Frequency of geasing bearings

[Texas Parrothead]

I do not have bearing buddies and wanted to know how frequently I should repack the grease on my trailer bearings?

Every season, every 2 or 3 seasons?

It will be two years since I had the bearing serviced in September. Am I playing russian roulette?

Thanks!

 

[iop]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

It depends on frequency of use and how long your trips are...
I think if there are packed right once a year would suffice unless you are constantly on the road...

 

[Texas Parrothead]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

I drive it about 6-8 times a season and do not drive more then 20 miles each way for each trip.

I guess I am due to pack some bearing no matter how you cut it.

Thanks!

 

[Pelletmonster]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

do them every spring....stay away from the bearing buddies just an expensive/messy grease cap

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

do them every spring....stay away from the bearing buddies just an expensive/messy grease cap

Totally disagree. This is a common misconception by those who don't understand what bearing buddies actually do.

Bearing buddies are designed to keep a constant, low-pressure reserve of grease pressed against the bearings. This provides for a slow movement of fresh grease from the outside bearing to the inside bearings.

With plain grease caps, even ones with zerk fittings, you will never be able to reliably force fresh grease all the way through the hub and into the inside bearing. Bearing buddies are constantly repacking your bearings with fresh grease.

If you think bearing buddies are "messy", it's most likely that it isn't the bearing buddies at all. It's the fact that your rear seals are shot. Probably due to a lack of grease.

Yes, some grease does get forced out the back seal. There is no such thing as a totally tight rotating seal. I'm more than willing to put up with a little grease spatter because I know that means that the fresh grease is getting through to the inside bearings and it's displacing all that gritty, dry, and polluted grease.

With several fishing trips to Canada every year, I rack up thousands of miles on my trailers every year and I've never had a bearing issue. I may go through more grease than is strictly necessary, but I believe when it comes to grease that more fresh grease is NEVER a bad idea.

Grouse

 

[matt1982]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

everyone can argue back and forth about bearing buddies. my personal recommendation is that if you want your bearings to last you buy a nice old fasioned dust seal to cover the bearings and you pack your bearings every spring by hand so that you know they are good. if you intend to take a long trip anytime with it this and the condition of your tires are the two most critical things you shoud concentrate on

 

[d.boat]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

A big FWIW.

I pack my bearings once per year. Usually in the fall before putting the boat away (outdoors, under a tarp) for the winter. If not that, in the spring before I use it.

I'll have to admit, psychologically, I feel more comfortable with doing it in the spring, but I also feel analytically that it's better to get that fresh grease in there in the fall. Functionally, I haven't seen a difference.

In a low year, I tow about 2,000 miles per year. Two "major" trips of about 7-800 miles RT each and the rest in 20 or so mile RT. In a high year, add about 500 more miles of short trips. This is almost all fresh water, a couple of launches into salt water each year.

I have never had a single problem in over 15 years.

I use bearing buddies because they were on my trailers when I bought them. Before and after the major trips, I gently pump grease into them until I just see the spring move. Otherwise I do this every once in a while while I think of it. I have no idea if they're better or worse than not having them, but it does not matter at all because I don't have problems!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

With plain grease caps, even ones with zerk fittings, you will never be able to reliably force fresh grease all the way through the hub and into the inside bearing.

Suggest you read up on how EZ- lube axles (axles with zerk fittings) work. The grease is pumped directly into the inner bearing housing and is forced back out the front of the housing. Completely changing out the grease w/o removing the hub from the axle.

I've not had a couple of my hubs apart in over two years. Don't plan on doing them until I see signs of contaimation.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

I repack mine every 2-3 years, trailer is used about twice a week. Most of the road use is 5 miles each way, with a 100 + mile trip once a year.

The grease usually looks pretty good when I repack them.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

I drive it about 6-8 times a season and do not drive more then 20 miles each way for each trip.

I guess I am due to pack some bearing no matter how you cut it.

Thanks!

With that little use, you only need to grease them a couple times.

Totally disagree. This is a common misconception by those who don't understand what bearing buddies actually do.

Bearing buddies are designed to keep a constant, low-pressure reserve of grease pressed against the bearings. This provides for a slow movement of fresh grease from the outside bearing to the inside bearings.

With plain grease caps, even ones with zerk fittings, you will never be able to reliably force fresh grease all the way through the hub and into the inside bearing. Bearing buddies are constantly repacking your bearings with fresh grease.

