam" wrote in
message le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

Well worth the $15 to 20. Any dumb bunnie can install them. You need a
hammer and a block of wood. Don't over grease them. There are all kinds
of clones of bearing buddies available
99% of trailers use the 1.980 size.

No Spam wrote:
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer. They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install? is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

Excellent accessory. They don't pump the grease, though. You do. One thing:
I think it's nuts to not have your hubs cleaned out thoroughly and regreased
before installing the Bearing Buddies. Everything I've read says not to mix
different types of grease. If you have the marina do the installation, you
can ask them to use the kind of grease you're buying from them.

If you take lots of long trips, you need to find a grease application tool
that is easy to transport, and doesn't make a mess of the car's trunk or
your hands. Otherwise, you won't want to use it. Besides, you only notice
that you need grease when there's noplace around to wash the stuff off your
hands.

I found a good one on the same pegboard as tubes of OMC (brand) grease, but
I can't seem to find it anywhere on the web. Mine came from a marina.

Imagine a metal tube with a plunger on one end. The other end is placed on
the grease fitting of the Bearing Buddy. In the center of the tube is a
threaded thing made for the OMC grease to fasten to. (The grease is in a
thick plastic toothpaste-tube type of container). So, when attached, the
grease container makes the whole contraption into a t-shaped affair. You
squeeze the grease from the bottom of the soft container upward so it feeds
into the metal tube and then squeeze the plunger. When you're done, you
release the pressure from the grease container. That, and the release of the
plunger create just enough vacuum to pull any excess grease back into the
applicator. Nice & neat.

Now that I think of it, it must be made by OMC, since it fits their grease
container perfectly. The applicator's about 7" long and no thicker than a
screwdriver. That and the grease container fit into a medium-size Rubbermaid
rectangular food storage thing. Nice & neat.

"No Spam" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

"GF" wrote in message
. ca...
I agree they are a must have,BUT they do not replace a good spring
repack.It's easy takes about 20 min per wheel and then let the buddies
take
care of the season.

Do you have your hubs & bearings totally degreased when you repack, or just
wipe out what you can see?

Bearing Buddy Question
 

They cant hurt but I seriously doubt they do any good. There are 2 bearings in
there. The "buddy" does a good job on the front one but the back one needs it
too. Unless you blow the seal (not good) and force the grease all the way
through, your not getting it to the rear bearing. Having them re-packed each
year is the best advice. If you truely want to eliminate 99% the problems and
maintenance associated with regular bearings, replace them with oil filled
hubs. You can get these at West Marine. No more problems then. ;)

Bearing Buddy (With Photos)
 

How do I install it? do I hammer out the silver cap from the wheel (see
photos link below)? that sounds scary to me.. i aint a mechanic. so... also,
the guy told me bearing buddy comes in different size to fit my hub.. do I
bring that silver thing to the marina to buy the right size? thanks...

http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/...heel/wheel.jpg

N.S.


"No Spam" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy (With Photos)
 

At home, are you famous for fixing things quickly and correctly, or do you
try and fix a faucet and end up flooding the basement? :-)

And, did you check out the web site? www.bearingbuddy.com

If you're really not sure about it, just pay the dealer and be done with it.

"No Spam" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
How do I install it? do I hammer out the silver cap from the wheel (see
photos link below)? that sounds scary to me.. i aint a mechanic. so...
also,
the guy told me bearing buddy comes in different size to fit my hub.. do I
bring that silver thing to the marina to buy the right size? thanks...

http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/...heel/wheel.jpg

N.S.


"No Spam" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

No Spam wrote:
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer. They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install? is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.


Get them they are worth their weight in gold as far as keeping you
bearings greased and water out.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

Doug Kanter wrote:

"GF" wrote in message
. ca...

I agree they are a must have,BUT they do not replace a good spring
repack.It's easy takes about 20 min per wheel and then let the buddies

take

care of the season.


Do you have your hubs & bearings totally degreased when you repack, or just
wipe out what you can see?


Totally clean if possible

Bearing Buddy Question
 

Don't forget to replace the seal when you repack. Do not use an automotive
seal, make sure it is a marine seal. To be sure of keeping the grease in,
use the Bearing Buddy Spindle Seals. Check their web site.

"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
Do you have your hubs & bearings totally degreased when you repack, or
just
wipe out what you can see?

