Loosing Bearing Protectors

[Nandy]

This weekend I lost one of my bearing protectors in the highway. Then it hits me, how about if I had lost the bearing protector in the side of the passing traffic and had hit a vehicle? I would definitely be liable for the damages... This is causing me some concern...
What do you guys do to keep those protectors in the hub?
Has anyone had one of these protectors come loose and hit another vehicle?

I was using the Red Eye Bearing Buddy. Those are very hefty. They even had some ridges to help them stuck to the hub but no help obviously...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Loosing Bearing Protectors

There are some posts in this section regarding this very subject. I had the same happening to me. I switched to the Fulton brand ones and don't have problems anymore.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Loosing Bearing Protectors

My experience with bearing buddies (after losing one) is, carry your rubber mallet with ya, and check 'em often right after installation. Even though they might to the naked eye look completely and utterly installed, just the least bit of variance will allow it to liberate itself. So take every opportunity to give it a few whacks if you notice it's shifted. Eventually you can beat it into submission.

Keep a couple old ones as spares even if they leak a tiny bit; in a pinch, it's better than nothing.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Loosing Bearing Protectors

I've lost three in the last year.

I'm thinking I might buy some oversize ones (oversize by maybe 20 thou) and turn them on my lathe to custom fit.

Other than that maybe install with loctite. I've also considered the fulton ones.

Make sure you are using the right ones for your hubs... there are a whole bunch of sizes, slightly different, that will fit in your hub, but only one is the right one to stay there.

Erik