Identifying a Trailer Hub

[Texasmark]

Recently acquired a 2002 model Heritage Custom Trailer. Pulling up the Heritage www today, they talk about Vault Hubs on their trailers. Wondering what is on my '02. Peculiar end on the hub, like a solid, cast, (not stamped like on most non boat types with the lip for removal) steel cap driven into a larger hub race ID, almost flush. No grease zerks and no apparent way to remove it.

Was reading on different lube methods on trailers in general and picked up something about a hub with a cap that you pack with grease and then drive it on. This may be one of those. No experience with anything like that.

Anyway, currently hubs are barely warm after running 50 miles at highway speeds, jacking and rolling the wheel is smooth as silk, rolls freely. Just want to know how and why so I can understand what kind of maintenance would be required of me.

Thanks for your time.

 

[GA_Boater]

Does the dust cap thing look like the ones in these service kits? https://www.dexteraxle.com/products/Hub-Hub-Drum/hub-components/vault-vortex

 

[Texasmark]

No. That's what they are using currently. Mine is almost flush with the hub casting which is part of my wonderment....how would you get them out for servicing. Thanks anyway. I sent an email to the company in hopes of finding out what's what.

 

[Texasmark]

I am in for the day so I'll have to check this out tomorrow but I think what I am seeing is the protective cap and this is nothing more than a bearing buddy but with a different grease. So tomorrow I will see if gentle force takes the cap off and then I'll know.

http://www.vmboattrailers.com/onlinestore/bearingprotectors.html

 

[Texasmark]

Today with nothing to do, I got a rag and wiped the road film off my trailer's hubs. Lo and behold I found the name of the gyzmo and how to service it: http://www.waymires.com/support_documents/ufp/ufp_trailer_buddy_axle_brochure.pdf

 

[GA_Boater]

Kinda like a Bearing Buddy on steroids. :smile:

 

[Texasmark]

Yes and also uses the word Buddy which makes me wonder which is the chicken and which is the egg. I used BBs back when they came out....forget when. Never heard of these before but the trailer mfgr has been building custom trailers for decades. But they solve the problems with BBs I had.

 

[GA_Boater]

The big difference may be higher pressure lube than BB's. :noidea:

 

[Texasmark]

The big difference may be higher pressure lube than BB's. :noidea:

May be due to 3 things I noticed:

Inside axle seal is built to stay in place with positive pressure.
2 orings used to ensure the piston seals
3 pressure on the pump to push the piston out...wasn't like a Zerk on a new bushing, but you had noticeable resistance when pumping....spring must be stronger.