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Posts: 541
| so how often does everyone change there seals on there hubs and repack with waterproof marine grease? I'm replacing my axle on my rig with a new higher quailty than the one it came with from karavan, I thought I had taken enough care of it but after maybe 3000 miles and being a little over a year old wich is when the warranty expired (go figure on that one) the bearings in the hub went bad and damaged the bearing surfaces of the axle as well. After pulling it apart and seeing the damage I found some water in there that evidently showed up some time not too long ago. So I am wondering if anybody has ever put a 3 lipped seal on the hubs to help keep water out! I find it hard to believe that you are supposed to pull apart your hubs and repack and such after every time in and out of the lake!! |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | I do mine once a year, pull, repack, inspect/replace anything that looks or feels wore.... |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
If the packing job is done correctly with new seals, new grease and the castle nut is put on to the correct tightness, you should be good to go for a season of use. At years end, you might find a few droplets of water in the hubs, because of the multiple dunkings a trailer takes with warm bearings (overly warm is not a good thing here) and a seal that is impossible to make 100% water tight. I have never found much for water in mine, but it can, and will happen. I have never heard of a triple lipped seal as you mention, though... I'd be interested in seeing one...
The safe bet is to replace seals and repack bearings every fall (for those of us in da nort country doncha no..) before you store the boat. This removes any potential of water sitting within the hub, which over time can cause pitting, rust, etc. and a hassle in the spring for cleaning it up.
Many times, especially with bearing "protectors" such as bearing buddies, people over-grease the hub, blowing the seal out in the rear. Not only does it make a mess on your rims, but the seal has then been compromised and water intrusion is inevitable. I am of the opinion the hubs do not need THAT much grease at all... I give it more than I would a bearing on a utility trailer, though, but only enough to get the spring in the bearing buddy to move just a touch...any more than that I feel you run the risk of blowing out the rear seal....which can make for a really bad day on the road...
The other big thing that can cause it are hubs that get too hot. If you stop at a gas station, rest area, etc., always check the hubs for warmth...if they are luke-warm to the touch, you are good. If it is hot to the touch (where you can bear your palm on it, but it'd be hot) it is too warm and is a sign of something wrong (most likely a hub that is too tight). Over tightening your hubs will create heat, and thus when you dunk your trailer, there is a bit of pressure difference between the inner hub and the water pressure acting upon it. Hot hubs cause things to expand (like holes in metal will get larger...i.e. your seals at the back of the hub) and a quick entrance to cooler temps will draw water in.
Steve
Edited by VMS 10/31/2011 9:10 PM
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Posts: 541
| yah Steve I know you can go to Napa and get triple lip seals for things, obvouisly it would have to be the right dimensions. I was thinking of pulling the new ones apart right away and going that route if they are available. I'm not sure what they come with from the factory if they are double lipped or just a single. I think that trailer my rig came with from the factory is'nt even a true boat trailer axle but just the cheapest stuff they can get buy with and it's a regular trailer axle. |
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Posts: 5874
| Yearly repack and mid July checks on my trailer bearings and seals since 1984, the last time I had an issue. It only took one time with bearing buddies, and a bad time on the way to Canada then. Ever since, I service them yearly and check for temp at every gas stop.
If done properly, your hubs should be good for at least one season. On the new EZLube hubs, I just give them a shot every other month during the season to see if any water comes out.
I think the biggest issue with burning up hubs is over-tightening the bearings when they are serviced. Just a little snug eventually turns into hot running bearings, and seal failure. |
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Posts: 78
| I thought they were going to come out with a liquid sealed bearing? It was suppose to end the repacking. Anyone know why they haven't appeared on the market, or am I missing the boat1 |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
There are oil bath hubs on the market currently, and also products to convert your current hubs to oil bath.
The name that sticks in my head on this: Liqualube hubs. I have been toying with doing this conversion, but want to get trailer brakes on the trailer first...
http://www.liqualube.com/
Steve |
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Posts: 541
| I know you can convert the oil bath to grease ones too, I have heard alot of people with oil bath are not happy and they are converting to regular greasable! |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Liqua Lube is not oil bath. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | According to Liqualube...
http://www.liqualube.com/liqualube%20website/faq.htm
Synthetic based lubricant "oil bath method" as they say right in their faq...
Splitting hairs here...
Steve
Edited by VMS 11/2/2011 9:55 PM
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | It's not an oil bath hub as in compared to others on the market. I owned a share of that business and helped develop and market the product. Sold out a couple years after introduction. Always argued with Ken and Dee about the wording in that FAQ, it's not accurate.
First, most oil bath systems are not usually sealed/pressurized the way the LL system is. The LL system implements a cap that contains a diaphragm that expands and contracts as the hot/warm hub hits cold water eliminating the vacuum that draws water into greased systems past the rear seal. Second, the liquid in the system isn't oil at all, it's alcohol based and can take considerable contamination with water and simply make more lubricant.
Most oil bath hubs are much more open to the environment and use petroleum products as lube. The sealed oil system a few trailer builders use fails because of contamination of the lube as the seals wear and leak, and the water doesn't mix with the lube and rusts the race and bearings. LL won't fail, and you can see clearly when water does get in...no panic to fix immediately, either.
The things work really well.
And that's not 'splitting hairs'. Big difference between traditional oil bath hubs and the LL System.
Big difference.
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | And, by the way, you won't find a better bore lube for black powder rifles. They also gelled the stuff, and that lube really rocks if you shoot alot, not sure if it's available anymore. Far more shots between cleaning the bore. |
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Posts: 78
| Sworrall, are you running the liquid lube on your boat? Do you think it is worth changing over to? |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have on many rigs, and it's worth changing over if you don't want to worry about your bearings. Not too hard to install yourself if you are handy with a drill and tap. |
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Posts: 897
| FYI, if you do the bearings yourself don't forget to check your lugs periodically over the next couple hundred miles to make sure they stay tight! Learned that lesson the fun way this spring! |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Had you singing the spoof song of Kenny Rodgers: You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel...
Did it pass you on the road at all and how far did it travel?
Steve |
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Posts: 897
| Fortunately I saw it sticking out a couple inches beyond the fender and was slowing down when it came off. Still going 60 when she broke loose, though! It probably went 200 yards in the other lane before it hit the ditch and bounced through a line of pine trees. Found it, stole the 3 lugs off my spare, put the tire back on and limped the rest of the way to the lake and then home. $40 worth of repair to the hub and some new lugs later I was good to go!
Just lucky there weren't any oncoming cars!!! YIKES! |
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