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Location: Des Moines IA | I bought my first boat this year. The guy I bought it from said I had to repack the axle bearings before next year. I was hoping to do this myself? The trailer is a 16 ft trailstar? The project sounds pretty easy ,take off the tires and hubs, repack the axle bearings ,put back together? Is that all there is to it? And what type of Grease do I use. Anybody got a website or a quick explination on how to best accomplish this? I really don't wat to have to pay to have it done? Thanks upfront for any help .....
Mike |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Mike,
It's as easy as it sounds if you are mechanicaly inclined.
Use marine grade wheel bearing grease.
Inspect the bearings for spawling, pitting, hot marks. (new bearings are cheap)
Make sure you get the right tension when re-installing them, too loose and they will spawl out on you, too tight and they will over heat.
Use a good punch with a square end to drive the bearing race out of the hubs, some times a long handle flat screw driver works well to get them started on the way out.
Sorry no pictures..but if you go to local auto store they might have a instruction manual that you could follow. |
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Posts: 326
Location: Plainfield IL | Mike-
Here is a great article on repacking the trailer bearings. The article shows brakes and bearings. But will do.
http://www.bassboatcentral.com/sttipsbb.htm
If you are looking for Timken bearings contact Motion Industries formerly Berry Bearring. Bring them your hub and they can set you up with new races and bearings. These are the #1 bearring. Alot of the other bearings are made in mexico or china, these are made in US and Canada.
To ease your pain and not have to repack and replace bearings 1-2x a year, then look at the liqua lube system. I installed these this past summer. This is very similiar to the Ranger "Cool Hubs" I beleive there have been several posts on this board regarding liqua lubes. The whole kit from liqua lube cost about $100, but is worth every penny. I installed these myself.
http://www.liqualube.com/
Edited by Running_Hot 1/6/2005 11:20 AM
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| I had my trailer bearings go on the road one time. I was lucky I didn't do any real damaged to myself or my boat and trailer. I had to buy a new hub, bearings on the road. Luckily I was at the enterance of the launch when they went. Good advice I can give you lay out everything to the side of you so you can grab them quickly and easily. |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Running Hot..
Great info, appreciate your feedback. I agree Liqui-Lube is very nice. I had them on a Tuffy about 5 years ago and they were awesome.
Nice article from bassboatcentral.
Thanks again, |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I've looked at those liqualube type hubs....and have been curious about how well the cap (lexan or plastic of some sort) holds up to rocks. My rig usually takes a trip once a year that puts it on a 40 mile poorly maintained dirt road in the canadian bush... I'd hate to have one break and lose the liquid.
And...how in the heck can the back seal keep the fluid in...it still has to spin around the axle shaft. Even with regular hubs and re-packing yearly in the fall with new seals etc., I still get a little water in them. It's never anything major, but some always will get in. |
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Posts: 326
Location: Plainfield IL | VMS-
The lexan cap on the front of the hub does not protrude past the outer wall of the tire. From the outer edge of the tire using a level across the tire the cap is approx 1.5 inches back of the outer part of the tire. If the tow vehicle shot a rock chances of it hitting the cap are non-existant. As for the rear seal, they provide an additional sleeve for your axle. I have not had an issue as of 8 months of use. Its nice not having to check the bearing buddies for grease, looking at the clear cap and seeing the oil is relatively easy. I do keep a spare bearing buddy and grease in a tool box in case of emergency. Call liqua lube if you have more questions, they were really helpful when I called.
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Posts: 32953
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The seal on the Liqua Lube system is actually an oil seal. The kit has all you need to convert from greaes to Liqua Lube. By the way, the interior environment is controlled by a diaphram that controlls the pressure in the hub keeping water out when there is a quick temperature change. Should any water get into the system, the lubricant can accept 30% it's own weight in water and simply make more lube. I've run a dozen rigs set up with the LL system, and never had a problem.
If you anticipate extremely rough usage, they have a chrome cover that goes over the Nylon cap that protects it, yet allows the lube to be seen. |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | the insert from bassboat central that is sherm he runs sherms marine here in wabash indiana he is my boat tech . he really knows his stuff and is highly recomemded for his optimax work. knows them in and out. he works on mine and merc says he is the best in my area..just my 2 cents. he can be reached on his website www.shermsmarine.com or in the bassboatcentral site under the mercury tech part. he will answer any questions u can ask him....bill
Edited by archerynut36 1/8/2005 10:34 PM
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Posts: 364
Location: Kentucky | Another vote for LiquaLubes. I'm not a mechanical genius, but with a little planning and caution, anyone can install these. I ran them for almost all of last season without any problems, occasional trips since I can only go a couple times a month, but it's a 2-hour one-way trip, so I'm happy with the way they're holding up. |
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Posts: 63
| Another vote for Liqid Lube System!, just took mine out to Lake Mill's and had the good folks at Kdee Trailer replace mine. I was running one of the First kits on the market which I installed. No problems for 7 or 8 years (memory fuzzy) There the way to go, alot of the other systems like there's came afterward.  |
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Trailer hubs