It never ceases to amaze me that insecure people get so upset whenever they hear an opinion that is different than their own. As a reminder: I never said Bearing Buddies don’t work, only that they don’t circulate grease through the bearings. I pull my boat trailer several thousand miles a year and CHOOSE to do annual inspection/repack for my own peace of mind. It’s a pain in the a** and takes me all day but I feel better knowing I’ve Inspected the bearings and replaced the seals. Do with your trailer(s) as you wish. Of course.
bearing buddies
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It never ceases to amaze me that insecure people get so upset whenever they hear an opinion that is different than their own. As a reminder: I never said Bearing Buddies don’t work, only that they don’t circulate grease through the bearings. I pull my boat trailer several thousand miles a year and CHOOSE to do annual inspection/repack for my own peace of mind. It’s a pain in the a** and takes me all day but I feel better knowing I’ve Inspected the bearings and replaced the seals. Do with your trailer(s) as you wish. Of course.
wolf
Well-Known Member
One thing to remember if grease is leaking throug water can get in and the last time I checked grease is a little thicker than water,I always re pack every year no matter what its called
"PREVENTIVE MATENANCE"
But go ahead and leave it until something happens like a spun spindle and bearings where your going to need a new axle etc etc.
I sure would feel bad if I was the one that didnt inspect the bearing and it fell off killing that child like powell said hhhmmmm grease maybe 10 bucks!!!!!!!!!!
Wolf
Wolf
"PREVENTIVE MATENANCE"
But go ahead and leave it until something happens like a spun spindle and bearings where your going to need a new axle etc etc.
I sure would feel bad if I was the one that didnt inspect the bearing and it fell off killing that child like powell said hhhmmmm grease maybe 10 bucks!!!!!!!!!!
Wolf
Wolf
wolf
Well-Known Member
One thing to remember if grease is leaking throug water can get in and the last time I checked grease is a little thicker than water,I always re pack every year no matter what its called
"PREVENTIVE MATENANCE"
But go ahead and leave it until something happens like a spun spindle and bearings where your going to need a new axle etc etc.
I sure would feel bad if I was the one that didnt inspect the bearing and it fell off killing that child like powell said hhhmmmm grease maybe 10 bucks!!!!!!!!!!
Wolf
Wolf
"PREVENTIVE MATENANCE"
But go ahead and leave it until something happens like a spun spindle and bearings where your going to need a new axle etc etc.
I sure would feel bad if I was the one that didnt inspect the bearing and it fell off killing that child like powell said hhhmmmm grease maybe 10 bucks!!!!!!!!!!
Wolf
Wolf
H
holdeem
Guest
LOL, I've been pulling trailers around for 30 years and I always used to repack my bearings once a year. Since I put the bearing buddies on I've checked the bearings 2 or 3 times and never found a problem. They are clean well lubricated and no sign of wear. Most of my friends are putting them on their trailer. Perhaps if the trailers that lost their wheels had bearing buddies on, the wheel wouldn't have come off. Sounds like Walleyes has the best system, will have to look into converting to that and see how it works, I'm not afraid to try something new or different.
H
holdeem
Guest
LOL, I've been pulling trailers around for 30 years and I always used to repack my bearings once a year. Since I put the bearing buddies on I've checked the bearings 2 or 3 times and never found a problem. They are clean well lubricated and no sign of wear. Most of my friends are putting them on their trailer. Perhaps if the trailers that lost their wheels had bearing buddies on, the wheel wouldn't have come off. Sounds like Walleyes has the best system, will have to look into converting to that and see how it works, I'm not afraid to try something new or different.
wolf
Well-Known Member
Using bearing buddies are a false sense of security they may look ok but most problems happen from the inner seal on the hub which rusts up and then you get pitting which will wreak the inner seal, so you pop off the bearing buddy looks great but you dont know whats going on in the inner part thats why You check it yes its messy but it has to be done and the more a trailer sits the worse it can be thats all I am trying to say. maybe harsh but so be it.
Good luck Wolf
Good luck Wolf
H
holdeem
Guest
Hey Wolf, nice home page, nice pic of you boat also. I fish out of the Kitimat area and the last 2 years have been great for halibut, has the good luck reached down as far as the island? I have a double eagle which I love. Athough I don't agree with you on the bearing thing I will pull them out next days off for a check as it has been 4 years and will let you know if they need replacing. Can't hurt lol. Have a nice day.
MyEscape
Active Member
Not to defend Wolfs call it at as you see it approach to this topic but I carry 4 different size bearing kits, a piece of pipe, a puller, grease gun and required tools to fix most trailers. I drive from Courtenay to Cambell River and soon I will be back assisting people broken down on the Highway. Most common statement when I ask what happend the frustrated driver says I pulled the wheels off before I left and checked them and they looked okay so I put the wheels back on and greased them well, besides I have bearing buddies. Ya sure some people have horseshoes up there butt and can go years without problems but for the time and very little money it takes to replace them it sure beats losing a wheel with the chance of causing an accident, being stranded on the highway or even worse on a single lane logging road in the middle of no where waisting valuable fishing time or the huge expense if by chance you wreck a spindle and require a flat bed tow and have to replace a axle.
Bearing buddies help and oil bath systems are even better but nothing beats replacing them every year and carrying two spare sets and the knowledge and tools to change out a set if need be.
Remember if you do replace them pack the grease into the bearings first as this is also a common mistake and may cause almost instant failure even if you have bearing buddies.
