Bearing Buddies

[will8125]

Hi All, New to the forum. Have a question about bearing buddies. I have a 4 axle trailer and we have 2441 bearing buddies on the hubs. Attempting to replace a couple of the bearings, the bearing buddies actually come apart, so you get everything off of the hub except the machined area that originally is set into the hub. consequently, I have been able to insert a 2328 (?) bearing buddy into the left behind ring. My question is has anyone ever had this happen, and do you have any extraction ideas.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[dan t.]

Re: Bearing Buddies

dont try to take them apart. tap them sideways on alternate sides with a hammer, they will come off complete

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Bearing Buddies

If you mean "came apart broken" then you should replace them.
Welcome to iboats.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Bearing Buddies

There may be a big snap ring just inside the BB (as I recall). However, if it came apart on it's own, replace it. THe ring or groove is suspect.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Bearing Buddies

They should never be taken apart or come apart on there own. Definitely replace if they come apart. What works for me to take them out is, I use a pair of channel locks. Open it up and put it on the end(facing the hub, perpindicular to the hub) and wiggle the buddy up and down until it wiggles off.....

 

[will8125]

Re: Bearing Buddies

Thanks for the tip, I will give that a try. I did not intentionally seperate the bearing buddies, but removed them by tapping on them from side to side and top to bottom. That was when they came apart. Thanks again.

Bill

 

[will8125]

Re: Bearing Buddies

Thanks to each of you for your input. I am probably no using this forum in the most efficient manner. The bearing buddies came apart (not really broken) other than it is in 2 pieces. I tried the side to side, tpo and bottom tapping which is how I have always removed them and that is when they seperate. The Fulton bearing buddies are 1 piece machine (spun) down on the end that goes into the hub. If you look at a new 2441 Bearing Buddy model the ring that goes into the hub is not cromed. That is the part that apparently is trying to become a permanent fixture to my hubs. Thanks for all of your input. Keep it coming.

Bill

 

[will8125]

Re: Bearing Buddies

Thanks for the tip, I will give that a try. I did not intentionally seperate the bearing buddies, but removed them by tapping on them from side to side and top to bottom. That was when they came apart. Thanks again.

Bill

 

[j_martin]

Re: Bearing Buddies

I've had bearing buddies pitch into the ditch on a rough road. Now they go on with a little locktite sleeve retainer on them. When they come off for service, it takes a fair amount of heat. Then they get torn down and the 0-ring replaced. It's really not a big deal to pull the snap ring with the right tool. That's the best way to get stray grains of sand or whatnot out of the piston anyway.

Maybe I should service the bearing through the buddy.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Bearing Buddies

From the outside in, there is a snap ring, a spring, an o-ring, the plate (zerk fitting in this) and a rolled steel ring behind the plate. If any of this stuff comes apart, you can sometimes reassemble the parts inside of the cylinder, but its most likely time for a new one.

I just had this problem when trying to reuse a pair of Bearing Buddys on a set of new hubs. They are holding up for now, but I am not going to get far away from the house, until I purchase and install a new set.


???

 

[109jb]

Re: Bearing Buddies

I think what the OP is saying is that the portion of the bearing buddy that I have circled in red in the attached picture is stuck in his hub and has separated from the rest of the bearing buddy. If that is the case, the bearing buddy didn't "come apart", it broke. You need new bearing buddies and you need to remove the broken piece. If it were mine I would use a hook attachment on a slide hammer to remove the broken piece, or use a die grinder and grind a slot in it and pry it out with a screwdriver, or use a chisel to split the broken ring to remove.

 

[captharv]

Re: Bearing Buddies

When installing a BB, put a small 2X4 over the BB and seat it with a hammer. Hammering on it directly WILL bust them.

 

[saltymike]

Re: Bearing Buddies

When installing a BB, put a small 2X4 over the BB and seat it with a hammer. Hammering on it directly WILL bust them.

agreed. or what i do is use a small sledge hammer and hit the bearing buddy with the top of the sledge so it hits all sides evenly, goes in with about 3 or 4 knocks, i'm sure i'll break one someday but haven't yet using this method.

 

[will8125]

Re: Bearing Buddies

Thanks, You are understanding what I am talking about, however, the bearing buddy that you have pictured looks like a Fulton. Those are one piece and do not come apart. If you can find a pic of Bearing Buddy (brand) 2441 you may see the machined ring that I am talking about.
Thanks a Bunch

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Bearing Buddies

I never seen a BB with an independent machined ring portion that fits into the hub.
All I have seen are a one piece machined barrel with the area that goes into the hub machined down to fit inside.

Some look like this pic, with a lip and others do not have the lip. Maybe you just happened to get one that was out of spec on the inside and the material was very thin and it broke off when you tried to remove it.

 

[109jb]

Re: Bearing Buddies

I never seen a BB with an independent machined ring portion that fits into the hub.
All I have seen are a one piece machined barrel with the area that goes into the hub machined down to fit inside.

Some look like this pic, with a lip and others do not have the lip. Maybe you just happened to get one that was out of spec on the inside and the material was very thin and it broke off when you tried to remove it.

Yep, I don't have any genuine bearing buddies right now, but I used to and I don't remember the main body being 2 pieces. I still think it broke and removal is like I said in my previous post. Even if it is multiple pieces, removing the piece in the hub is the same.

 

[will8125]

Re: Bearing Buddies

Got some confirmation today from "Bearing Buddies". They said that it has happened before. I am probably not explaining it properly. It did not break apart, it just came away from the secondary part (just like removing a bearing buddy). I preferred the bearing buddy brand because of the extensive use of Stainless Steel on the inside, but think I will go with the Fultons to prevent this in the future.

Thanks Again,

Bill