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Posts: 697
Location: Minnetonka | I have a 2000 Ranger Trail single axle trailer and recently changed the oil on the hubs and filled them almost full. I've taken several short road trips with my boat and have had no issues, but I'm about to take a long trip and would like to be prepared. I've watched several how-to videos that say to fill them all the way up, but I've talked to a dealer that says 1/2-3/4 full is the ticket so I don't blow a seal when the oil expands. Can anyone give me some definitive information on this? Thanks in advance.
Edited by Hammskie 7/5/2012 9:51 AM
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | 3/4 full should do the trick,,....Overfilling Will blow the seal, because of the oil heating up and expanding. |
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Posts: 5874
| Who did the How-to video's? Ranger? |
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | Until this year I had a '97 Ranger 681 VS Fisherman on a Ranger trailer, of course.
The clear "mirror" on the cool hubs were always totally black...I'm guessing 100% oil-filled. When I bought the trailer in to a local, well known Ranger dealer wondering about changing oil in them I was told the oil was under pressure (spring pressure, I'm guessing) to ensure a total fluid bath on the bearings.
He also told me that at my age, then 48-49, I didn't have enough "time left to worry about changing the oil" - meaning it would be good for much of it's/my life.
After 15 yrs the oil remained clean and dark, not milky or such.
FYI. And I must put on around 3000+ miles per yr fishing. Not many but I'm happy.
Hope this helps.
Edited by Jeremy 7/5/2012 11:16 AM
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Posts: 227
Location: Maple Grove | Attached is an email I got directly from Ranger back in 2009. Hope this helps.
Attachments
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 Ranger Trailer Info.pdf (22KB - 446 downloads)
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I've been told by a certified Ranger dealer that properly filled oil hubs do not need to be serviced for years...While it always makes me nervous, I haven't had an issue, ever, in doing heavy hauling for 8 years with ranger trailers....I usually get it looked at every so often more for peace of mind |
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| All the way up to the top for that make of cool hubs. I think that it was 2005 that they changed the hub configuration.from that time on, you have to fill them to the " fill line"(1/2 way).
The hubs that you have are made to accommodate the expansion of oil.
Mine all the way to the top- never had a problem.
Joe
Trueglide |
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Posts: 697
Location: Minnetonka | Thanks for that info Joe and Joe. Especially the note from Ranger.
Shep - 7/5/2012 10:43 AM
Who did the How-to video's? Ranger? Here's the video that I watched. Same trailer as mine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mryTOKn1wRw
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Posts: 5874
| Only reason I asked is that if it's not done by Ranger or a ranger authoized dealer, I'd be skeptical. If it corraborates the info provided by Joe from Ranger, then I have no problem with it.
I didn't bother to watch it, so I don't know if it's correct or not.
Edited by Shep 7/5/2012 5:44 PM
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Filler full, and all is good, when it heats up and expands the glass window actually expands out of the hub. heck you dont need oil had one that the ex knocked off in the driveway. Ran 100 miles no oil and all was well just put hub back on and filled with oil. Famouls words didnt I tell ya.
Troy |
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Location: north central wisconsin | Troyz. - 7/6/2012 2:51 PM
..that the ex knocked off in the driveway. Troy
Did she knock it off before or after becoming the ex? |
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Location: one foot over the line | Reef Hawg - 7/8/2012 8:38 AM
Troyz. - 7/6/2012 2:51 PM
..that the ex knocked off in the driveway. Troy
Did she knock it off before or after becoming the ex?
Maybe thats how she became the ex... |
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Posts: 2082
| Musky Brian - 7/5/2012 1:00 PM
I've been told by a certified Ranger dealer that properly filled oil hubs do not need to be serviced for years...While it always makes me nervous, I haven't had an issue, ever, in doing heavy hauling for 8 years with ranger trailers....I usually get it looked at every so often more for peace of mind
I was told the same - How often are most of you changing the oil, every year ?
Edited by IAJustin 7/13/2012 4:54 PM
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Posts: 315
| it has been 2 yrs since i did it last and still do not plan on doing it any time soon!! Just keep an eye on your tires and hubs. I was also told it can go for years between changes. |
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Location: 31 | lookin4_big_gurls - 7/14/2012 4:30 PM
it has been 2 yrs since i did it last and still do not plan on doing it any time soon!! Just keep an eye on your tires and hubs. I was also told it can go for years between changes.
This is probably true but I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum. At least once a year I change the wheel bearing oil (I have the cool hubs too).
While it's drained I jack the wheel/tire up and check the spindle/bearings for correct tension. I seems they almost always need to be tightened just a touch.
The problem as I see it (with a big heavy boat especially) is that if there becomes too much slop there will be more pressure on the inside edge of the tire, and of course the bearings themselves, if left unchecked both will wear out prematurely.
