trailer bearings..

baja_driver · Jun-17-2005, 12:02 PM

tandem axle..6500lb boat. how long do you think the bearings would last if the "buddy bearing" fell of...and then in and out of the water.

shinerunner · Jun-17-2005, 12:08 PM

trailer bearings suck. re-pack replace get it over with

BluefinCurly · Jun-17-2005, 02:05 PM

Depends on how far you drive it afterwards. If you're just goin around the corner, then you could probably pull them out, clean, inspect and repack.
But if you're going to that effort you might as well replace them (bearings, races, and seals). Pretty cheap and easier at home than on the side of the freeway at midnight
(like I've never done that!)

Weazel · Jun-17-2005, 02:10 PM

If there's no corrosion or pitting on the bearings, I'd clean the sucker out really well and put it all back together. Marine trailer bearing grease has corrosion inhibitors in it to combat saltwater so it's probably OK.

baja_driver · Jun-17-2005, 02:16 PM

I have to replace the hub and all..lost the buddy bearing end of last season, just a 10 mile round trip but in launched the boat without it a few times. on the way back from S.I last weekend..had to crawl her home at 25mph..drum broke inside the housing. this was all new parts. got three trips out of it after the buddy was gone..to damn lazy . figured I would take care of it first thing this season but had other issue's with the boat that got me side tracked. now gotta replace it all again.

Weazel · Jun-17-2005, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baja_driver

. now gotta replace it all again.

Bummer. I always check them before I leave on a trip. All you need is a 2x4 and a hammer to make sure the sucker is seated well.

baja_driver · Jun-17-2005, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weazel

Bummer. I always check them before I leave on a trip. All you need is a 2x4 and a hammer to make sure the sucker is seated well.

the damn thing fell off first trip. the original fell off bringing the boat home when I bought it. replaced the hub and all except washer under the nut that holds the bearings in. wacked the fucker in with a 3lb and 2x4 and it came off first trip also, with all new shit. think i might tac wield the fucker on this time.

Rob E · Jun-17-2005, 06:19 PM

Check your bearings. A bearing buddy falling off is often the first sign of a problem. Bearing buddy's fall off when the hub becomes loose and the wheel starts to wobble, but sometimes before you notice there is a problem. Don't ignore it.

Next thing to happen is, your wheel passes you on the freeway...

baja_driver · Jun-18-2005, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob E

Check your bearings. A bearing buddy falling off is often the first sign of a problem. Bearing buddy's fall off when the hub becomes loose and the wheel starts to wobble, but sometimes before you notice there is a problem. Don't ignore it.

Next thing to happen is, your wheel passes you on the freeway...

after inspecting the axle there was a grove that prevented the inner bearing from seating all the way..this appears to have been what caused it to come lose like you said(causing the bearing buddy to fall off) . filed it down , all new parts from aros. everything fits nice now..will watch it on the next trip and make sure I got it right this time. aros guy told me about the same thing you did. hope I do not need to replace the snout . but will see. thanks all!!

muskyman · Jun-19-2005, 06:01 AM

I built my last trailer for my boat and I learned alot from that experience. Bearing buddies suck dick dude. You could not pay me to tow a boat behind my truck with bearing buddies. There is no where for the excess grease to go. Honestly, check this out dude, since you have that problem with your axle already, get a spindle flow through axle in which the grease zirt is actually part of the axle. This is the coolest friggin ass design dude. When you pump grease in the zirt, it starts coming in through the backside of the bearings first and flow back towards you forcing the old excess grease at you so you can flush the old shit out. With this set-up, you use double edged seals for the backside of the hub, now these run a bit more, like 12-15 bucks a piece, but the cool part is this ; they have two edges to keep the water out and grease in. When one fails, and they will over time, for me 10K miles, having both edges allows you to get home and even a few more trips before it is time to replace them. I have this design on my trailer now, and I tow my boat everywhere, Utah, Ontario Canada, you name it dude, this is the only way to go if you do not like working on your trailer and it gives you the peace of mind. Axles are really not all that expensive, I know that Champion Trailer Parts ( not associated with the boat either ) has these axles and they can ship right to you. But seriously, look into it, bearing buddies blow the baloney pony dude, they are just as good as the helicopter lure. Take it easy man.

Kevin J. Oliver · Jun-22-2005, 04:26 PM

Never have had any problems with my B-B's, you just don't max 'em out with grease so there's no extra room ...... if running to Baja after losing one for a while, I'd have 'em serviced/checked/repacked (or do it yourself, my 2 1/2 year old daughter has this thing about finding the grease glob or can at the worst possible moment, "no melanie, don't touch your hair!!") ..... good luck!