Bearing buddy or old fashioned grease packing

[pharmvet]

Heres a question for all you maintenance gurus. Do you feel the "bearing buddy" device does an adequate job at keeping bearings in trailers adequately greased, or do you feel they really need to be taken out and hand packed?

 

[Willl]

On boat trailers I like to use the Bearing Buddies, all other trailers get hand packed.

 

[CurlyDave]

I just found out this week that when I bought a new enclosed trailer 18 months ago someone had used the bearing buddy too vigorously before delivery and had blown out the seals.

$500 worth of new brakes later the damage is repaired...

 

[Tig]

As in Curly's experience, inner seals will probably blow out eventually and spray grease. If you are very gentle with the grease your seals may last longer.
I have had bearing buddies on my boat and snowmobile trailers for almost 20 years. They do a great job of lubing the bearings and rust proofing the inner fenders. I would not use them on a trailer with brakes.

 

[heehaw]

i had an engineer tell me years ago, the seals on axles are installed backwards: they should be installed to keep stuff out, an let the excess grease escape, not try to keep the grease in, that just lets other stuff in??? not sure if he's right or wrong, but i have used bearing buddies or something like that on all my trailers for years: no problems at all: the only axle problem i have ever had was on a towdolley that i did not have them on. i purchased it from a "mechanic" with the bearings supposedly packed: went to Nashville, Tn to pick up a car an about half way back, one axle swarmed: there is one brand of bearing buddy type things that come off of my 18ft flat bed trailer: sold at WM, an they have an indicator that is suppose to let you know when you need to add grease: i have lost at least 4 of those, a couple within 8 miles after installing: so i went to the ones that don't have that little indicator an have never lost any of those.
heehaw

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I have them on my boat trailer, one of my campers and my 20ft. trailer to haul my tractor.

When I put grease in I would always wonder "IF" the back bearing was getting grease.. Now I know for sure that they are... Because last week a friend of mine that has a 24ft enclosed trailer for hauling ATVs and dirt bikes called me to come & look at his trailer.

He was getting ready to pull it to Pittsburgh, PA and noticed grease at the back of hubs, and he had the 'Bearing Buddy's on.. They caused the "back seals" to go bad... He bought news seals and took off the bearing buddy's, and I'm taking them off mine also and going back to packing them By hand.

When I put grease in them I watch the front where the spring is, and I don't let the spring come all the way forward, because IF the spring comes all the way forward, then the grease will mess up the seal & come out the back.

Another thing I've noticed about using them with any trailer with brakes, Is if you use the trailer brakes a lot and they get hot... Then the grease gets warm and get's thin, and that's another reason I'm taking them off.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin pharmvet,
I have had very good luck with bearing buddies on my trailers. I would think, that if you dont get too carried away with the grease gun, they are the way to go !

 

[2manyrocks]

I thought the primary reason to use bearing buddies is that the spring load creates pressure inside the grease to try to keep water from flowing in when you back your boat trailer in the water. Even then, I think I remember that you're supposed to repack the bearings once a year after boating season?

 

[pharmvet]

For those of you who hand pack, how often should it be done, and are there any special tools required? Do you have a favorite grease? Are there any little "tricks of the trade" that you would care to share? thanks

 

[scott_vt]

For those of you who hand pack, how often should it be done, and are there any special tools required? Do you have a favorite grease? Are there any little "tricks of the trade" that you would care to share? thanks

Good Mornin pharmvet,
There isnt a perfect answer for how often, it depends on how much use and type of use as far as frequency IMO !

On doing the packing... remove inner and outer bearings, put a wad of grease in the cup of your hand and then using your other hand grab the race with your index finger through the bore. Using a rolling motion try and force the grease inbetween the outer race and the rollers until you start to get grease coming out the other side of the bearing !

Shure hopes that clear !