Wheel bearings on trailers

[kevinnugent59]

Hi guys

Something I read tonight got me thinking about my trailer and things called bearings. I've only had a trailer for a couple of months. I've never heard a wheel bearing "go", or would even know what it did when it did go! What is the sound, and how does one avoid wrecking the bearings? I've got some little contraptions on the wheels I noticed...."bearing buddies" or some such thing (bear with me, it's midnight and the boat's downstairs in the garage! ).

I assume you get a grease gun and lube them up. How often, and is there one grease better than the other. Oh, and is bearing failure inevitable? I'd hate to have something happen on the highway ... that's mostly where I drag my boat around.

Kevin

I dont think bearings going on you will make you stop on the highway, so dont worry too much.
I watched a show about it on tv, but that was bearing replacement, so it is a bit of a waste of time.i would regularly check them and wash in fresh water after each time in the salt.
Sorry but it aint much help is it!

dave

[Ravin]

On your bearing mates / buddies you should keep them full of grease. Pump them full & there is a small hole near the outer edge which will bleed grease when they are full. Once you have done that keep an eye on them & when they get down a little just fill them up again. I strip clean & repack my bearings every six months or so. Its an easy job & can save you having dramas. Any garage would do it for you if you are unsure how to. There are several brands of trailer grease about & most marine shops sell it.

[beefaman]

Kev
Went to the Starlo/bushy night at Sundown Marine last night. The head mechanic there said that the easiest way to use the bearing buddies is to just keep the grease gun in your boot, and everytime you undo the straps and put the bungs in at the boatramp, give the buddies a squirt with grease, that way you back into the water with the most possible protection from saltwater, and then they pack themselves on the way home! Great idea and very logical when you think about it!
Cheers
Darryl

[jimi]

Kevin, I remember as a kid when the bearings on my dads boat trailer went. We were on the highway and the trailer started swerving and smoke was coming from one of the wheel hubs. Turned out to be a seized bearing. It's a bugger of a thing to fix. Not many people carry spare bearings (luckily we did) and if the bearing has seized if often does other damage to the axle and wheel.

Bearing buddies are supposed to fix a lot of problems by keeping the bearings properly lubed and preventing saltwater getting in. What the other guys have said about keeping them topped up matches what I've heard too.

The only bad thing I've heard about bearing buddies is they sometimes get stolen at boat ramps by low lifes. That leaves your bearings totally exposed and would make getting home quite difficult.

James.

[DAWS]

The best way to check your wheel bearings is after you have droped your boat in the water at the ramp.This way there is no weight on the trailer.Grap the tyre push it back and forward to see if there is any movement on the axle. If there is it may be that your bearings are going or you just have to tighten the large nut the cap fits over. Just pull out the large split pin and tightenbut make sure you replace the old split pin for a new one.
Once you tighten it up if there is still movement replace the bearings and keep them full of grease.I,ve seen heaps of tyres come of boat trailer not a pretty sight and especially if your on your way to go fishing.

Daws

[blackwater]

Kevin,
A lot of the time a bearing will start to whistle or squeal when it is about to let go. Doesn't help though when your doing a hundred k's down the highway. If a bearing does go on you DON'T keep driving. You will end up welding the bearing to the shaft or worse, loosing the wheel off the trailer. Next time you take the boat on a trip when you stop put your hand on the area around the bearing and it should feel warm. This will give you some idea of what the bearing should feel like normally. Each time you stop for fuel or dunny break just feel the bearing and if it is getting very hot it could mean there is something wrong. Possibly lack of grease but it shouldn't be if you do what the other blokes have already said. Check the bearing by trying to rock the tyre in line with the axle. If something does feel wrong at least your stopped and not driving at a hundred k's. All bearings will eventually die but if you take care of them with regular greasing and give them a good clean every so often(depends on amount of use) you will see any damage/wear before you end up with major drama's.

Brian

[Dave W]

I've got a bit of a story about bearings...

I've had my boat trailer for around 6 or so years, and the first time I changed the bearings was about 6 weeks ago (yes, I'm a slack arse bas#$rd) before I took the boat Melbourne.

One of the bearings fell apart in my hand, but the other one had somehow sealed itself (there was a definite hiss when I cracked the cover) and was in perfect condition.

I have done over 30,000 klms on these bearings, probably more, and even though my boat is only a lightweight, I'm pretty happy with that

Having said all that, I will be changing them on a yearly basis from now on, the one that fell apart really put the fear of God into me

Cheers,

[peter bear]

kev depends how far you are from the ramp ,if there is surfishent time to get the bearings hot then when you back the boat into the cold water the hot bearing contract and draw cold saltwater into the bearing if you don't have surfishent [good spelling] grease in the hubs.
peter.

[bubble]

Kevin, I was an Automotive Engineer in a past life and if a wheel bearing is about to let go or is worn it will 'rumble'. The noise is very distinct and can be usually heard over the sound of the towing vehicle. You can check this by jacking up the wheel with the car jack and spinning as fast as you can. If it 'rumbles' get them checked.
Unless you are proficient mechanically I would suggest that every time you get the outboard serviced you get the bearings checked. If maintained properly they should last the life of the trailer. Just one more thing on packing the bearings with grease, do not overfill as this can cause overheating. And when tightening the nut that holds the bearing in do not over-tighten, nip up with an adjustable spanner then back off one flat.

Hope this helps and if you want any more info PM me.

Julian.

My first trailer bearings only lasted 2 months, this was due to a slack trailer manufacturer (Cheap Chinese bearings, barely any grease and no bearing buddies)
Just purchased a new Dunbier trailer.
First thing I did was check the bearings, they did have grease, but not enough to provide a seal against water intrusion.
I fitted bearing buddies.
Something to consider!
A friend put me onto this, He has an ocean going boat with dual axles.
Every time before launching while at the ramp going thru his pre launch proceedure he gives each bearing a couple of squirts, the reasoning is that during travel to the ramp the bearings heat up due to normal operation and tyre heat buildup.
As soon as the hubs get into the water they cool and contract, this causes a suction assisting water ingress.
A similar thing happens to those people who use mobile car kits near the aircon outlet and then get out of the car into a humid environment. A cool dry phone suddenly expands drawing in warm moist air, resulting in corrosion.

[Ghoti]

Kevin,

Bearings are cheap, so is grease. I change mine every 12 months because I reckon that's easier than trying to calm down the wife & kids and fit a replacement bearing on the side of the road

Armed with new bearings, full bearing buddies and a grese gun in the boot I feel confident every time I take to the road.

Cheers,
Scott