Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

[theBrownskull]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

My last boat had the same problem. Grease, grease and more grease everywhere. I have to say that my hands have never been that soft in all my life after wiping away all the grease.

 

[64osby]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

Just a little extra grease in these.:faint:

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

I'll have to agree with "bigdee" on this one. Properly cleaned and hand-packed bearings and a good quality rear seal is really all you will ever need. I've run bearing buddies and such and seriously, they still have potential to suck in water if they are even a little warmer then the water they are being submerged in. That is physics folks.

How? Bearing buddies maintain positive pressure. That is what the spring is for... There is zero chance of water intrusion because of this, because you have to have either negative pressure or neutral for anything to get inside.

I've owned more trailers than I can count... The ONLY hubs I've ever had to deal with are the traditional sealed, hand packed bearings. Those should never be used on a hub that is submerged, for the exact same reason you don't like BB's. They aren't sealed and obviously can equalize to atmospheric pressure. Now take hot bearings and submerge them. The ONLY possible outcome is that you will suck water in, there simply is no other alternative.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

Just a little extra grease in these.:faint:

Its the fault of the Bozo with the grease gun that thinks he needs to put a couple pumps in every time he takes his boat out.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

Just a little extra grease in these.:faint:

that's one way to fix sqeaky brakes

 

[batman99]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

For my many RV/TT trailer, Utility and boat trailers, I use Dexter brake hubs (which are high quality compared to other brands). Yes. I even use Dexter brand brake parts on my boat trailer.

As per Dexter, their magnets & inner hubs parts must be inspected every 6 months. And to inspect these inner hub parts, one must physically remove the wheel hub. And if one physically removes the wheel hub, then "by default" they are forced to manually check seal conditions (replace if leaking), bearings / races (replace if needed), magnets (replace if needed) and end caps (replace if necessary) as well. To view official maintenance schedule, surf: http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/6149609/f/Service_Resources/Maintenance_Schedule_1-12.pdf

Since I don't do RV/TT camp or do boating during harsh winter months, I do trailer hub maintenance every 12 months (since trailer is parked 4 months of the year). And, always in the spring - to replace natrual moisture that forms during temp changes winter / early spring months.

Folks encounter wheel hub problems (especially hubs with grease zerks) because they simply squirt/squirt every 12 months and do NOT pull the wheel hubs off - for proper inner hub maintenance tasks (based on maker's formal maintenance schedule). They only remove hubs AFTER a problem happens. Which is often too late. Yet, these same people replace Tow Vehicle engine oil and Tow Vehicle Transmission fluid "on maintenance schedule".

IMO, I also feel wheel hubs with grease zerks (or simular self lubrication systems) should be illegal. Thus, making trailer owners perform proper maintenance (re: 6-12 months intervals) on their wheel hubs. re: They are forced to remove the wheel hubs every year and proactively fix / replace - which needs to be fixed. And when the wheel hub is off, they can visually confirm no internal grease leakage (from leaking seal) as well.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

IMO, I also feel wheel hubs with grease zerks (or simular self lubrication systems) should be illegal. Thus, making trailer owners perform proper maintenance (re: 6-12 months intervals) on their wheel hubs.

Curious what makes you think that someone putting a Bearing Buddy on their trailer is going to make a difference whether they perform maintenance on their trailer or not. I would do the same maintenance if I had a Bearing Buddy or not. How would making it illegal make a difference? A ridiculous statement! Almost like saying putting on a seat belt will make you drive faster.

 

[batman99]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

I don't understand your logic about seat belts and driving faster...

Many people know that moving parts (like wheel bearings) must be lubricated. Or, it over heats and blows. In the old days (before external hub grease zerks existed), they would remove the hubs every 1-2 years, repack the grease and while doing this task, they perform inside brake hub visual inspections / cleanings as well. Add external grease zerks to hub's external and now, many of these same folks say, "GOOD - I no longer need to remove the brake hubs." Now, these same folks simply squirt/squit the zerk and that's it. This going on and on and 5-10 years later, they say, "gee - I haven't pulled a hub off in 10+ years". It would be like NOT cleaning one's teeth every 6-9 months and 5-10 years down the road, wondering why the massive natural damage on their teeth. And, these same folks wonder why their trailer's inner brake parts are so rusted out, they now have to buy 100% replacement parts as well.

