Take a look at your trailer bearings

  • slab-hunter
    Red Wing, MN
    Posts: 329
    January 4, 2011 at 12:38 am #1302093

    OK, maybe this post doesn’t belong in this forum, but after heading to Amery and back yesterday I started noticing how many trucks were pulling trailers with snowmobiles or 4 wheelers on them. Just after I got on the lake, I started hearing a high pitched squeeling noise coming from the trailer, ( I use the trailer on the ice)found out the RH bearings were shot. Damn!
    I braved a catastrophy and decided to head for the hills, got home OK, trailer is in my garage for repairs.
    Just a heads up to the fellow IDO guys, take just a moment to check them; winter, salt, slush, cold weather can all have bad effects on them.

    Don

    icepromk
    sw wi
    Posts: 108
    January 4, 2011 at 1:56 am #922278

    lucky u didnt lose a wheel.

    flatfish
    Rochester, MN
    Posts: 2105
    January 4, 2011 at 2:25 am #922295

    Do bearing buddies work on those snow mobile trailers???
    Seems those little tires and wheels really got the RPM’s going and anything to protect those bearings would be good…

    mark-bruzek
    Two Harbors, MN
    Posts: 3863
    January 4, 2011 at 3:01 am #922311

    Bearing Buddies do NOT get grease to the inside bearing. At best BB’s will allow the outer to get greased. A grease gun will not push grease through the outer bearing thus not getting it to the inside bearing. They do make a nice dust cap though…

    I know a lot of people think they are safe by squirting the zirk a few pumps every now and then but please heed my warning, there is no substitution for proper packing and maintaince. -Mark

    northstar42
    west central Minnesotsa
    Posts: 921
    January 4, 2011 at 10:33 am #922351

    X2 I don’t know of any method of lubing the inside race except to pull the seal and actually open it up.

    Those 8″ rims run about 3000 rpm when you are going down the road and frequently carrying their max load or even over. Also torque the bolts while you are at it. I torque mine every time I head more than 20 miles from home. There is nothing quit like watching one of your tires run ahead of you down the road while you are driving.

    trytoofish
    sw Mn.
    Posts: 418
    January 4, 2011 at 10:50 am #922354

    jack up the tire and spin while you grease, you will get a complete lube, you need to be cautious tho because you can force grease out the inside seal and mess up your brakes if you have them.

    Czech
    Cottage Grove, MN
    Posts: 1574
    January 4, 2011 at 2:41 pm #922421

    OK guys, step by step please? So pull the entire wheel to get to the back bearings, say spring maint or so for average usage? Nice those hubs come prepacked and ready to go, I think I left an old one in the Hinkley casino parking lot on the way to Rainy once.

    Wade Boardman
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 4453
    January 4, 2011 at 3:38 pm #922440

    I have the EZ Lube Spindle on my sled trailer. This seems to be the solution to getting grease to the back bearing and race. EZ Lube Spindle

    However I still disassemble and repack my bearing yearly. despite the EZ Lube Spindle.

    On you standard trailer spindle, you can just take the dust cap off, pull the front bearing out and pack grease into the hub to get it to the back bearing/race. However this is simply an as you go maintenance.

    I would suggest adding grease periodically as well as complete disassembly and repacking on a yearly basis.

    Wade Boardman
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 4453
    January 4, 2011 at 3:41 pm #922443

    Quote:

    Nice those hubs come prepacked and ready to go.


    NEGATIVE. Do not assume prepacked hubs are ready to roll. They only have enough grease in there to cover the bearings and parts. Not nearly enough to safely operate/road use.

    Czech
    Cottage Grove, MN
    Posts: 1574
    January 4, 2011 at 4:00 pm #922451

    Thanks!

    I need to do all the lubes this spring, including the bearings (I somehow lost a buddy last year?). Is it time to go yet? Huh? Is it?

    Czech
    Cottage Grove, MN
    Posts: 1574
    January 4, 2011 at 6:49 pm #922532

    Ya know, now that you mention it, I believe I did hit that new hub with grease when I replaced it, I always have the gun along. (Actually both guns along…). I never was concerned with getting the inside bearing, I guess I always figured the buddies kept enough grease in there to do so. Great info here as usual, thanks again! CZ

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