Question about repacking trailer bearings

[golliday]

I havw two questions about this":

1. How do I know when it is time to repack my bearings?

2. I know I can buy kits for repacking but what is the correct procedure in doing this?

Thanks

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Question about repacking trailer bearings

You might get a better response if you post this in the trailer forum.

 

[jshane39]

Re: Question about repacking trailer bearings

Jack your trailer wheels off the ground and give them a spin. Put you ear down to the wheel while it is spinning. If you hear a rubbing or grinding, the inner or outer bearings may be worn. The process is not difficult, if you have the right parts.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Question about repacking trailer bearings

Another quick easy way to tell if it is time to change them is after you tow to the ramp, reach down and touch each hub. They should all be cool to the touch. If they feel warm, its getting time to replace them. However, this only works if you have a decent distance to travel to the ramp, just a few miles won't cut it.

This is the method I use to verify that my bearings are still ok.

But then again, i always change bearings when I buy a trailer and then repack every fall so I know they are in good condition.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Question about repacking trailer bearings

If you decide to repack, here's the process (hint, the video is 20 seconds ):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agxjGtmHV_4&feature=related

Make sure you check the seal holding in the inner bearing. You'll have to replace it if you take out the inner bearings and repack them anyhow.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Question about repacking trailer bearings

I repack mine at the start of the season then grease them 2 or 3 times a year.

Had a bearing go bad on a trip and it is no fun.

You cna get bearing kits at any auto supply store or Wal-Mart or of coarse here at iboats if you don't need to do it now.

The biggest thing with bearings is DO NOT over tighten the nut, nothing kills bearings faster than having them to tight, leave just a tiny bit of play in them.

You have to knock the races out which requires just a hammer and big screw driver, use a block of wood to get them back in finishing with the srcew driver, tap them in evenly around the race, it will stop when it is far enough in.

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Question about repacking trailer bearings

Using bearing buddies can greatly reduce the frequency of repacking. With bearing buddies, you can completely fill the hub with grease and add a few shots of grease once or twice a season. With bearing buddies, I'll go five or ten years without repacking. Even then, things are still in good shape. Without bearing buddies, a lot of air spaces remain in the hub that water can go into; then, one should repack every year, if not more often.

Be sure to use proper wheel bearing grease; some greases are not rated for wheel bearings. Also, when adding grease to bearing buddies, use the same grease that you used to repack the wheel bearings. Otherwise, one grease can react with another grease and alter the vicosity of the grease. Grease compounds that include moly also may not be good for this type of bearing.

As someone above suggested, feeling the hubs to check for overheating works well for detecting dry or worn bearings. But that does not always work. I bought a used fishing boat and trailer last year. The hubs ran cool, so I was in no hurry to repack. Then I noticed one wheel leaning at a precarious angle. The bearings were totally destroyed and dry. But it still ran cool. It now has new bearings, seals, and bearing buddies.

 

[q5ka]

Re: Question about repacking trailer bearings

As you can see, there is no single answer. It greatly depends on how many miles you drive a year. Is the trailer sitting for 6-9 months out of the year or all year usage? Are you launching in salt water vs fresh? I would answer this way, I repack every other year. I live in northern climate (so a bit more than 3 months of use), travel 20-60 miles each way for launch about every other weekend, and fresh water. I also check the bearing buddies before each trip. If I was going into salt, traveling further distances, or going more frequently I would consider more frequent grease changes. It really depends on your usage and how well you take care of your stuff. If you park your trailer in a big mud puddle, well expect more work on the trailer.