Seat belts??? Yes. Proactive protection. NO seat belt = reactive (and much worst) damage.

Yes. IMO, wheel hub grease zerks need to be illegal and pulled from all store shelves. This forces folks to perform proper wheel hub maintenance task - by removing brake hubs and doing proper inside inspections / cleanings. Just like they continue to perform practive cleaning / protection on their teeth - which is a proactive maintenance schedule as well.

Maintance = do little cleaning work now. NO mainteannce = total replacement and/or massive damage later. Your choice...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

So what study can you provide that shows people that put bearing buddys on their trailers do less maintenance than those who don't? I have Bearing Buddys and pull my hubs every year. Do you replace your seals as well?

So since we are talking about your annual inspections, do you measure the current that each magnet draws? You do realize that is a very important check for electric brakes right?

 

[batman99]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

Actually, I use the Dexter maintance schedule to inspect / clean the insides of my trailer brake drums. I even connect the to my Tow Vehicle, jack each trailer wheel hub off the ground, get my wife to use the manual Brake Controller slider and check each tire's braking ability. And, mechanically adjust - so they have balanced braking force ability as well.

If wondering... A few years ago, I was driving in a congested city street and a little 6 year old girl ran out between 2 parked cars - directly infront of me. Complete braking power - ABS on dry pavement and all. Without trailer brakes (properly serviced and adjusted that spring), I would have drove over her. So yes, I do full brake inspections, cleaning, adjustments and testing on my many trailer brakes every spring and re-do the basics every 3 months as well.

Formal study / status to post? Don't have it. But I do know what my father now says.... re: My one trailer with brakes now has grease zerks. Why do I need to pull / clean its hubs off every year? Bet he's one of many folks who now think new technology grease zerks is the "lazy way out!". And, I bet there's other folks on this forum who now think the same. re: Why do I need to remove hubs when its now got a self lubrication system?? Or, I haven't removed my trailer hubs for 5+ years....

Glad you are still doing proper annual maintenance - with new technology grease zerk system....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

Actually, I use the Dexter maintance schedule to inspect / clean the insides of my trailer brake drums. I even connect the to my Tow Vehicle, jack each trailer wheel hub off the ground, get my wife to use the manual Brake Controller slider and check each tire's braking ability.

But I do know what my father now says.... re: My one trailer with brakes now has grease zerks. Why do I need to pull / clean its hubs off every year? Bet he's one of many folks who now think new technology grease zerks is the "lazy way out!"

After having electric brakes fail repeatedly on a tri axle 5th wheel trailer, I have learned you need to do way more than the testing you are doing. You need to measure the current that the brake system is pulling. Typically its around 3 amps a wheel. Had many magnets fail where the wire enters the magnet on that 5th wheel trailer. One big reason why I don't have electric brakes on my boat trailer.

By the way, I have been using this "new technology" grease zerk system since our family's first boat back in 1972. Never ever had a bearing failure. We did annual trips to Tahoe, Canada and Lake powell from Los Angeles. We put a lot of miles on our trailers.


Also, glad most people don't think like your father. Pretty funny actually that your father is proof of what "everyone" does!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

But I do know what my father now says.... re: My one trailer with brakes now has grease zerks. Why do I need to pull / clean its hubs off every year? Bet he's one of many folks who now think new technology grease zerks is the "lazy way out!". And, I bet there's other folks on this forum who now think the same. re: Why do I need to remove hubs when its now got a self lubrication system?? Or, I haven't removed my trailer hubs for 5+ years....

Why should I pull a hub if the rear seal is intact, the grease is not contaminated. The internal conditions are easily assessed using feel and sound so I see reason at all to pull a hub unless you have an issue

BTW: I've not had my rear hubs off since I changed the axle 6 years ago. Not quite as long as it's been since I performed "preventative maintenance" on the front wheel bearings in my car:lol:

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Sometimes I think grease fittings on bearing hubs should be outlawed

I am also going to have to raise my hand to not pulling my hugs just because, When I do my winterizing, I jack up the wheel till it spins and I check for bearing play and flush the hubs. If the grease is clean and no play its done. If it aint broke it don't need fixing. Love my Dexter hubs. I did have to replace the outer rubber caps this year, was getting a tiny bit of water in at the front just enough to see it was there.