JMHO ME
Bearing buddies help and oil bath systems are even better but nothing beats replacing them every year and carrying two spare sets and the knowledge and tools to change out a set if need be.
Remember if you do replace them pack the grease into the bearings first as this is also a common mistake and may cause almost instant failure even if you have bearing buddies.
JMHO ME
P
PinchMe
Guest
I guess I'm one of those guys with horseshoes up their butt... 12 years towing two different trailers equipped with bearing buddies. Always fill the b buds up with fresh teflon treated grease before a long trip, in and out of the chuck and lakes, never a problem.
After reading this thread however, I will ask my mechanic to service them during my annual Spring tuneup.
PinchMe
After reading this thread however, I will ask my mechanic to service them during my annual Spring tuneup.
PinchMe
wolf
Well-Known Member
Thanks holdeem, fishing has been very good down here!!!!!
What I trying to get across is why not prevent an accident we all have investments from 5 grand to 100,000 why not look after it??????
Every time I go up to telegraph cove and back on the new island highway with out fail ill see some poor ******* with a blown wheel bearing,and most guys trailering a boat are going way to fast another contributing factor, a standard trailor wheel is 14 inch now tow it behind your truck which has 16,17,18 or larger tires going 100 kms just imagine how fast that little tire is going its a wonder more dont blow up,I am sure someone here can figure out a formula for it but I bet its going way past 130kms,anyone??????
Good luck Wolf
What I trying to get across is why not prevent an accident we all have investments from 5 grand to 100,000 why not look after it??????
Every time I go up to telegraph cove and back on the new island highway with out fail ill see some poor ******* with a blown wheel bearing,and most guys trailering a boat are going way to fast another contributing factor, a standard trailor wheel is 14 inch now tow it behind your truck which has 16,17,18 or larger tires going 100 kms just imagine how fast that little tire is going its a wonder more dont blow up,I am sure someone here can figure out a formula for it but I bet its going way past 130kms,anyone??????
Good luck Wolf
Red Monster
Well-Known Member
I have a new oil bath setup (backing plates and brake drums) ready to go on my trailer. [^] I also plan to replace the hoses and add stainless lines. And while I'm at it, I plan to replace the tires: not for lack of tread but because they're quite old.
Some folks live by the Boy Scouts' motto, but they are greatly outnumbered by those with the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mentality, the it-will-never-happen-to-me mindset, and the ignorance-is-bliss daydreamers. The Boy Scouts among us check their bearing.
Some folks live by the Boy Scouts' motto, but they are greatly outnumbered by those with the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mentality, the it-will-never-happen-to-me mindset, and the ignorance-is-bliss daydreamers. The Boy Scouts among us check their bearing.
Maddog is correct in that if you spin the wheel and feel roughness, replace the bearing. However, that is not a good sign of bearing wear. It is a sign of bearing "worn out". The only way to catch bearing wear early enough to insure failure prevention is periodic visual inspection. Remove the bearings from the hub and clean all grease from them with solvent. Also wipe out the out the races with solvent. The bearings and races should be "mirror" shiny. If one (or more) of them looks "frosty" or dull gray it should be replaced. This is a result of microscopic pitting and is the first sign of bearing failure. After inspection hand pack each bearing and replace the seal. The bearing maintenance issue increases in importance with trailer weight, speed, and distance. All contribute to friction and heat. I typically haul a 9000# (6000# in the past) boat/trailer 500 miles to Lake Powell and 1500+ miles to the ocean so I tend to be a bit anal about bearing maintenance.
danthewire
Active Member
I also thought that you just pumped grease in and everthing was good.Had a catastrophic failure a couple of years ago,nobody hurt,just needed a new axle,but now change the bearings every couple of years,going into mactush and renfrew shortens their life and I also have them repacked by my mechanic every season.That saltwater just seems to get in there,its cheap insurance.DAN
Hey all
For the westcoast, bearing buddies are the best thing any person can use if they cherrish the amount of money you spend on your toys. I bought a boat last year out of the states from a guy that showed me all the service records for the boat ------but----- forgot to ask about the trailer, it took from Pitt Meadows to 5 minutes outside of Campbell river to loose a set of bearings. Took everything out in a very nice melt down, lucky i am a wrench and Lordco was 3 blocks away. Still trying to find a speedy sleeve to go over the hub that will give the clearance that the seal needs for a true seal.So as you can see 10-20 minutes of preventive maintenance can save you many hours of frustration, burnt hands, upset family and worst of all-------less fishing
For the westcoast, bearing buddies are the best thing any person can use if they cherrish the amount of money you spend on your toys. I bought a boat last year out of the states from a guy that showed me all the service records for the boat ------but----- forgot to ask about the trailer, it took from Pitt Meadows to 5 minutes outside of Campbell river to loose a set of bearings. Took everything out in a very nice melt down, lucky i am a wrench and Lordco was 3 blocks away. Still trying to find a speedy sleeve to go over the hub that will give the clearance that the seal needs for a true seal.So as you can see 10-20 minutes of preventive maintenance can save you many hours of frustration, burnt hands, upset family and worst of all-------less fishing
S
scottyboy
Guest
after a yearly cleaning of wheel bearings i have found the inner bearing always has some kind of wear and the inner seal failed. so i replace them every year 65 bucks and the piece of mind that your good for the season ." well worth the money". never totally fill up your buddies as they have bin known 2 fall off from 2 much pressure. also a great way 2 help them stay on is use a punch and malet , tap little divets all around the hub of the bubbies not 2 much but just enough 4 a little grip .and use good sinth grease. scottyboy
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