Best grease for trailer rollers.

[deerhound]

Can anyone please give me advise on the best type of grease to apply to the rollers? I am fitting complete new rollers, brackets, nuts, bolts, everything,I was wondering about using a copper based anti-seize type as used on car brakes, I have noted on site that waterproof grease goes hard, also I will add more stainless washers to roller pin assembly as there is no washer to prevent the roller being jammed against the inside of the roller bracket preventing it from turning! JBD

 

[rwidman]

Re: Best grease for trailer rollers.

I can't help directly with the type of grease, but if they are plastic or a plastic compound, make sure whatever you use is compatible with plastic. You don't want your grease disolving the bearing surfaces of the rollers.<br /><br />Contacting the manufacturer of the rollers might help.

 

[deerhound]

Re: Best grease for trailer rollers.

Many thanks, good point! they are a kind of soft rubber but inside is harder and could be a plastic tube, with the free play on the roller shaft to bracket, and the fact that it will sit in same position for a long time no wonder they seize up! I will be using it in salt water but give it a flush with fresh on returning home, there are many products on sale with lots of claims to be waterproof etc some with P.T.F.E., I will call manufacturer and post answer. Thanks for now. J.B.D.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Best grease for trailer rollers.

I've used OMC triple guard on my large trailer for a long time. It doesnt seem to harm the liners or the rollers.<br /><br />Around here (Salt water) most trailer rollers are never lubricated. Maybe T-9 on the washers. The retaining washers I'm getting from ezloader.com are all aluminum now, so I don't think that I will lubricate any more.

 

[deerhound]

Re: Best grease for trailer rollers.

OK everyone thanks for help and advise, I asked company whom I bought the rollers and they commented that they don't think they need lubrication? but will make further attempts to see what lubrication is best, J.B.D.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Best grease for trailer rollers.

After switching some black rubber keel rollers to the clear yellow rollers, I noticed that the bolt it rides on was starting to corrode from the salt water. So I coated the bolt with OMC Trippleguard grease because it is supposed to be water proof. So far so good, no more corrosion and the rollers roll when the boat is being winched on the trailer.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Best grease for trailer rollers.

Look into replacing the roller shafts with the type of shaft that allows you to pump grease through the shaft and into the cavity inside the roller. This way you at least have a fighting chance at it. No matter how well you rinse SW will get in between the roller and the shaft and cause to rust which in turn will seize up the roller. <br /><br />Been there, done that.

 

[deerhound]

Re: Best grease for trailer rollers.

Thanks everyone, I was contemplating grinding a spiral grove around the shaft drilled through and a grease nipple on one end of shaft, but is this again overkill? maybe a good dose of WD40 after use would suffice? JBD

 

[cp]

Re: Best grease for trailer rollers.

Stainless steel shafts, polyurethane rollers, teflon grease and my rollers are still spinning like tops after years of 100% salt water dunking with absolutely no maintenance (the trailer is hosed down with fresh water each trip, but there is no way to get fresh water in along the shafts). Followed the K.I.S.S. principle, so no zerk, no spiral groove, nothing. So far so good.<br /><br />p.s. The above replaced the old plated shafts and black rubber rollers which rusted, swelled, split and froze in place after just a couple years. Don't go that (cheaper) route unless you don't mind re-doing the whole thing in a couple years.