A Grease Zerk? Cool!

[nuttyboater]

Hey guy just thought i would post about this, i'll add a picture later...

I was pulling the wheels off my boat trailer today to put new tires on, too bad UPS only dropped off one tire when i ordered two but its not there fault and the dealer is shipping another but it will take another five days.. ARGGHHH

But anyway.. I was surprised to find a grease zerk on the back of the hubs. It's nice that its there though! I took the caps off the hubs thinking i would clean, repack, and inspect them. But when i took off the caps i found nice clean fresh grease and the bearings are nice and smooth when spun by hand. I was even going to put bearing buddies on it but now i don't why i should bother if i already have a way to put a little grease in now and then!

Anyway, anyone had a trailer like this? I have dealt with a lot of utility and camper trailers over the years, but never have i come across one with an actual grease zerk. Its factory too, not added, there is a slightly embossed spot on the rotor that was drilled and tapped for the zerk so that it sits at an angle away from the hub to let you get a grease gun on there easier.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: A Grease Zerk? Cool!

My trailer has grease zerk fittings too, on the inside of the hub. You remove the plug on the dust cap first, then shoot grease through.

I couldn't ever get clean grease to come out, so I'm going to clean/repack the bearings, then add grease through the fitting to fill it.

 

[nuttyboater]

Re: A Grease Zerk? Cool!

I'm guessing you must have an older trailer then too. Mines a 68/69 Dilly Trailers S-16. Not totally sure on the date as its hard to read the tag on the back end of the frame.

I took the dust cap off on one side and pumped some fresh grease in using the zerk on the back and had fresh grease coming out the front after a couple pumps, so its definitely flowing through nice on these.

On another note, i went to the other side and put two pumps into that one and it popped the dust cap loose.. Must have a good seal in there for pressure to build and pop that out a bit. The rear seals appear good as there isn't any grease coming out back there when i pump in some fresh grease using the zerk.

I'll let it go for now, i don't think its worth tearing them all apart as clean and smooth as everything seems to be in there. Just surprised me seeing a zerk back there! If i hadn't taken off the wheels to replace the tires chances are i never would have known.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: A Grease Zerk? Cool!

If I remember, I think mine's around an '86 model.

My wheels were so dirty when I bought this trailer that I never saw the plugs in the dust caps. I just started pumping grease in to see what would happen. Then POW - the plug flew out like 6 feet away.

 

[chipman]

Re: A Grease Zerk? Cool!

i have the same hubs, works well i pump a squirt of grease into it every month or so, it puts freash grease into bearing and old grease comes out.

i lost a dust cap and bering went out, can't find a new cap.
found one that fits hub but not deep enouph, so i am going to use cap and cut top off, and retrofit a deeper cap into ine one that fits the hub, i hope this will work, wisj me luck

they work good just dont loose cap!!!!

 

[45Auto]

Re: A Grease Zerk? Cool!

Sounds like Super-Lube hubs http://www.tiedown.com/ahubs.html

I have Super-Lube Spindles (same principle) on my trailer and they seem to work great.

You can get replacement caps for a couple of bucks each from Tie-Down or Champion Trailer if you need them.