Bearing Grease Question

[ondarvr]

Wow... that is something...never heard of anything like that before. Are you sure it was from two different types of grease? I could not tell you how many different types of grease.. (well all marine grade wheel bearing type) I have used and never saw that issue and I have pulled a boat trailer for 51 years.

That's why they have the compatibility charts, not uncommon if you mix the wrong products.

 

[JimS123]

Wow... that is something...never heard of anything like that before. Are you sure it was from two different types of grease? I could not tell you how many different types of grease.. (well all marine grade wheel bearing type) I have used and never saw that issue and I have pulled a boat trailer for 51 years.

I've only peen pullin a boat for 48 years. My first boat trailer came with a very detailed instruction manual. Not just maintenance, but it told you how to launch a boat as well. (Boy those were the days.....LOL)

Anyway, the recommended grease was such and such marine lithium based boat trailer wheel bearing grease (can't remember the exact name). I used to have my buddy at the local auto parts store order if for me. Well, I moved and he retired, yada, yada so in later years I just started using the stuff sold by my local marina.

The time in question was when the marina stopped selling trailer parts so I bought another brand at an auto parts store with the same specs on the package. After the fiasco I mixed samples of the 2 brands in a cup, and sure enough it was low viscosity water the next day.

I showed it to my lube store (where i go now) and boy did he chew my backside out. He said never mix different brands.

That's my story and right or wrong, necessary or not, I won't do it again.

 

[Rickochet]

The saga continues. I got an email from the vendor this morning who said that the Sta-Lube marine grease was compatible with what the hubs were packed with. He never told me what kind of grease was in the hub just that it was compatible. I asked him if he knew what type of grease was used and he has not gotten back with me. Hmmm.... I don't know if this will tell me anything but I took a dab of the hub grease and mixed it with an equal part of Lucas lith based marine grease. I also mixed a dab of hub grease with some Unilube calcium complex marine grease. Will let the sit over night and see it I get any separation. Perhaps some heat or pressure is needed but we will see what happens.

 

[gm280]

I realize you are really concerned about his. So either return them and buy dry setups. OR, wash them out and repack. It really is that simple. And washing them out and using a known grease you presently have or will buy will work for this season, next season and every season after that as well. Washing and repacking is really easy and works well if you want to change grease types. I know you stated about having to remove the rear seal, but that is a piece of cake as well and you don't damage the seal if you do it right. You would have to do that anyways for yearly maintenance. JMHO!

 

[Rickochet]

I realize you are really concerned about his. So either return them and buy dry setups. OR, wash them out and repack. It really is that simple. And washing them out and using a known grease you presently have or will buy will work for this season, next season and every season after that as well. Washing and repacking is really easy and works well if you want to change grease types. I know you stated about having to remove the rear seal, but that is a piece of cake as well and you don't damage the seal if you do it right. You would have to do that anyways for yearly maintenance. JMHO!

I decided to return the hubs and have ordered new ones ungreased and Stalube marine grease and will be transitioning everything else I have to that grease in the future so I don't have to go through this exercise again. Amazing what an old dog can still learn. Glad I learned it here and not on the side of the road.

Thanks everyone for all of your input. Happy boating, spring is here.

Rick

 

[Rickochet]

As an after thought I started thinking about my utility trailer. It has a Dexter EZ lube hub that I just shot full of grease. Not knowing what kind of grease was in it I may have contaminated it as well. So, off with those hubs, clean out and re-grease with the Sta Lube. I want to get some extra bearing sets for it anywho and have to pull the hubs to measure. What is the best stuff to use to degrease the inside of the hub and bearings?

 

[bruceb58]

I use mineral spirits or lacquer thinner. Mineral spirits is way cheaper.

One of the first things I did when I bought me new pontoon was to pull the hubs and clean out all the grease so I knew I had compatible grease. In the process,I found out I had to replace most of the bearings because of water intrusion. That trailer also has the Dexter EZ lube axles. Not a big fan of them. Bearing Buddies are way better.

 

[Rickochet]

I use mineral spirits or lacquer thinner. Mineral spirits is way cheaper.

One of the first things I did when I bought me new pontoon was to pull the hubs and clean out all the grease so I knew I had compatible grease. In the process,I found out I had to replace most of the bearings because of water intrusion. That trailer also has the Dexter EZ lube axles. Not a big fan of them. Bearing Buddies are way better.

I am guessing that you can't really "clean" out the passages inside the EZ lube axles so I am guessing all you can do is to pump new grease into the axle until you get new grease coming out of the passage way before you put the hub back on?

 

[bruceb58]

Yes, I did that before I cleaned out everything.

 

[bigdee]

Things just got serious. The sample of the grease I had on the popsicle stick was stashed in my pen cup until I finished with it. I accidentally bumped the stick and it stuck to my hand and when I lifted my hand the greasy stick fell into a perfectly good mug of beer. This is a bad omen. Unless I get confirmation that this grease is indeed Sta-lube the hubs go back and I get dry ones and some Sta-lube Marine.

This is why I use food grade grease! Seriously though I do use white aluminum complex food grade grease in all my hubs. Never had an issue.

 

[fishin98]

When I purchased my boat up in North Central WI last year, I tossed the hubs and bearings on the trailer, went down to FLEET FARM and got the preassembled bearing/hub kits. Added some grease to the already pre greased unit, installed on trailer, put the bearing buddies on, couple extra pumps from the grease gun and headed back to Central FL @70-75MPH...not one issue. My regular bearing grease is blue, the stuff in my grease gun is dark red.....My point is..Don't worry about the color of the grease, just worry that the bearings are greased.

 

[bruceb58]

My point is..Don't worry about the color of the grease, just worry that the bearings are greased.

Both of your brands of grease may be made from the same base. Some times it pays to be lucky!

 

[Rickochet]

My regular bearing grease is blue, the stuff in my grease gun is dark red.....My point is..Don't worry about the color of the grease, just worry that the bearings are greased.

I just like the idea of knowing exactly what type of grease is in the hubs. The last thing I want to do is to be doing a roadside repair with traffic whizzing by. Mixing unknown greases is a crap shoot. Looks like you were fortunate. I am not taking a chance when I can easily remove any unknowns.

 

[fishin98]

I just like the idea of knowing exactly what type of grease is in the hubs. The last thing I want to do is to be doing a roadside repair with traffic whizzing by. Mixing unknown greases is a crap shoot. Looks like you were fortunate. I am not taking a chance when I can easily remove any unknowns.

I understand your point...In over 40 years of pulling boat, snowmobile and camping trailers around north to south,east to west, never lost a bearing/hub or spindle.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I understand your point...In over 40 years of pulling boat, snowmobile and camping trailers around north to south,east to west, never lost a bearing/hub or spindle.

Me neither, but it's only been 38 years........