If you think bearing buddies are "messy", it's most likely that it isn't the bearing buddies at all. It's the fact that your rear seals are shot. Probably due to a lack of grease.

Yes, some grease does get forced out the back seal. There is no such thing as a totally tight rotating seal. I'm more than willing to put up with a little grease spatter because I know that means that the fresh grease is getting through to the inside bearings and it's displacing all that gritty, dry, and polluted grease.

With several fishing trips to Canada every year, I rack up thousands of miles on my trailers every year and I've never had a bearing issue. I may go through more grease than is strictly necessary, but I believe when it comes to grease that more fresh grease is NEVER a bad idea.

Grouse

I would have to agree. I know I'm on the exreme side of the fence and will make some shake their head in disbelief. I bought a new Shorelandr tandem axle trailer, 24', 5500# in '94. I have yet to repack the bearings or replace a seal. The seals still don't leak. I add a little grease here and there and the hubs have always run cool. Yeah, they probably need replacing, but if nothing else, I feel it proved BB's work. Granted, during those years it wasn't going every week, even sat for a few. But still, grease had to be getting to all bearings for them to last so long...

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

Well I use bearing buddies and have no issues with them. I repack each season and give them a quick shot with the grease gun after each dunking in the lake just in case any water got in.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

My trailer is a 1985. I use bearing buddies and have never re-packed by hand. I ran the original bearings up until a couple of years ago, when I foolishly washed the wheels with a pressure washer. It drove water right past the bearing buddies, which had BB bras on them. The grease got washed out. I blew a set of bearings in a few miles. At that point, I put new bearings on both sides.

 

[steddy]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

With that little use, you only need to grease them a couple times.



I would have to agree. I know I'm on the exreme side of the fence and will make some shake their head in disbelief. I bought a new Shorelandr tandem axle trailer, 24', 5500# in '94. I have yet to repack the bearings or replace a seal. The seals still don't leak. I add a little grease here and there and the hubs have always run cool. Yeah, they probably need replacing, but if nothing else, I feel it proved BB's work. Granted, during those years it wasn't going every week, even sat for a few. But still, grease had to be getting to all bearings for them to last so long...

I'm one of those head shakers, to a point. You might want to think about disassembling those hubs & re-packing. They're probably getting pretty full of grease. Once they're full, the seals will blow & things get messy from there. No grease leaking out probably means no water leaking in. Most of the time, if you've put grease in regularly & you don't see any grease on the rim, no water is getting in most likely & you'll be fine.

 

[skargo]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

The people who don't like BB's don't know how to use them properly. I see people pump the crap out of them, that is not right. You pump them until they move then STOP.

FWIW I repack all my trailers(marine and non-marine) bearings once a year, bearing buddies or not. It's simple, takes hardly any time, and lets you inspect things. Just my way of feeling secure

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

I'm one of those head shakers, to a point. You might want to think about disassembling those hubs & re-packing. They're probably getting pretty full of grease. Once they're full, the seals will blow & things get messy from there. No grease leaking out probably means no water leaking in. Most of the time, if you've put grease in regularly & you don't see any grease on the rim, no water is getting in most likely & you'll be fine.

Oh, I agree. Since the trailer is 16 years old, I'll probably just buy new bearings(and seals) and start the process all over. Tires are weather checking too. So they'll need to be replaced. Trailer is painted and still looks like new. It does, however, only see fresh water........

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

Suggest you read up on how EZ- lube axles (axles with zerk fittings) work. The grease is pumped directly into the inner bearing housing and is forced back out the front of the housing. Completely changing out the grease w/o removing the hub from the axle.

I've not had a couple of my hubs apart in over two years. Don't plan on doing them until I see signs of contaimation.

The EZ-lube system is a completely different thing from just outer dust caps with zerk fittings, which is what I was referring to.

The retrofit of this system is also more complicated than simply installing Bearing Buddies.

I agree, the EZ-lube axle is obviously a superior setup, but at a significantly higher cost. Were I ever to buy a new trailer for the fishing boat I use the most, I would almost certainly install this system. For my current setup that's approaching 30 years old, I can't justify the cost.

Grouse

 

[Texas Parrothead]

Re: Frequency of geasing bearings

Since I don't trailer that often think I will just repack each season and stick with the old grease cap.

Thanks to all for your insight!