Trailer Maint.

[DCKD]

Hey guys.....just wondering how often I should be checking the bearings and what not on my trailer? How do I tell if they are bad? I am getting some pretty serious squeaking but my trailer is brand new this season. Any thoughts?

Matt

 

[kustomkarl]

Depending on how often it hits the water, and if it is salt water or fresh. I check my bearings on my trailer 3 times a use season. I pull my Speedster off my lift every month to do a super cleaning, waxing, and service, year round. I check the bearings every 6th dip in the water. At minimum you should fill the bearing buddies after every 3 dips to be sure it has a amply supply of grease. If the grease looks Milly color re-pack them before you do damage.

Karl

 

[DCKD]

neglect!!

I guess i have been neglecting my trailer. I baby my seadoo but the poor trailer hasn't even been looked at. I have prob put the trailer in the water 100+ times and never added any grease! Are my bearings most likely shot?

Thanks!

Matt

 

[kustomkarl]

Matt, I would pull the bearing caps off and give them a look. If the grease is milky color it has water in it. Jack up the trailer, remove the cotter pin, remove the castle nut and washer behind it, and slide out the bearing and hub.
If the rear seal is showings signs of leaking or seeping grease out replace the rear seal. Then clean the bearings up and feel to see if the bearings are rough feeling. If rough replace...They should be smooth rolling. If roll real smooth than just repack the bearings and fill the hub with grease and re-install the reverse. I use a bearing buddy instead of just a cap to fill grease after a couple dunkings.
NOTE: be sure to use water proof grease/ or salt water proof grease, it lasts longer.

Karl

 

[DCKD]

Ok great. Thanks for the tip and the very quick response!

 

[kustomkarl]

I am a Draw-Tite Hitch dealer for like 30 years now.

Karl

 

[Nu2PWC]

Packing bearings

Not everybody knows how to pack bearings and i know this after seeing ruined bearings and having someone tell me "I don't know what happened, i checked and packed them not very long ago." I've never used bearing buddies and maybe they take care of packing them but I always pack them by hand. To do so, get a good amount of grease in the palm of one hand and with the bearing in the other, start working grease into the bearing from the large gap between the inner race and the retaining ring until it is forced out the other side. I usually start at the edge of the glob of grease and work my way around the bearing. Its a messy job and if you have a bearing packer its not as bad but smearing some grease around the outside and calling it good is not going to cut it. :banghead:

 

[kustomkarl]

The bearing need to be packed properly....

Not everybody knows how to pack bearings and i know this after seeing ruined bearings and having someone tell me "I don't know what happened, i checked and packed them not very long ago." I've never used bearing buddies and maybe they take care of packing them but I always pack them by hand. To do so, get a good amount of grease in the palm of one hand and with the bearing in the other, start working grease into the bearing from the large gap between the inner race and the retaining ring until it is forced out the other side. I usually start at the edge of the glob of grease and work my way around the bearing. Its a messy job and if you have a bearing packer its not as bad but smearing some grease around the outside and calling it good is not going to cut it. :banghead:

:agree: Nice add on if you didn't know how to pack the bearings...

 

[hectechnology]

You can also use a vacuum sealer to pack bearings. Its not near as messy and packs just as well as hand packing. Just put some grease and the bearing in the bag, turn on the vacuum sealer. The vacuum in bag forces the grease into the bearing.

 

[DCKD]

Ok great. Thanks guys! I will let you know how it goes.

Matt

 

[DCKD]

So I finally got around to checking my bearings today. One was great and the other had leaked! I took it all apart, repacked, installed bearing buddies and pumped those suckers full of grease!!! Had never done bearings before so I watched a how-to video on youtube....it was great! Thanks for all your help guys!

Matt