The hubs are hot, then what?

[ST]

I have a single axle trailer with new bearings, new seals and packed with new grease on both hubs-no brakes-both were hot to the touch after about 150 Miles of driving. I also notice lots of grease spattering around the wheels. What would you do? Keep in mind lots of company in SUV, parked on the side road on a hot Summer day in the desert...<br /> It looks like the grease were coming out through the Bearing Buddy's overflow "pin hole"(?), even though I got the bras installed.<br /><br />The previous time I replaced the bearings, I had no problem at all. Any input is welcome! Thanks!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Did you replace the bearings? <br /><br />If so, do you know how to properly pack bearings?<br /><br />Were the hubs so hot that you couldn't keep your fingers on it? <br /><br />It was pretty hot this weekend. Could have been just because it was hot!<br /><br />Jack up the wheels and see how they feel.

 

[michael-lagrange]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Sounds like you over packed the bearings, this will cause the balls to push as to roll which generates heat. clean em out and repack but not so much grease.

 

[gewf631]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

There's hot, and then there's HOT!<br /><br />Clean and re-pack, but only enough so the spring-loaded plate starts moving (as soon as it moves off its resting-place, STOP adding grease).<br /><br />Champion Trailers has several decent articles on the process (in their Technical Assistance section), that might help.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

One of my Hub's was hot as well. After jacking it up and turning the wheel, the brake was rubbing slightly. The brake was adjusted and the heat went away.

 

[DJ]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Four things make unwanted heat.<br /><br />1. Lack of lube.<br /><br />2. Lube breakdown (water ingestion).<br /><br />3. Trailer brakes.<br /><br />4. Low tires.<br /><br />#4 is probably the most common with #2 and #3 following a close second.<br /><br />If you felt the hubs on your car/truck, they'd be HOT too.<br /><br />A little "burping" of grease is no big deal, especially here in the desert. I'd be more worried if the hubs didn't upchuck a little grease.<br /><br />I'm a "clean" nut. I like clean wheels. Cars/trucks/trailers. After any trip, here in the desert, I always have to spend time cleaning the grease off of my trailer wheels.<br /><br />I'm in PHX, AZ, BTW.

 

[ST]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Well, thanks guys for all the inputs! I guess I'll recheck the hubs and the bearings again on my next oppurtunity. Sorry of not being precise on the temperature, I didn't have the reading gadget, so I only use my 2 fingers, I could only leave my fingers for about 2 seconds, that's how hot they were...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

did yu replace the grease seal. you may have tighten the nut to tight, this causes heat, tighten until snug the back off 1/4 turn to a slot for the cotter pin

 

[ST]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Yeah, I replaced the seals too; doesn't appear to have grease leaking from there. Also, I backed off the nut enough already...I will see my trailer again this Friday and recheck the condition of the bearings and the grease etc...

 

[ST]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Hi guys,<br />Just wanted to give an update of what I noticed when I saw my trailer/boat again last week end:<br />Both wheels turn freely and didn't hear grinding<br />sounds above normal. No exceesive plays on the wheels.<br />So, I simply proceeded with pumping more grease in it (about 8 squeezes on the small pump each hub) before some grease started to ooze out from the tiny hole on the Bearing Buddy. <br /><br />I guess, when I replaced the bearings, I didn't pack the grease enough in them. I now remember, that I simply applied the grease in the hubs by hands and not repacked afterward with the grease pump till it ooze out. A lesson learned for me...

 

[BrianS.]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Glad you caught it when you did.

 

[dingbat]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Most people don't read the instructions on the package and way over fill their bearing buddies.<br />If you had grease come out the weep holes you've way over filled the them.<br /><br />From the BB website<br /><br />7. How do I check the grease level in the hub? Grease can be added to the hub through an easily accessible grease fitting located in the center of the Bearing Buddy® piston. Lubricant level can be checked by pressing on the edge of the piston. If you can rock or move the piston, the hub is properly filled. If the piston won't rock or move, add grease until piston moves outward about 1/8 inch. When adding grease, always use a hand grease gun. An automatic grease gun will destroy the hub's inner seal.

 

[ST]

Re: The hubs are hot, then what?

Thanks dingbat; but on my bearing buddy, seems like the grease came out ahead of me having a change to check the piston. Continue pumping more grease will result in more grease coming out through the weep hole, so I stopped when this happened; or else it'll be a wasted grease and a mess. <br /><br />Could someone please explain the proper step by step procedure in doing this? Thanks!