Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

[pecheux]

Good day,

I have intalled bearing buddies on my boat trailor (as per avatar) several years ago and been using a Synthetic Water Resistant Grease (blue stuff) ever since. This grease seems lighter than what I was using before and when exposed to the sun or running warm there are some oily grease oily drops dripping from the buddies. Is this normal ? Or should I be using a heavier grease ?

Thank you.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

The dripping grease would indicate to me that you have a bad seal. All grease is liquid when it is in use. It does not matter if it is "lighter" than what you are used to. It should not leak. Heavier grease would not fix the problem, though it may mask it.

If the grease can get out, do you think that water can get in?

 

[pecheux]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

The dripping grease would indicate to me that you have a bad seal. All grease is liquid when it is in use. It does not matter if it is "lighter" than what you are used to. It should not leak. Heavier grease would not fix the problem, though it may mask it.

If the grease can get out, do you think that water can get in?

I did not know grease would be liquid when in use ... the few oily drops from the grease-buddies seals may then be normal under the circomstance since this mainly happens following adding new grease and may indicate that I overfill and consequently I may have damaged the grease-buddies seals. I guess fixing that means new grease-buddies and less grease from my grease gun. Tx

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

Greese is kinda like oil in that at higher temps it thins out. If you have some comming out you need to replace the seals.

Art

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

Some greases tend to do it. I use Johnson Marine EP Grease which is a synthetic aluminum complex grease. It tends to seperate a bit. Not sure why, but I have seen it happen ever since I started using it.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

Good day,

I have intalled bearing buddies on my boat trailor (as per avatar) several years ago and been using a Synthetic Water Resistant Grease (blue stuff) ever since. This grease seems lighter than what I was using before and when exposed to the sun or running warm there are some oily grease oily drops dripping from the buddies. Is this normal ? Or should I be using a heavier grease ?

Thank you.

If I am reading this right, the grease is dripping from the front, not the back where the seals are located. I haven't used Bearing Buddies for quite a while, (I have Spindle Lube axles) but I remember the "buddies" I had had a relief hole in the cap on the side.

This was intended to let grease out, and relieve pressure, if the operator over filled them. It was intended to prevent blowing out the rear seal. Some grease is going to drip out this hole if the pressure is too high but should stop when the pressure cap, located inside the "dust cap" has pushed back until past the weep hole.

I have explained it as clearly as possible but if you look into the bearing buddy you will see a spring that is pushing against the "plate" that has the zerk fitting in it. This plate, pressing against the grease inside the hub is what ,in theory, keeps the water out of the hub.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

I've been using this stuff for a few years, it does not melt, sling, dissapear, nothing. I use it on gimbals, piviots, any thing with a zerk. It does not start dropping-out until 540 degrees, if it starts melting, you've got a problem!!
Here's some info:
http://www.greengrease.net/PDF/ggfactsheet.pdf

 

[pecheux]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

If I am reading this right, the grease is dripping from the front, not the back where the seals are located. I haven't used Bearing Buddies for quite a while, (I have Spindle Lube axles) but I remember the "buddies" I had had a relief hole in the cap on the side.

This was intended to let grease out, and relieve pressure, if the operator over filled them. It was intended to prevent blowing out the rear seal. Some grease is going to drip out this hole if the pressure is too high but should stop when the pressure cap, located inside the "dust cap" has pushed back until past the weep hole.

I have explained it as clearly as possible but if you look into the bearing buddy you will see a spring that is pushing against the "plate" that has the zerk fitting in it. This plate, pressing against the grease inside the hub is what ,in theory, keeps the water out of the hub.

Right on ... this is what is happening. I add grease regulary in order to keep the blue "full" indicator completely outwards which is probably where I go wrong allowing the extra grease to flow out of the overfill hole. It would then seem I should let it sink inwards until it fully sits prior to adding new grease. Will try that and see what happens. thank you.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

Buddies should be filled until the piston starts to move. If you fill until it stops moving, you will 'leak' some, and run the risk of blowing a seal ... :facepalm:

 

[pecheux]

Re: Why do Synthetic Water Resistant Grease drips like thick oil ?

Buddies should be filled until the piston starts to move. If you fill until it stops moving, you will 'leak' some, and run the risk of blowing a seal ... :facepalm:

In that case I obviously kept them overfilled so far by loading oil until the piston would be totaly outwards ... must have misread the instructions at installation time. Will follow your advice and see if the minor problem stops. Thank you