Bearing Buddies

WIbassfisherman · 05-03-06, 07:40 PM

My new trailer came with bearing buddies and I've noticed after a couple trips a large amount of white milky grease coming out and getting on the inside of the bra/cap.

After cleaning the excess away (which I just assume means there is too much grease in the hub) I noticed the blue rim for checking purposes is sticking out unevenly. Is this normal or do I need to do some maintanence. In reading my manual it states that the blue rim will begin to become sucked in when grease becomes low. Then you simply add more grease and it will come back out again. It's out, but it's uneven.

Thanks for the help guys. New to bearing buddies and I figure if any one can help it'd be on here that I go first.

lizardsrule · 05-03-06, 10:43 PM

From your description, it's not sealing up, and therefor doing nothing but letting water get in. Yes, if that's correct you NEED to do maintenance, or at least a Professional needs to look at it.

Lizards

1FASTLASER · 05-04-06, 06:36 AM

Its a simple and inexpensive fix buddy. Tear down the hubs after removing the wheels. SInce they are relatively new bearings would be or should be in good shape, Go to your local auto parts store and obtain a set of seals. Clean them thouroughly and repack the bearings before installing them and put in the new seals and reassemble. The milky white grease is grease that has been contaminated with water. Before assembling take some 220 or 320 emory cloth and buff up the spindle. When cleaning the bearing buddy assembly be sure and clean the reatining ring thouroughly. Thats all there is to it buddy. Another tip when assembling make sure you use a good marine grease as it helps to retard water invasion. Should be good to go for another year.

WIbassfisherman · 05-04-06, 07:48 AM

Thanks guys. I'll get someone to look at it right away. If they can confirm the water getting in, I'll get to tearing them apart. Lovely!

bass kicker · 05-04-06, 04:05 PM

i just filled up the grease in our bearing buddies

do you remove the old grease from you bearings

Rebbasser · 05-04-06, 08:30 PM

Hey WI-changing/repacking the bearings isn't difficult-just messy

. Last time I did it I changed the hubs completely. The hubs were $10 more than the seal/race/bearing kit, so I just changed the whole thing out. Took about 2 hours and I was good to go.

JB · 05-04-06, 08:37 PM

a mallet and grease and some elbow grease, ya can do it~ beats seeing smoke from the side rear view mirrow a hour down the road to the lake huh reb?
Have ya priced bearings lately? geesh everything is going UP in price

Rebbasser · 05-04-06, 08:49 PM

A 2X4 and a hammer and grease up to your elbow moreso than elbow grease

WIbassfisherman · 05-05-06, 12:23 AM

Having my partner taking a look at it tomorrow to confirm my decision before I take her in for some work. I teach a particular student who's father is a mechanic. He works pretty cheap when I'll give him some fresh walleye fillets. Rather defer to the experts so I'm not seeing smoke down the road.

1FASTLASER · 05-05-06, 05:39 AM

While on this subject and after reading JB's reply I STRONGLY recommend that anyone towing a boat keep the appropiate tools in your boat or tow vehicle that will allow you to change out a bearing. Last seal/bearing kit I bout cost me $18 dollars. A little piece of mind knowing that even if you are in the middle of no where that if that bearing starts smoking a quick road side stop and your off again and wont take out a spindle.

05-03-06, 07:40 PM	#1
WIbassfisherman BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hartland, Wisconsin Posts: 151	Bearing Buddies My new trailer came with bearing buddies and I've noticed after a couple trips a large amount of white milky grease coming out and getting on the inside of the bra/cap. After cleaning the excess away (which I just assume means there is too much grease in the hub) I noticed the blue rim for checking purposes is sticking out unevenly. Is this normal or do I need to do some maintanence. In reading my manual it states that the blue rim will begin to become sucked in when grease becomes low. Then you simply add more grease and it will come back out again. It's out, but it's uneven. Thanks for the help guys. New to bearing buddies and I figure if any one can help it'd be on here that I go first. __________________ T-Rexx Lure Co. Prostaff

05-03-06, 10:43 PM	#2
lizardsrule BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL Posts: 7,374	From your description, it's not sealing up, and therefor doing nothing but letting water get in. Yes, if that's correct you NEED to do maintenance, or at least a Professional needs to look at it. Lizards __________________ There are three types of Snakes I hate 1. Live Snakes 2. Dead Snakes 3. Sticks that look like Snakes. And Gators too!

05-04-06, 06:36 AM	#3
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	Its a simple and inexpensive fix buddy. Tear down the hubs after removing the wheels. SInce they are relatively new bearings would be or should be in good shape, Go to your local auto parts store and obtain a set of seals. Clean them thouroughly and repack the bearings before installing them and put in the new seals and reassemble. The milky white grease is grease that has been contaminated with water. Before assembling take some 220 or 320 emory cloth and buff up the spindle. When cleaning the bearing buddy assembly be sure and clean the reatining ring thouroughly. Thats all there is to it buddy. Another tip when assembling make sure you use a good marine grease as it helps to retard water invasion. Should be good to go for another year. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

05-04-06, 07:48 AM	#4
WIbassfisherman BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hartland, Wisconsin Posts: 151	Thanks guys. I'll get someone to look at it right away. If they can confirm the water getting in, I'll get to tearing them apart. Lovely! __________________ T-Rexx Lure Co. Prostaff

05-04-06, 04:05 PM	#5
bass kicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beamsville,ONTARIO,CANADA Posts: 2,023	i just filled up the grease in our bearing buddies do you remove the old grease from you bearings __________________ Rob Downs St. Catharines BASSMASTERS

05-04-06, 08:30 PM	#6
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	Hey WI-changing/repacking the bearings isn't difficult-just messy . Last time I did it I changed the hubs completely. The hubs were $10 more than the seal/race/bearing kit, so I just changed the whole thing out. Took about 2 hours and I was good to go. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

05-04-06, 08:37 PM	#7
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	a mallet and grease and some elbow grease, ya can do it~ beats seeing smoke from the side rear view mirrow a hour down the road to the lake huh reb? Have ya priced bearings lately? geesh everything is going UP in price

05-04-06, 08:49 PM	#8
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	A 2X4 and a hammer and grease up to your elbow moreso than elbow grease __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

05-05-06, 12:23 AM	#9
WIbassfisherman BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hartland, Wisconsin Posts: 151	Having my partner taking a look at it tomorrow to confirm my decision before I take her in for some work. I teach a particular student who's father is a mechanic. He works pretty cheap when I'll give him some fresh walleye fillets. Rather defer to the experts so I'm not seeing smoke down the road. __________________ T-Rexx Lure Co. Prostaff

05-05-06, 05:39 AM	#10
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	While on this subject and after reading JB's reply I STRONGLY recommend that anyone towing a boat keep the appropiate tools in your boat or tow vehicle that will allow you to change out a bearing. Last seal/bearing kit I bout cost me $18 dollars. A little piece of mind knowing that even if you are in the middle of no where that if that bearing starts smoking a quick road side stop and your off again and wont take out a spindle. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)