Bearing buddies keep falling off...

[woodnknots]

I replaced both hubs on my '91 trailer a few months ago. I have been through 2 sets of bearing buddies since then. They have to be pounded in with a block of wood and a mallet, so I know that they are tight. I bought a new set this morning, and got about 6 miles down to where I put the boat in, and I lost one already!! Any ideas why this keeps happening?! I am starting to worry that I need a new axle, as it may be causing vibration problems...

Thoughts?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

I was having the same problems after going with some new hubs. I ended buying some Fulton copies of the Bearing Buddy and they seem to be staying put. The Fultons are a lot harder to put on so must be slightly bigger.

 

[woodnknots]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

Where can I find the Fulton copies? Hopefully they'll work better. I've even been considering super glue.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

Check your cotter pins and your end play. Quite often these are the culprits

 

[JB]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

One common cause for Bearing Buddies falling off is over filling them.

When greasing them stop as soon as the spring is deflected 1/16'-1/8"

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

I'm with JB on this one. Over filled, over pressured from within, everything starts warming up when you start moving and ...........POOF they are gone with the expansion.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

Not so with mine...it was road vibration that worked mine loose and it was only after a hub change.

 

[tommays]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

I had the same problem as Bruce the real thing kept ejecting

I went with the SS Fultons and not a problem


I think the bores of the hubs are ALL OVER the place cause fit problems AND they do not like to much grease


Tommays

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

I was having problems on one trip. I lost a Bearing Buddy along with some grease. I moved another Buddy Bearing to that spot and that one soon fell off. There was no grease pressure involved at all because I had actually lost enough to actually be low on grease.

I now carry spares!

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

You can also "help" the bearing buddy stay in place with a center punch.
Before installing the bearing buddy, place the hub end over the horn of an anvil or simular round shaped object. Using a center punch and hammer, make several hefty center punch marks on the surface of the bearing buddy that will do the gripping in the hub.

The center punch marks become like teeth to grip the hub a little more.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

You can also "help" the bearing buddy stay in place with a center punch.
Before installing the bearing buddy, place the hub end over the horn of an anvil or simular round shaped object. Using a center punch and hammer, make several hefty center punch marks on the surface of the bearing buddy that will do the gripping in the hub.

The center punch marks become like teeth to grip the hub a little more.

Hmmm...so you punch from the outer surface of the Bearing Buddy?

 

[JB]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

Give that amount of trouble with the BBs staying installed I think I would pull both hubs and drill and tap them for set screws to lock the BBs in place.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

Hmmm...so you punch from the outer surface of the Bearing Buddy?

Yes on the outer surface as long as they are the metal variety.

 

[valkyr]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

Quick question to tag onto this: What does the "SS" stand for? I've seen it on several posts and can't quite figure it out

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

Stainless Steel

 

[valkyr]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

Ouch. Knew I should have known that. Thanks for no flames ... :redface:

 

[edzzed]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

could drill and tap a hole at the outer edge of the hub and use a set screw to hold them in.

 

[rdgallo]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

I vote for the "check your end play" comment. I had a Ranger Trail trailer once that lost a bearing buddy on a trip. I stopped and purchased new and within 10 miles one of them fell off. When I reached my destination, I checked the end play in the bearings and they were looser than a goose. Tightened them up and problem solved. When I got home, I replaced the bearings.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

If your end play was that loose, the vibration of the hub probably knocked them off. I am surprised you wouldn't have felt that while you were driving!

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bearing buddies keep falling off...

please explain "end play" and how to check for it. thx