It is best to do a complete clean/repack job when you install the buddies.
One
problem is lithium and sodium greases are not compatible. If you are not
sure
what you have you might be mixing them. It is best to pick one brand/type
of
grease and stick with it. Other than being a little messy this repacking
job is
really pretty easy for a novice. Just keep everything clean and be sure
you
work the grease into the bearings before you put it all back together. I
usually use 2 big pieces of cardboard, one when I am taking it apart and
cleaning, toss that, wash up and start with a clean piece for reassembly.
Inspect everything and look for bad spots in your bearings or races. A
few
small chunks of crud in the bearings and you wasted your time. New
bearings are
really not that expensive if you don't like what you see.
Be sure the whole hub is full of grease if you are using buddies since
they
depend on a slight positive pressure throughout to keep the water out.
When you
are greasing them up, watch the plate on the front where the zerk fitting
is.
Just pump it up until the spring plate is near the front stop. If you pump
it
out all the way grease will shoot out the overfill port and go everywhere.
Worst case is you will pump it in faster than it can escape out the
overfill
port and you will blow out the rear seal. Go slow!
It may take a few trips and a few fillings to get the hubs properly
filled.
Once they are it doesn't take much to keep the system pressurized.
The only down side is your wheels get dirty.

Bearing Buddy Question
 

Gfretwell wrote:

Do you have your hubs & bearings totally degreased when you repack, or just
wipe out what you can see?


It is best to do a complete clean/repack job when you install the buddies. One
problem is lithium and sodium greases are not compatible. If you are not sure
what you have you might be mixing them. It is best to pick one brand/type of
grease and stick with it. Other than being a little messy this repacking job is
really pretty easy for a novice. Just keep everything clean and be sure you
work the grease into the bearings before you put it all back together. I
usually use 2 big pieces of cardboard, one when I am taking it apart and
cleaning, toss that, wash up and start with a clean piece for reassembly.
Inspect everything and look for bad spots in your bearings or races. A few
small chunks of crud in the bearings and you wasted your time. New bearings are
really not that expensive if you don't like what you see.
Be sure the whole hub is full of grease if you are using buddies since they
depend on a slight positive pressure throughout to keep the water out. When you
are greasing them up, watch the plate on the front where the zerk fitting is.
Just pump it up until the spring plate is near the front stop. If you pump it
out all the way grease will shoot out the overfill port and go everywhere.
Worst case is you will pump it in faster than it can escape out the overfill
port and you will blow out the rear seal. Go slow!
It may take a few trips and a few fillings to get the hubs properly filled.
Once they are it doesn't take much to keep the system pressurized.
The only down side is your wheels get dirty.
if your wheels get greasy then your seal must be leaking. The grease
point on the bearing buddy should rock back and forth if it does not you
have too much grease in the hub and you will blow out the grease seal.

Bearing Buddy (With Photos)
 

"No Spam" wrote
How do I install it? do I hammer out the silver cap from the wheel (see
photos link below)? that sounds scary to me.. i aint a mechanic. so... also,
the guy told me bearing buddy comes in different size to fit my hub.. do I
bring that silver thing to the marina to buy the right size? thanks...

http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/...heel/wheel.jpg

N.S.


The dust cap comes off rather easily as others have already said. One
thing I would like to mentiuon is also purchasing a pair of Bearing Buddy
Bras. They are rubber "caps" that fit over the Buddies and keep grease
from spreading over your rims and tires. I keep mine in place (cuz I used to
lose a few) by securing them with 11" plastic tie straps pulled very tightly.
The when I need to re-grease I snip the tie strap and remove the bra,
grease it, and put on a new tie strap.

Ron.

More Bearing info
 

Here is some additional bearing info...
http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/bearing1.html


No Spam wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy (With Photos)
 

Take it to your local NAPA or CARQUEST, you'll spend half the money. And
yes, take the silver grease cap with you. Yank it off with a large pair of
channel lock pliers.

--
Steve
=======================
Remove the not dot from my address to abuse my email box
"No Spam" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
How do I install it? do I hammer out the silver cap from the wheel (see
photos link below)? that sounds scary to me.. i aint a mechanic. so...
also,
the guy told me bearing buddy comes in different size to fit my hub.. do I
bring that silver thing to the marina to buy the right size? thanks...

http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/...heel/wheel.jpg

N.S.


"No Spam" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.

Bearing Buddy (With Photos)
 

"Ackermann" wrote in message
...

"No Spam" wrote
One
thing I would like to mentiuon is also purchasing a pair of Bearing Buddy
Bras. They are rubber "caps" that fit over the Buddies and keep grease
from spreading over your rims and tires. I keep mine in place (cuz I used
to
lose a few) by securing them with 11" plastic tie straps pulled very
tightly.
The when I need to re-grease I snip the tie strap and remove the bra,
grease it, and put on a new tie strap.

