bearing buddy keeps popping off

[scooper77515]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

Yes, I never add grease, even with bearing buddies. I just tear them down, clean, and repack yearly (or sooner, if needed, as it has SEVERAL times lately!).

 

[ricohman]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

I never said you should. Read what I wrote again.

Once the hub is full of grease there should never be a need to add more grease as the bearing buddy's purpose in life is just to have some postive pressure inside the hub.

I agree with you, just raising an obvious point.
Pushing in new grease without removing all the old broken down grease is no way to maintain trailer bearings.
By the time the grease needs replacement you should be checking the preload anyway.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

Talked to a trailer guy today, and he told me that it is a common "boaters" error that we put too much grease in the hub. He recommended that I pack the bearings, and leave the hub about half dry, then drive the crap out of them giving them a yearly check.

So, tomorrow, I will scoop out a couple fingers full of grease from each, and pop on the caps and give that a try.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

http://www.bearingbuddy.com/install.html
IMPORTANT: As you reassemble the components, fill the hubs completely with a high quality, multipurpose, no.2 grade lubricant (e.g., the type used for automotive suspensions).

 

[scooper77515]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

Yes, I have always filled the hubs up. I have never had any issues like this, so I am trying to figure out what is going on so I don't have to re-pack my bearings every week. So, less grease, and caps.

 

[Fed]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

Have you had any caps pop off since you replaced the whole shebang scooper?

When you replaced the bearing buddies with caps and one still popped off it sort of means there was something wrong with your old shebang to me or maybe I have misunderstood the sequence of events?

 

[scooper77515]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

No, so far,so good, but only driven about 4 miles on them.

I will let you know what happens.

So far, the caps are staying on the new hubs.

I popped off the caps, cleared out a little extra grease, and put on new clean empty caps. I will see what happens.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

My bet is that its the new hubs that are going to be helping you and not the grease. Who made the hubs you bought? Please don't say Tie-down.

Is this a hubdrum assembly or just an idler hub? Disc brake hub?

 

[scooper77515]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

Shiat! Yes, Tie-Down. Did I screw up?

I think my old hubs were Dexters, where there was just a rubber plug in the end, which you pulled out, and squirted grease in until it came out the front. So the buddies and the caps wouldn't stay in.

I went to Academy and got a set of Tie-Downs for $30 each.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

Shiat! Yes, Tie-Down. Did I screw up?

I never had a problem with my Bearing Buddys falling off until I got my Tie Down brakes which were basically tie down hubs with a disc on them.

What are you using for brakes may I ask?

 

[scooper77515]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

No brakes. Just an 18' boat, single axle trailer.

My truck does all the braking.

I think I figured out what was up with the caps and buddies falling off. The old hubs are similar to the Dexter hubs, with a grease zerk in the spindle, and a rubber plug instead of a cap. I am guessing that the hub lip is shaped different to hold that rubber cap, and when the caps and buddies were installed in there instead of the plug, it didn't grip as well as a regular hub would.

So far, new hubs are holding the caps just fine.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

Update--caps are still on, no grease is a-leakin'!!!!

 

[scooper77515]

Re: bearing buddy keeps popping off

Another update--Caps are still on, no grease a-leakin, and we have made MANY trips to the lake since May!