Sure lube Hub questions

[whiskerwhipper]

I have a Karavan KB 1000-46 trailer. I had the trailer since 2005 and I never really took the hubs apart to grease bearings etc. It says in the trailer manual to pump grease into the Sure Lube fitting on each hub. No need to repack or anything. Is that a false sense of security? If I or the local repair shop has to, is there a way to knock off that sure lube fitting to get to the bearings like a bearing buddy? thanks p.s. I'm a newbie, :redface:

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

While im not fimiliar with that brand, i think its the same thing as a bearing buddy. pump them about 1/2 full and then they are good for a while.

Personally i dont use them, I just never have liked that idea. I pack mine every few years on all my trailers and have never had any problems.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

Sure lube blows away bearing buddies, don't knock the zerc off! The axle spindle is equipped with holes so when you pump in the zerc, the grease comes up inside the bearings (where a bearing buddy can't even dream of putting grease) and the old grease is pushed out of the front. They work fantastic.

http://www.dexteraxle.com/e_z_lube_system

-E

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

I have a Karavan KB 1000-46 trailer. I had the trailer since 2005 and I never really took the hubs apart to grease bearings etc. It says in the trailer manual to pump grease into the Sure Lube fitting on each hub. No need to repack or anything. Is that a false sense of security? If I or the local repair shop has to, is there a way to knock off that sure lube fitting to get to the bearings like a bearing buddy? thanks p.s. I'm a newbie, :redface:

You can believe the manual.

I pump enough grease at the start of each season until the fresh grease begins to replace the old. I hang a plastic bag to catch the old grease:

Happy boating!

 

[robert graham]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

Yep, that's what's on my trailer and I just add a couple of shots of grease whenever I launch the boat just to be dead sure there's no water inside the hub. They work like a charm, no problems at all. Good Luck!

 

[AZSenza]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

My sure lube hubs are a little different, the grease comes out a hole in the back. I still take them apart once a season and repack though. Maybe I shouldn't! Maybe I wont anymore! As stated, as you pump in the fresh grease the old comes out, just pump untill all you get is fresh, then rotate the wheel a few times and do it again for good measure, grease is cheap.

 

[pierobassi]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

I have a Reliable Sure Lube spindle, Sure Lube grease cap and I schedule to purchase a Transcom grease seal (necessary for Sure Lube to work correctly). However, my hub is a Reliable BT-150. Is there a way to modify my standard hub to be compatible with the Sure Lube system? If yes, would you please explain?

Thank you
Piero

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

I have a Reliable Sure Lube spindle, Sure Lube grease cap and I schedule to purchase a Transcom grease seal (necessary for Sure Lube to work correctly). However, my hub is a Reliable BT-150. Is there a way to modify my standard hub to be compatible with the Sure Lube system? If yes, would you please explain?

Thank you
Piero

My understanding is that everything is accomplished by the grease passage that is drilled in the spindle...and the only difference in the hub is a double lipped grease seal to deal with the pressure.

Let's wait to see if anyone has a different take....

Happy boating!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

On my sure-lube spindle the old grease exits through a small maybe 3/16 hole in the upper inside top of the spindle. I usually just give it a pump or three till I see grease push out the hole.

 

[moi]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

On my sure-lube spindle the old grease exits through a small maybe 3/16 hole in the upper inside top of the spindle. I usually just give it a pump or three till I see grease push out the hole.

I've got the same system but I've never been able to find an exit hole for the grease.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

I've got the same system but I've never been able to find an exit hole for the grease.

There are two similar systems: Sure-Lube and E-Z Lube, and they are always getting confused.

One uses the relief hole behind the inner bearing, and the other exits the grease around the zerk fitting.

Here is the E-Z site: http://www.trailerenterprises.com/index_files/EZLubeHubs.htm

Happy boating!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

I've got the same system but I've never been able to find an exit hole for the grease.

Should look something like this.

 

[pierobassi]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

Do you mean....the old grease is pushed out at the very rear of the spindle by the relief hole? So..if the spindle is welded into the trailer axle, you end up filling the axle with old grease? And then, where the grease go from there?

Piero

 

[burp]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

My Sure-Lube hubs are on a torsion axle. The old grease comes out on the back side of the torsion arm. Towed thousands of miles the past 12 years, ZERO problems, ZERO bearings repacked. Only give the zerks a pump or two of grease several times a year.

 

[Snowfish]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

Do you mean....the old grease is pushed out at the very rear of the spindle by the relief hole? So..if the spindle is welded into the trailer axle, you end up filling the axle with old grease? And then, where the grease go from there?

Piero

Yep, some just fill the axle tube with grease! If it's not a drop axle, the old grease is going into the axle tube. Sounds strange, but true. The old grease just lays there.

EZ-Lube, SureLube, and Definitely Bearing Buddies are No Substitute for proper bearing maintenance.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

Yep, some just fill the axle tube with grease! If it's not a drop axle, the old grease is going into the axle tube. Sounds strange, but true. The old grease just lays there.

EZ-Lube, SureLube, and Definitely Bearing Buddies are No Substitute for proper bearing maintenance.

I've been trailering my MFG boat for 30yrs. it's on about the third set of tires and have never removed a bearing for repacking, never in my life had a wheel bearing failure on any vehicle car truck or trailer. I probably just jinxed myself LOL.

 

[Snowfish]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

I've been trailering my MFG boat for 30yrs. it's on about the third set of tires and have never removed a bearing for repacking, never in my life had a wheel bearing failure on any vehicle car truck or trailer. I probably just jinxed myself LOL.

Hope not, but I think you're due. Best of luck.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

On my sure-lube spindle the old grease exits through a small maybe 3/16 hole in the upper inside top of the spindle. I usually just give it a pump or three till I see grease push out the hole.

This is not a "sure lube spindle". This is a form of "bearing buddy". A ''spindle lube' style system has a zerk fitting in the front end of the actual spindle. This zerk feeds a channel that goes to the rear of the spindle and exits just forward of the seal. Grease then recharges the rear bearing, moves forward to the front bearing and exits around the spindle into the dust cap.

There is no spring retaining washer to force grease back into the hub cavity as it has already come thru there.

Consider the "spindle lube'' system "the next generation" of lubricating methods. Much better than "bearing buddies", but must be manufacturer installed.

"Bearing buddies" are an after market adaptation of the concept.

Sorry, the 1st picture wasn't very clear. But the attached link was very good. I have never experienced the EZ-lube system, seems like a good idea just harder to clean.

Should have finished reading the posts.

Still........

 

[pierobassi]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

Reliable Tool's picture of Sure Lube system shows the grease flowing from the front of the hub through the outer bearing to the back through the inner bearing and exiting the hub spindle from the rear. That picture does not show any sort of grease flowing from the inner back to the inner front of the hub.

Piero

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Sure lube Hub questions

Reliable Tool's picture of Sure Lube system shows the grease flowing from the front of the hub through the outer bearing to the back through the inner bearing and exiting the hub spindle from the rear. That picture does not show any sort of grease flowing from the inner back to the inner front of the hub.

Piero

Here is the Posi-Lube (also known as Super Lube) system:

If you follow the grease flow in the spindle picture, it exits where the zerk is. That is what I have on my trailer.

Happy boating!