Ron.

That's someting I'll second. Before I picked up a pair of those at the
Barrie Boat Show a few years ago, I had filthy wheels all the time, and went
through a lot of grease. You won't get a thousand miles between adding
grease without the bras. The BB throws out a lot! The bras keep everything
nice and neat, just like the original caps do.

I'll have a look at their site to see how the cleaning thing goes. In 7
years with this trailer, I've not once cleaned them out and repacked, just
careful attention to making sure they have grease.

Actually, I pump the grease through it till it flows out, and often flush a
lot of crappy looking stuff out. What is it that would "blow" from
pressure? The retainer cap (held by the spring) looks like metal to me...

--
"Stay strong. Be brave. Wait for the signs."

Regards,

Frank Johansen
Aurora, Ontario

Bearing Buddy (With Photos)
 

Blows out the rear seal. The one at the back of the hub, that rides on the
spindle.
Bill

"Buck Frobisher" wrote in message
.. .

"Ackermann" wrote in message
...

"No Spam" wrote
One
thing I would like to mentiuon is also purchasing a pair of Bearing
Buddy
Bras. They are rubber "caps" that fit over the Buddies and keep grease
from spreading over your rims and tires. I keep mine in place (cuz I
used
to
lose a few) by securing them with 11" plastic tie straps pulled very
tightly.
The when I need to re-grease I snip the tie strap and remove the bra,
grease it, and put on a new tie strap.

Ron.

That's someting I'll second. Before I picked up a pair of those at the
Barrie Boat Show a few years ago, I had filthy wheels all the time, and
went
through a lot of grease. You won't get a thousand miles between adding
grease without the bras. The BB throws out a lot! The bras keep
everything
nice and neat, just like the original caps do.

I'll have a look at their site to see how the cleaning thing goes. In 7
years with this trailer, I've not once cleaned them out and repacked, just
careful attention to making sure they have grease.

Actually, I pump the grease through it till it flows out, and often flush
a
lot of crappy looking stuff out. What is it that would "blow" from
pressure? The retainer cap (held by the spring) looks like metal to me...

--
"Stay strong. Be brave. Wait for the signs."

Regards,

Frank Johansen
Aurora, Ontario

Bearing Buddy (With Photos)
 

Over packing just fills that gap between the two sets of bearings, you can
over fill but you will blow the seal on the inside. That is not necessarily
a bad thing, this will give you visual security that there is fresh grease
in both sets. Besides it is the heat that is your enemy. When on long trips,
periodically feel the hubs for heat. Pump it in as required. I have a
6000lbs boat and trailer system that I have trailered near 30,000 miles on
the same set of bearings and dipped it into salt water dozens of times. I do
get a mess of grease on the inside wheel rim from over pumping which just
messes with the balance but other than that they are fine. Repacking them
annually isn't necessary but if you like to do that then that's ok as you
will get a visual inspection. Heat and dry are your enemy. Or rather one
creates the other. Even though your not mechanically inclined as you
suggest, you now know enough to do this job and actually when you do it, it
is more reassuring than having the kid at the marina do it. Dont tighten the
castle nut too tight before putting cotter pin back in. Mixing the grease is
somewhat important not to do. Dont use that brown grease. I use that green
colored stuff and actually I also periodically pump a few pumps of graphite
grease in also, works for me as I do have over 30,000 miles on the same set
of bearings and never had a problem, except I over pump sometimes but I feel
better driving on those long jogs. If your driving down some highway and it
is hot and sunny and the one side of wheels is getting hit by the sun, what
that it doesn't heat up enough to break down the grease to a point where it
will overheat. It shouldn't but could mean your castle nut wasn't tight
enough. Proper torque is important.





"Steve Barker" wrote in message
...
Take it to your local NAPA or CARQUEST, you'll spend half the money. And
yes, take the silver grease cap with you. Yank it off with a large pair
of
channel lock pliers.

--
Steve
=======================
Remove the not dot from my address to abuse my email box
"No Spam" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
How do I install it? do I hammer out the silver cap from the wheel (see
photos link below)? that sounds scary to me.. i aint a mechanic. so...
also,
the guy told me bearing buddy comes in different size to fit my hub.. do
I
bring that silver thing to the marina to buy the right size? thanks...

http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/...heel/wheel.jpg

N.S.


"No Spam" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the
trailer.
They
suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing
buddy"
which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.

Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to
install?
is
it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for
me?
Thanks for any advice..

N.S.