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Location: MN | I am picking my boat up next weekend (late start to the year) and want to install bearing buddies on my trailer before I trailer the boat home (3.5hr) drive. Is it a simple process to install these on my own or is this something a shop should do? |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
All you need to do is take off the dust cap and install the bearing buddies by hammering them in (evenly) place. Nothing much to it. Once installed, you can add grease through the zerk when you get home... Nothing to be too concerned with to do.
Only thing I would consider checking while doing so is to jack up the tire and wiggle it back and forth. If it wiggles a bit, the castle nut Should be tightened and the cotter pin replaced. Although if it is a short ride home, I'd hold off on everything and just do a bearing job so you know it's done right... Then you are good to go.
Steve |
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Posts: 148
Location: Milwaukee, WI | If you get the correct size Bearing Buddies, its not a long process installing them. I don't think you need a shop to do this installation. They must fit snugly into the inside diameter of the hubs where the dust caps are currently installed. Its about a 1/8 to 1/4 inch seating area where they slip in.
1, Remove dust caps.
2, Clean the seating areas w/solvent.
3, Tap Bearing Buddies into hubs using a soft mallet or a wood block & hammer.
Do the bearings have (relatively) new grease ? |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Easy to put them on. I like to hold a 2x4 or some other board over the buddy and hit the board with a hammer. Put it in so it's square to the hub, and gently tap it in. When tapping it in, make sure it stays straight and that you aren't tapping one side in too much more than the other. When it's seated or nearly seated then you can hammer on it a little more (still with the board between the bearing buddy and the hammer).
Pretty easy to see how they go in when you start doing it. Good luck!
curleytail
Edited by curleytail 6/5/2009 12:37 PM
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Posts: 620
Location: Seymour, WI | I would not wait until you get home to pump up the new bearing buddies. Pump them up as soon as you put them on.
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| Depending on the brand of trailer you may have somthing similar or beter installed from the factory. Have you looked at it yet???? |
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Posts: 31
| I have not had very much luck with Bearing Buddies, they seam to work fine for trailers, etc. that never get submerged in water. If it was me I would install the oil bath hubs |
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Posts: 3913
| Bbuddies are great, but don't overfill and accidently blow out the seal on the other side of the bearings.
BTW - Blowing seals is illegal in many states. |
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Posts: 390
Location: Ohio | How often do you guys add more grease? I know it obviously has to do with how much towing you do, but whats the general rule? Once a year, every month, etc? This is my first trailer w/ Bearing Buddies and was wondering. Thanks |
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Posts: 148
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Don't add grease until the round plate with the grease-fitting has moved noticeably inward toward the bearing.
The correct amount of grease has the b-buddy spring compressed about 1/2 of its travel distance.
I usually trailer about 2000 miles/year and I only add grease once per year. My gross trailered weight is about 2100 lbs. I use the black, molybdenum-additive grease, made for farm implements & construction equipment. It has a high tolerance to water.
When its all working correctly (b-buddy & inner grease seal) there is nowhere for the grease to go. It does not get burned-up. It simply becomes liquidy and flows around the moving parts. The inner seals should keep the grease from leaking out.
Check your hubs after trailering a dozen or so miles at highway speed. Use your fingers to try & feel if they are heating up. If they feel warm, and you can leave your fingers on them for like 15 seconds without getting burned, they are doing fine. I usually check mine when we stop for gas. |
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Posts: 390
Location: Ohio | Thanks for the info Snaggletooth. |
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| How important is the choice of grease? What type would you recommend? |
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Posts: 133
Location: Wausau, WI | Carquest or Napa will have boat trailer grease in stock. Regular automotive grease will work, but I would go with the marine grade grease because it doesn't break down in water as fast. |
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Posts: 111
Location: Big Lake, MN | Ranger,
You owe me a new key board........I just spit coffee all over mine  |
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