I'll admit that it's not the most fun/pleasant task but you're only talking about a half an hour a wheel and a few ounces of gear lube too. My trailer is an 08 with the black rubber caps that get filled halfway. I always fill them halfway and wait about 15 min. for the oil to settle to the rear seal. Then I put the black rubber cap 1/2 on (presure on the botom to keep the oil from running out) and shoot a little extra oil in before snapping it all the way in place.
Edited by Jerry Newman 7/15/2012 1:56 PM
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Location: 31 | Originally written by spud (7/31/2012 10:15 PM)
Hi Jerry: I read your contribution to the "Cool Hubs Question" thread posted a couple weeks ago. I too own an'08 RangerTrail and your comment re checking the spindle/bearing tension caught my attention. I've never done this and sure enough, my tires are wearing significantly more on the inside edges. My question is how do you know if they need tightening and if so - How? I developed a good sense of feel in tightening the spindle nuts on my old Shorelander, but I don't even know how to get the black plastic hub covers off this one. I'd appreciate any help you might offer. Thanks John Ross
Hi John,
For whatever reason I can receive private messages but cannot reply...weird.
To remove the black cap all you need is a big pair of pliers, plus a paper plate and a rag to catch the oil. After I jack the boat trailer up I just spin the wheel firmly by hand with the tire on it, and look for two full revolutions. Anything more than that and I remove the Carter key and tighten the nut.
Once I get the two revolutions, (BTW I remove the brakes on he rears because they drag a little) I just reassemble and ad the oil... provided of course the rear seal is good and there are no metal fragments found in the oil.
The hub always gets looser on the spindle, never tighter, the looser it gets the more uneven your tire wear can be, but it's pretty normal for boat trailer tires to wear unevenly like that (check out the trailer tire rotation thread).
There's also tons of good information online, if you check I'm sure you can find everything you need.
Good luck!
Edited by Jerry Newman 7/31/2012 11:28 PM
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| It's also a good idea to do a walk around inspection every time you stop for gas, I put my hand on the trailer wheels to check for overheating. |
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Posts: 56
| I have a 2008 Ranger trailer with oil hubs as well. I have never been so confused about maintenance in my life. Every person I talk to says something different.
In the Ranger literature that came with the boat it says to change the oil every 3 years. Some guys say you should do the bearings and/or oil every year. Some say you can go years and 20,000 miles with no problem. Some say those hubs suck, and you should change them to grease.
I can't figure those things out at all. I'd love for someone to sort the whole thing out. |
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Posts: 167
| full is not good....................it will expand when u travel distances and thats when friction and heat play a part.............i have always ran mine at half...........always good to go all u need is enough to lubricate and keep the bearings wet |
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Location: 31 | seabass - 8/18/2012 10:45 PM
I have a 2008 Ranger trailer with oil hubs as well. I have never been so confused about maintenance in my life. Every person I talk to says something different.
In the Ranger literature that came with the boat it says to change the oil every 3 years. Some guys say you should do the bearings and/or oil every year. Some say you can go years and 20,000 miles with no problem. Some say those hubs suck, and you should change them to grease.
I can't figure those things out at all. I'd love for someone to sort the whole thing out.
I bet you could go the 20,000 miles with no problems. I do mine every year (maybe 10k), for the piece of mind. I mainly do the service just to check the hub tightness, not so much because I think the oil needs to be changed. Like I said, it only takes a couple of hours for all 4 in my garage, and it's completely worth it to me... but to each their own.
The cool hubs only get filled 1/2 way... hope this helps.
Edited by Jerry Newman 8/19/2012 10:09 PM
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Posts: 167
| do not touch them until u have too period.....they are made to actually go around 40,000 miles unless a seal or such is leaking. Ive done a tone of research and dealer phone calls..........usually half is good to go.
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Just re-filled(full) before canada trip, and both hubs are somewhat milky in the sight window now that I'm back home. I've seen this before, after new seals. I have also seen my oil go from milky back to clear after sitting so I think it is only a drop or two off water, but not sure what is causing this. I'll look at the seals again.. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | Hammskie - 7/5/2012 9:50 AM
so I don't blow a seal. Can anyone give me some definitive information on this? Thanks in advance.
here ya go ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUabDrfjATY |
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| Reef Hawg - 8/20/2012 11:28 AM
Just re-filled(full) before canada trip, and both hubs are somewhat milky in the sight window now that I'm back home. I've seen this before, after new seals. I have also seen my oil go from milky back to clear after sitting so I think it is only a drop or two off water, but not sure what is causing this. I'll look at the seals again..
J, that's just a couple drops of water like you think, no worries. |
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