Bearing Buddies -- Will they work on any hub?

[scoutabout]

We inherited a real old, homemade utility trailer with the backwoods property our family bought a few years ago. The trailer looks fashioned out of plate steel - real thick and heavy. The wheel assembly welded to the bottom looks like the drop axle and leaf springs off an old car or pickup truck complete with the original hubs. Wheels are probably 16 inches at least.

I'd love to put Bearing Buddies on it for peace of mind but have no idea if they'd fit. Sticking out of the middle of each hub is a big old castle nut with the usual cotter pin through it. The whole works sticks out a good inch or so past the edges of the hub.

I'm wondering if the only critical dimension for the B Buddies is the diameter of that inner hub lip?

And for bonus marks, I'd love to tear down the hubs and at least inspect or probably replace the bearings. If I don't know the source of this contraption, will there at least be some identifying markings on the inner and outer bearing races and seal so I can source a replacement?

*edit* -- found a pic, though not sure if I can get it big enough to be technically useful...

 

[Expidia]

Re: Bearing Buddies -- Will they work on any hub?

I bought my first set at Walmart. They seem to come in two popular sizes. They just tap on. I used a wood block so as not to scratch them in case I needed to return them. They were a different brand, but just as good as the Bearing Buddy brand.

You pump in grease until the red or orange line shows up in the middle of the hub. Don't over fill or you will blow the rubber seal in the back of your bearing that keeps the grease in. Since it's an old rig they may already be blown. You will see grease coming out the back is they are shot.

Walmart will take anything back if the size is wrong. Save receipt. Buy both sizes so you don't have to run back to the store to switch them. return the unused set another day.

I don't see the depth of the nut being an issue as the buddies are pretty deep.

I think they carry the Fulton brand at Walmart:

http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=4732&categoryID=189

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Bearing Buddies -- Will they work on any hub?

I found out the hard way ( $ ), Fulton and Bearing Buddy use different size rubber covers. :redface:

When you take apart the hubs to inspect the bearings, if there are any marks, metal "dust" or dull bearings, just replace them. Look in your local yellow pages under "bearings". They will be able to match them up

Jeff