Thread: The squeeky wheel gets the grease...

if everything looks ok with bearing get caps from walmart that slip over bearing cap problem solved

too much grease, but might have blown seal. I give my buddies 5-6 pumps every time I leave the house, be it 5 miles or 155 miles to the fishing hole, so I sling ALOT of grease on windshields.

I have plastic caps on all of the axles on both boats because I am guilty of over greasing too. I put a tie wrap on mine to secure them. I have never had a bearing failure (knocking on Mrs DP's head)
DP

Sounds like a blown inner seal to me too, likely caused by excess grease. Overfilling the hub cavity is a mistake that is commonly made due to the misconception that too much grease is better than not enough. The way to avoid overfilling is to stop pumping when the indicator spring nears the outside of the cup. Bearing Buddies do have weep ports, but they will only realease so much excess grease at a time, and when the hubs heat up during transit the grease expands and blows the inner seal. In cases where there's a smaller amount of grease on the inside axle area the culprit is likely a failed seal. The failure could be due to wear or spindle issues (out of round, burrs, etc.). Grease outside the hub cavity means something isn't right. Pumping in more grease will get you by for a while, but only for a while. Mr. Blevins, my money says it's only a matter of time until this happens on the other side too. I'd suggest breaking down both sides and replacing the inner seals. It's not a difficult or expensive job. Probably spend more on hand cleaner than parts.

Originally Posted by Uncle Sam

I come from the old school water and grease don't mix. So I carry a grease gun in my truck and grease everytime i leave water. of course my boat is old. but never has failed me.and yes it can be a little messy.

This is where the bearing buddy comes in to play...

Driving down the road your hubs get warm building pressure..
When you back into the water this rapidly cools the hub which lowers the pressure actually pulling a vacuum causing water to be sucked into the hub.

The bearing buddy has a spring and piston, as you pump grease it pushes the piston compressing the spring.
There is always pressure in the hub so no water can be sucked in.

My bearings are roughly 20 years old and get greased once a year.
They have some wear but nothing the grease doesn't take up.
Prolly due for some new ones but... If it ain't broke don't fix it..

It's been about a year since I replaced the bearings in my trailer and the left side slung grease from day 1. I disassembled and looked through it at least twice. This past week, I disassembled the left side again and found out my problem was a burr in the hub on the outer side. Bearing lacked about 1/8 inch being back to where it should have been riding.

I ended up replacing the seals on my trailer. I thought I was gonna be smart, and while I had it apart, go ahead and put new bearings in too. Well you buy this kit at academy, it comes with two bearings and a seal. so I put it all together just to figure out the seal was the wrong size. So I go to TSC and buy new seals so I can get it back together. I found the seals online (1 1/2") for $2 apiece, but I was needing to get it back together, and went to TSC, they were $12 each there. WOW! Then Thursday, I was packing the bearings in my camper, and wouldn't you know it, I need some more 1 1/2 " seals. I'm thinking oh crap, and my buddy says, no problem, I'll run down the road to the co-op (bout a mile down the road), they're only a couple bucks down there. Go figure.

it's just a overload back off next time you grease