Buddy Bearings Pop Off

[fixmyevinrude]

I have had several boats with Buddy Bearings. They always work fine untill I take the Buddy Bearing off to clean and repack the bearings. Seems like I loose one or both of them on the road. They just pop off. I believe I am getting them back on all the way and I don't think I am over filling them. Has anyone else had this problem? Am I doing something wrong? Just wondering if the Buddy Bearing weakens where it press fits into the wheel hub.

 

[ttownguy]

Re: Buddy Bearings Pop Off

My bearing buddy caps were a pain to get on...really tight fitting. Maybe you're running a size too small, or your bearing are getting too hot??? Just a couple of not-so-educated guesses.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Buddy Bearings Pop Off

I have to pound the living daylights out of mine with a 4x4 and hammer to get them on...no way they would "pop" off. are you maybe not getting them on centered afterwards? meaning, is one side of the buddy on more than the other, causing it to be lopsided going down the road? that would maybe make them come off i suppose.

 

[fixmyevinrude]

Re: Buddy Bearings Pop Off

I have to pound the living daylights out of mine with a 4x4 and hammer to get them on...no way they would "pop" off. are you maybe not getting them on centered afterwards? meaning, is one side of the buddy on more than the other, causing it to be lopsided going down the road? that would maybe make them come off i suppose.

I have thought that as a possibility also but when I put them back on I am pretty much doing it the same way you describe. I get them started with a plastic hammer then I use a piece of 2x4 and smack them trying to keep them square until the shoulder is flush against the hub. I make sure they are "home." Must just be me because I searched the forum and have not found other people complaining of this problem. I guess I will give them an extra smack for good measure next time.

 

[htv]

Re: Buddy Bearings Pop Off

Jack the wheel off the ground and spin it as fast as you can and check to make sure there is no weeble-wobble and that the buddy bearing is running true to center.
Also, could tires and wheels grossly out of balance play a roll?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Buddy Bearings Pop Off

It sounds crazy, but check to make sure that your cotter pins are not too long. Seen it happen more than once.

 

[htv]

Re: Buddy Bearings Pop Off

It sounds crazy, but check to make sure that your cotter pins are not too long. Seen it happen more than once.

that too!

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Buddy Bearings Pop Off

I have had several boats with Buddy Bearings. They always work fine until I take the Buddy Bearing off to clean and repack the bearings. Seems like I loose one or both of them on the road. They just pop off. I believe I am getting them back on all the way and I don't think I am over filling them. Has anyone else had this problem? Am I doing something wrong? Just wondering if the Buddy Bearing weakens where it press fits into the wheel hub.

you and i arnt the only one to have trouble.
i lost one going into echobay at lake mead (redone4x4 knows this road- rough son of a gun coming in from north)

i knew about where i lost it so i walked a mile or so up and back along the road. didn't find mine but did find 2 more. one the right size for my hub the other not. they were in ok shape but really dirty. also found a couple of the bearing buddy bras.
i ended up, duct taping a styrofoam cup to hub and going into Vegas and getting a new set. kudos to the guys at offshore marina in Henderson. the shop foreman put it on and toped the grease for no charge to help me out. and as they are sold in pairs i now have a spare

any way while i was there i walked my dog up and down the hemmen way ramp a couple of time a week and found one more buddy and 2 more bras.

this is the only one i have lost but when i got home i took them all off and cleaned the mounting area in the hub and buddy then installed with loc-tite blue not sure how this will work but didn't want to use red because would have to heat to get buddy back off.
not sure if you would want to try the loc-tite but i can't see what it will hurt
i drive mine on with a soft face dead blow hammer. i am carefull not to let one side get to far ahead of the other. this should prevent swagging a taper into them and making them looser

 

[199675hpforce]

No one mention this LOC TIGHT blue

No one mention this LOC TIGHT blue

I use this on 4x4 manual hub bolts without it they come out (even with lock washers)same with bearing buddies it kinda glues it in hub. Get it real real clean, brake cleaner.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Buddy Bearings Pop Off

I always use LOC-TITE around the mating face....it's supposed to be a thread locker but they also make at least one for cylindrical parts sealing...I think it's 609 0r 620. I have to work to get them off, but I haven't lost one since I started using it.