Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

[mrmogway]

I installed new bearings and race on my 14ft boat trailer and after 100 miles the whole BB flew off (I watched it bounce down the highway - luckily no cars nearby). I purchased a new pair, installed them and one came off after only a couple of miles! I felt the hubs and they were not hot at all. I ended up using a plastic dust cap for the trip home, stopping to check the temp of the hubs, they were always slightly warm (as they should be). I'm going to remove the hubs and repack but am afraid this will happen again. Please, can someone shed light on why this would happen and what I can be doing wrong? p.s. the BB are the correct size, were difficult to install using hammer and wooden 2x4. and seemed tightly in place. Thanks in advance.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

I have found that the tolerance between hubs vary greatly. The same holds true for the bearing protectors. I have found that brands other than BB seem to be a tighter fit. I would suggest doing what others have suggested her in the past and that is to get a punch and dimple out the area that slides into the hub.

 

[captharv]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

If they are overfilled, they will do exactly what they did.
The instructions are not clear; fill until the piston just rocks slightly. NOT until piston is fully extended.
When installing a bearing buddy, start it into the hub, then use a piece of 2X4 across the BB and hammer it home. Don't be shy. Then fill as said above.
I blew out one on my new trailer because the dealer overfilled it.
Note: I carry 2 spares, 2 bras, a spare set of bearings, hydraulic floor jack and plywood for under it, a spare tire/wheel on the trailer, and a cecond one for long trips, and a breaker bar with impact sockets that fit the wheel lugs nuts. Although I have BOATUS trailer club insurance, I don't want to wait for hours alongside the road to change a tire.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

Overfilling should not pop it off. There are pressure reliefs built into them that allow grease to escape if overfilled. This is not the problem. I have had them pop off as well and I don't even come close to overfilling.

 

[dozerdoodle]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

call me crazy but maybe try a mild threadlocker just make sure both surfaces are clean. should work as an adhesive and make up for small tolerance imperfections

 

[cobra99]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

Sorry to say that i don't have a solution but I did have the same thing happen to me last weekend. I was on the highway and hit a bump and watched in the side view mirror and saw the buddy bearing go rolling down the highway. I had checked the hub before I left for grease on each wheel and had to hammer both buddy bearings back on. I thought that they were tight but apparently they weren't. I would also like to know the solution to this.

 

[samagy16]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

I will also jump on top of this pile.

Same thing just happened to me this last weekend. Didn't notice when I lost it but realized when I got home that it was gone. Thank god I made it home.

Anxious to see what could cause this.

 

[Rusty Boater]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

I can only figure is there is significant weight spinning off the hub and they work there way loose. I had this happen except i got the opportunity to repair the car next to me on the interstate that the BB hit.

I fixed the problem by doing the following.

1. Remove the BB's and throw them in the closet garbage can...
2. Use a double ridge rear seal for the inner seal of the hub.
3. Put a line of RTV on a standard dust cap to keep the water out.
4. Inspect the hubs and bearings twice a year.

Been working great for me the last two years!!!!!

 

[j_martin]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

It doesn't make any difference how tight the seals are, the grease expanding in the hub on the road, then suddenly cooling off underwater will pull in a bit of water past the seal. That's the scenario the spring loaded bearing buddy is designed to prevent.

I've lost a couple on washboard roads. I'm sure an off balance trailer tire could do it also. To solve the problem, when you install it clean out the inside of the hub where the BB is going squeaky clean, scraping as much grease off as you can, then detailing it with the corner of a rag dipped in acetone or laquer thinner, brake cleaner, or the like.

Put a thin bead of locktite bearing retainer on the BB and drive it on.

Permanent set occurs in a few hours.

You may have to heat it to drive the bearing buddy off for service once every 4 or 5 years if your seals hold.

hope it helps
John

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Buddy Bearings popping off boat trailer!

The only time I've seen an issue with BB caps falling off its either been due one of three things, either the cotter pin is not flush and is interfering with the cap, the wheel bearings are loose, or the hub itself is either damaged or oversized.
Most of the time its been the cotter pin or loose bearings.