I took out my bearings this weekend...

[eeboater]

Alright, my brother was over yesterday and he helped me pull off the wheels and bearings on the trailers. I've made a couple observations.<br /><br />First, dang was it a b*tch to get those rear seals out! I didn't realize it was going to be that difficult. We ended up putting something behind the lip of the seal and wrenched on it to remove them. I don't know if thats a sign that they haven't been removed in a long time or what.<br /><br />Second, the grease was a nice, light blue. From what I've been reading, it would have to be a nasty, cloudy color if water had been in there... correct?<br /><br />Third, there was a LOT of grease in there... and I mean A LOT! Am I to place an equal amount of grease in there? I wiped off the spindle because it was about to drip all over my floor. I also wiped out the inside of my hubs. (I think i'm using the right terminology.) The trailer has drum brakes on it so I wiped as much of the grease out of the center as I could.<br /><br />Another thing that I didn't realize... the outer races are permanently attached to the inside of the drums. I felt like a real idiot when I figured that out I tell ya...<br /><br />So, here's a couple questions; and feel free to answer at random <br /><br />1. When putting the bearings back into the drum where they are supposed to go, do I place an inordinately large amount of grease on the acutal spindle? Or does the majority of that grease come from when when I pump grease into it?<br /><br />2. If the outer bearing race is permanently attached to the drum, why do all of the bearings for sale come with outer races?<br /><br />3. I may just reuse the bearings that were in there... everywhere it says to use a solvent to clean the bearings. What do you guys use to clean your bearings?<br /><br />Thanks in advance.<br /><br />Sean

 

[Bondo]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

Well,.........<br />

2. If the outer bearing race is permanently attached to the drum,

No they're Not..... But, They Are driven In,+ have to be Driven Out,.... I use a Brass Punch......<br />

First, dang was it a b*tch to get those rear seals out!

What I do is,......<br />Reach Thru the Hub with that Brass Punch,+ Drive the Inner Bearing(the "Cone" half) Out,... The Seal will Come With It........<br />Again,.. They're Driven In,+ need to be Driven Out.....The Seals that is......<br />

Second, the grease was a nice, light blue

My Guess is,.... That's a specialized Marine/ Water Resistent Grease,........I've got a tub of it,... Don't Use It, But I've got it....<br />

I may just reuse the bearings that were in there... everywhere it says to use a solvent to clean the bearings. What do you guys use to clean your bearings?

I either use Kerosene, or Diesel, or the Parts Washer at the Shop.....<br />You Can use Anything that Cuts Grease,... I like the 1s that are Less Flammable......<br />

1. When putting the bearings back into the drum where they are supposed to go, do I place an inordinately large amount of grease on the acutal spindle? Or does the majority of that grease come from when when I pump grease into it?<br />

That's Debateable,.......<br />The Only grease that is Actually Working,..... Is the Grease that's been Packed Into the bearing Itself.........<br />That's How Much, I put back In..........<br />The Rest of it,.. Is just Along for the Ride.......<br /><br />If you've never Repacked a Roller Bearing before,.....<br />I suggest that you wander over to your local Auto Parts Store,+ Buy a Bearing Packer,......<br />They're only a couple of dollars,+ You can Repack a bearing with your Greasegun.......<br />Mine looks like This 1,....<br />

<br />In Theory,.... You don't even Need to Clean them 1st,.... <br />But,.. If you Don't,... You CAN'T See the Face of the Inner Race,........<br />And,..... That's WHAT you want to Look at.....The Inner Race,........<br />Most Generally,.. It's the Inner, or Outer Race that goes to ell,.. Before the Rollers even Start to Look Bad........

 

[eeboater]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

Thanks for the info Bondo. The brass punch you are using, what is it simply a pencil shaped punch made of brass? trying to get a mental picture of it. Sorry if this is a dump question.<br /><br />Sean

 

[tommays]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

I just use a 1/2 rod from the hardware store and a BF Hammer<br /><br />You have to be carefull when your pounding them out they can chip and poke your eye out <br /><br />depending on who made the hub they can be pretty dam tight <br /><br />When your putting them back in is when you have to be really carefull to start them straight and keep them straight as your taping them back in.<br /><br />If you have a nice local auto machine shop and take them down there nice and clean they will press them in pretty cheep <br /><br />Be carefull taping the new seal back in real easy to make it JUNK <br /><br />tommays<br /><br />

<br /> <br /><br />

<br /> <br /><br />

<br /> <br /><br /><br />All from the same hubs same amount of time you cant tell till you check everything

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

I agree w/ Bondo -- it's not really necessary to fill the entire hub cavity w/ grease, but I do anyway because if it's full of grease, there's no room for water.

 

[KaGee]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

Use Bearing Buddies and you won't have to worry about the inner spindle. It's all gonna fill up anyway. <br /><br />I bought a seal installer kit from Harbor Freight. Makes installation so much easier!.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

You can pack a couple of extra pumps of grease into the hubs, but one must be careful not to over do-it or when the grease heats up while rolling the seals and bearing buddies can get blown out from pressure caused by over greasing, I'm with bondo, put the grease were its needed and maybe a few extra pumps to the buddies after everything is put back together.

 

[Realgun]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

Tommays thats cute the three pitures but what are they of?<br /><br />Then I looked again and you put a face there hmm I read, I don't look at faces. <br /><br />So that black part is where the races got hot eh?

 

[Bondo]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

Those races that Tommays posted are Junk,.....<br />Well,.... The Top 1 is Well Used,+ Serviceable,... But for an Annual Service,.. I'd Change It......<br /><br />The Black Spots are Where the Rollers, Rusted Into the outer Races,........Which caused the Pitting.....<br /><br />That's WHY you Have to Clean the Cones,..... So you can Look Thru the Cage,+ Inspect the Inner Races to be Sure there's NO Discoloration to Them as well.........

 

[BillP]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

In theory the seals keep water out and grease is needed only for bearing lubrication. Some say air pressure from BBs does it. In reality the seals don't come close to keeping out water as well without a hub packed full of grease. Grease displaces air and water. A packed hub won't let water in even with a bad seal. Bearing Buddy instructions says to pack the hub before installation. It takes $2 worth of grease and 5 minutes. The advantages are real.

 

[saumon]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

Be careful with the Bearing Buddies aka Seals Busters !<br /><br />Best system i've seen so far are the posi-lube spindles where the grease is inserted through a zerk fitting on the end of the spindle, goes through it and exit next to the back seal. As you add grease, it is pushed until it came through the outer bearing, so no fear to bust a seal.

 

[Lou C]

Re: I took out my bearings this weekend...

The other system I like is Spindle Lube, I have it on the axle I had made by Champion Trailers. There is a zerk in the spindle, the dust cap has a rubber plug that you pull out to access it, and you pump grease in until you see the new grease pushing out the old. No way you can blow the rear seal while greasing because there is no pressure on the seal itself. The grease goes thru the rear of the inner bearing, thru the hub and out the outer bearing. You turn the hub as you grease it to make sure all the rollers get grease. When you see water (milky color) in the old grease it's time to take it all apart. Best system I have used.