Bearing temp question

[tractoman]

On my tandem trailer, I have one hub that runs warmer than the rest. The two idler hubs and rear left wheel with brakes all run about 105-110 degrees according to my IR temp gun. The rear right with brakes runs about 120-125 degrees. I've checked and repacked the bearings, replaced and adjusted the brakes and no matter what I do it's always the same. Is this too hot for the bearings? After the season I'll probably replace all the bearings but am I OK for now. The temps I am measuring with the IR temp gun are after towing 15-20 miles or so and when I stop for gas.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Bearing temp question

Check the offending hub for bearing too tight. If that's OK, your problem is more perception than reality. 15* diff is nothing ...

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Bearing temp question

IR guns only give you accurate temps with the correct emisivity and you can get reflections from other surfaces.
For example on a crome bumper sitting in the sun you can cold temperatures because the cold from the sky reflects off the bumper and into the ir gun or thermal camera.
I would not worry one bit about a few degrees of temp difference.
The best way to get accurate IR temps from a thermal gun or camera is to put black electrical tape on the surface you want to get a temp off of. Black electrical tape, bare metal is immpossible to get an accurate temp, chrome, or such. Painted surface not too bad, I would put a strip of black tape around the hubs. I would not worry about few degrees difference, checking all your bearings is a good idea, maybe pay real good attention to the one you think is running warmer.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Bearing temp question

On my tandem trailer, I have one hub that runs warmer than the rest. The two idler hubs and rear left wheel with brakes all run about 105-110 degrees according to my IR temp gun. The rear right with brakes runs about 120-125 degrees. I've checked and repacked the bearings, replaced and adjusted the brakes and no matter what I do it's always the same. Is this too hot for the bearings? After the season I'll probably replace all the bearings but am I OK for now. The temps I am measuring with the IR temp gun are after towing 15-20 miles or so and when I stop for gas.

Maybe the right rear is taking a direct hit from the your trucks exhaust, 125* is nothing to even be concerned about, heck my front caliper on the car hung up just the other day and had driven several miles home from work before I realized it, even the rim was so hot it sizzled spit, next day I purchased a new caliper, installed it and inspected the wheel bearing, I didn't know what to expect with the hub being it got so hot but the hub was still full of grease! had to have been 800*