Trailer Wheel Bearing Grease
 

I recently bought a used 17' boat with an EZ Loader trailer. I pull it
about 3000-4000 miles per year and use it in fresh water only. The trailer
has a single axel with Bearing Buddies. I have heard of enough failures
of the inside bearing while using the Bearing Buddies to make me wary of
them. Should I leave them on or take them off? Also, what kind or brand of
grease should I use to repack the wheel bearings? Thanks in advance for any
help you can provide.

I've had no problems with the bearings on my trailer, which has Bearing
Buddies on it. But, I bought the trailer new and the marina mechanic, who
said he didn't trust ANYONE, cleaned and repacked the bearings as I watched,
on the day I picked it up. I was taught how to maintain them the right way.
He provided perfectly logical advice for choosing grease: Buy it based on a
packaging/dispensing scheme that's easy and clean for you to use, or you
won't want to do it often enough. Result: OMC makes a grease packaged in
what looks like a fat tube of toothpaste. It screws right into a t-shaped
thing that has a grease fitting on one end and a plunger (for dispensing) on
the other end. Very easy to use, and it takes up as much space as a
finishing hammer, so it's welcome in the container I carry in the truck,
containing oil, window washer, etc.I keep the tube thing wrapped in heavy
foil as a precaution, but the small amount left in the tube never seems to
ooze out anyway.

Having said this, I put about 2000 miles a year on my trailer. I find that I
only need to add grease once a year.

If I were you, I'd clean, inspect and repack your bearings to be sure you're
starting with good parts. Then, don't worry about it. And,
www.bearingbuddy.com has more info.

"Craig Davis" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a used 17' boat with an EZ Loader trailer. I pull it
about 3000-4000 miles per year and use it in fresh water only. The trailer
has a single axel with Bearing Buddies. I have heard of enough failures
of the inside bearing while using the Bearing Buddies to make me wary of
them. Should I leave them on or take them off? Also, what kind or brand
of
grease should I use to repack the wheel bearings? Thanks in advance for
any
help you can provide.

"Craig Davis" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a used 17' boat with an EZ Loader trailer. I pull it
about 3000-4000 miles per year and use it in fresh water only. The trailer
has a single axel with Bearing Buddies. I have heard of enough failures
of the inside bearing while using the Bearing Buddies to make me wary of
them. Should I leave them on or take them off? Also, what kind or brand
of
grease should I use to repack the wheel bearings? Thanks in advance for
any
help you can provide.

Bearing Buddies work fine as long as you keep them greased religiously.

Bearing Buddies are spring loaded, and keep internal pressure on the grease
at all times. This keeps water out, but tends to push out a small amount of
grease when in operation. This makes for a dirty hub, and uses quite a bit
of grease, but if you can handle those shortcomings, Bearing Buddies are the
best at preserving bearings, and keeping them dry.

As for the grease, we always used standard marine wheel bearing grease, like
the stuff at Wall-Mart. There is no need to buy expensive grease, just to
throw it away.

--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.insight.rr.com/cgreen/

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 15:28:32 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

I've had no problems with the bearings on my trailer, which has Bearing
Buddies on it. But, I bought the trailer new and the marina mechanic, who
said he didn't trust ANYONE, cleaned and repacked the bearings as I watched,
on the day I picked it up. I was taught how to maintain them the right way.
He provided perfectly logical advice for choosing grease: Buy it based on a
packaging/dispensing scheme that's easy and clean for you to use, or you
won't want to do it often enough. Result: OMC makes a grease packaged in
what looks like a fat tube of toothpaste. It screws right into a t-shaped
thing that has a grease fitting on one end and a plunger (for dispensing) on
the other end. Very easy to use, and it takes up as much space as a
finishing hammer, so it's welcome in the container I carry in the truck,
containing oil, window washer, etc.I keep the tube thing wrapped in heavy
foil as a precaution, but the small amount left in the tube never seems to
ooze out anyway.

Having said this, I put about 2000 miles a year on my trailer. I find that I
only need to add grease once a year.

If I were you, I'd clean, inspect and repack your bearings to be sure you're
starting with good parts. Then, don't worry about it. And,
www.bearingbuddy.com has more info.

Dead on advice - nice job.

Later,

Tom