How much is too much?

Dyllan · 07-02-2009, 11:39 PM

Today I did a quick check to make sure everything on the tralior is good to go for the 700 mile trip to FL. from VA.. My question is this???
When I was putting grease in the bearing with a grease gun,, how much do you put in there? I was pumping the grease gun untile I starting seeing grease come out around the zerk fitting where the grease gun was attached. Then cleaned out the buddy bearing cap and put the rubber cap back on......
Is this too much grease?

Is the grease suppose to come out?

How often should I add grease during the trip?

And what do I do if when I check the tires and on of them is very hot to the touch?

Thanks,

Mark

airbrush · 07-03-2009, 03:08 AM

If you have a wheel too hot to touch, you have a problem. It's either a bearing going (gone) bad or could be a sticking or frozen brake, if you have brakes. Either requires immediate attention.

If you have bearing buddies, merely pump them up until you see the spring loaded plate move outward. You should be good to go.

If you haven't pulled your wheels and inspected the bearings in a while, you may want to do it before departing on your trip. It's a lot easier to do in the driveway than on the side of the road, particularly after your wheel passes you on the interstate.

mjkten · 07-03-2009, 07:04 AM

If your tires are very hot to the touch (one significantly more than the other) you may be underinflated, or on a tandem trailer, unevenly loaded. Not something that would typically be a problem on the short hauls most of us make, but 14 hours on the interstate is a different matter.

itwonder · 07-03-2009, 07:25 AM

Yes, that is too much grease and will blow out your inner grease seal. If you removed the entire BB assembly from the hub, that released the pressure and you ate okay to go. Bearing buddy has detailed instructions on how to maintain them on their web site. Add just enough grease to make the the zerk fitting begin to move outward against the spring. You should not need any additional grease on a 700 mile trip.

Billdc · 07-03-2009, 10:34 AM

If I don't have bearing buddies. Do I add grease until it starts to come out if the front of the hub? or have I blown out the seal? ( first time trailer owner )

cemiii · 07-03-2009, 01:57 PM

If you've put too much in (the spring is fully compressed and it is oozing out) just take the BB off (rubber mallet working around tapping)and remove some grease, replace it and be a little more careful while filling. If you don't have BB's, you must have something like it to be pumping grease in?

You may have blown the rear seal or maybe not. Biggest sign of a blown rear is that the wheel will sling out grease onto the inside of the tire. While you have taken off the BB (or other type) is not a bad time to remove the wheel and check the rear seal for leaking or if it is being pushed out or the rubber seal in the middle is pushed out or oozing. It may be fine if you just did it.

A bit of a messy excercise, but worth it for piece of mind. good luck.

Chris

fish_on · 07-03-2009, 02:49 PM

1st off, if you have a rubber fitting/seal that you removed from the dust cap to access the zerk fitting you don't have bearing buddy (that's a good thing). That would mean you have a posi-lube/accu-lube system.

Bearing buddies are a spring loaded dust cap with a VERY small weep hole. The hole is so small that it often clogs and you won't know you have overpacked the hub with grease, which may blow the rear seal.

It sounds as though you have done everything correctly. If you removed the rubber seal/lip from the dust cap and this exposed the zerk fitting you should pump grease to fill the hub cavity. You can remove excess grease from around the rubber lip (be careful that sucker is sharp). In fact you can replace the majority of grease in the entire hub by jacking up the wheel and rotating it slowly while you pump in new grease. You will see the old grease come out and the new grease replace it. I do this every year. This method will purge most of the old grease and let you know if water had entered the hub via the rear seal.

If you have the setup below you can see the new grease (tan) replacing the old grease (gray). The entire dust cap has been removed in this case but you can accomplish the same by only removing the rubber seal.

Dyllan · 07-03-2009, 06:10 PM

Yes,,, I DO NOT HAVE BUDDY BEARINGS,, and the pic above is exactly what I did and saw when I was doing this... Thank you so much... I did find it easier to just take the dust cap off like the pic shows and then just wipe clean and put the dust cap back on.
I was given a complete set of the "AirTight" wheel bearing system. Has anyone used these, I've heard nothing but good things from them and was curious to hear any of your comments on it both PROS and CONS.
Thanks again for your help,, the pic really helped me out,,, thanks sir.

Respectfully,

Mark
Retired Military
21 yr.
NSW

diminished-glutes · 07-03-2009, 07:46 PM

It just goes to show ... a picture is worth a thousand words.

fish_on · 07-04-2009, 05:39 AM

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Air Tight Hubs but some speak highly of them. I perform periodic maintenance and keep a close eye on the hub temp and rear seal.

Air Tight Hubs work on air pressure to determine if air escapes and could allow water in the hub. I guess it's an interesting concept but I really don't see the need. The installation appears to be a bit tedious and requires the use of sealants and other products.

If you are observant, perform your maintenance annually and replace the rear seal with a good quality double lipped spring loaded seals you should do just fine.

Dyllan · 07-04-2009, 06:18 AM

I see you're from Port Orange,,, the reason I'm asking about my traior is because that's where I'm moving to.... Small world... I'd like to offer a fishing trip on my boat and learn from ya. I've been gone from FL. for 21 yrs now... I just retired from the military.

On any account, thanks for your advice...

Mark

fish_on · 07-05-2009, 06:13 AM

Mark,

Feel free to send me a PM. I have a few friends in the area and we try to get out at least once or twice a month. The dog days of summer are here now but we should still be able to manage some decent fish.

Steve