How to lube hubs on trailer???

[wakecrashin]

I have an 07 Ramlin Galv trailer and I want to make sure the hubs are lubed beofre I take it on a trip. I dont have the trailer in front of me to look at but was wondering to to lube them. Thanks!!!

[rocco]

RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

Go to Wally-World and get some Bearing Buddies...take off thr Old caps and knock on the buddies and then shoot it the grease...
Hope this helps............

[wakecrashin]

RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

So let me get this straight...

I assume there is a face of the hub that will screw off and then just screw bearing buddies in?

[Rick]

RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

I don't have a Ramlin but my guess is they either have oil bath or Bearing Buddies. The oil bath you do nothing just make sure there is oil visible in the window. If Bearing Buddies There will be a grease fitting behind a cover plate. As you add grease an expandable collar will move out of the housing exposing Black or Blue plastic rings Look them up on Google for a better explanation.

[AirTool]

RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

wakecrashin

You probably have the hubs shown in the attached picture. These kodiaks are not bearing buddies but your spindle probably has a grease fitting tapped in the end of it. You can pump in grease there and the old grease will come out at you. Best if you jack up the wheel and spin it as you grease it. Be prepared for water to come out. If you have water come out, you are own borrowed time. Take the hub off and start from scratch.

I'm not new to bearing stuff but am new to kodiaks, trailer breaks, and greasable spindles. Feel free to watch some of the other threads I have in play right now and maybe some of it will apply to you.

Also, you can change these kodiaks out to spring loaded bearing buddies which is what I am debating. I think, however, that spring loaded buddies is going to promote grease leaking out the back seal into the drum. I'm not sure of that..just a concern.

AirTool

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[wakecrashin]

RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

I just got back from my boat and it actually has a rubber boot over the whole center of the wheel. Try to pull it off but to no avail. Not really quite sure whats under there.

[AirTool]

RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

Can you take a picture and post it? Maybe it is a bra over the spring loaded bearing buddy. A common aftermarket arrangement. Usually the bras are loose enough to just slip right off. They are not made to be water tight...just to keep road debris out.

Please post a picture.

AirTool

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[wakecrashin]

RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

Well pulled of the rubber cap and hit the zerks with grease just till it moved. 1 of them shot out some water when i pushed grease it. Big problem or no?

[AirTool]

Re: RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

Well pulled of the rubber cap and hit the zerks with grease just till it moved. 1 of them shot out some water when i pushed grease it. Big problem or no?

Just till "what" moved? The grease?....the bearing buddy?....what?

Do you have the Kodiak covers with greasable "spindles" or do you have spring-loaded bearing buddies?


AirTool

[wakecrashin]

RE: Re: RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

Til the bearing buddie thing just started to move out towards me. It has a little rubber cap on the outsside I had to take off to find the zerk.

[AirTool]

RE: Re: RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

If you overfill the bearing buddy type to flush the water out....grease is going to ooze out the back seal into your brake drum if you have drum brakes. If you have disc brakes, you'll see the grease and you can just clean up the mess.

If you have drum brakes, you might be able to knock the bearing buddies off...hopefully you have the greasable spindles and can pump a new tube of grease in while you have the trailer jacked up and spin the wheel. With the greasable spindle, the grease will come out of the outer bearing for you to catch in a rag...and not out the rear seal. These hubs will hold nearly an entire tube of grease.

The best thing to do would be to pop the hubs off and clean and repack the bearings.

[bkhallpass]

Re: RE: Re: RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

The best thing to do would be to pop the hubs off and clean and repack the bearings.

Air Tool has it right. You can't pack a bearing by simply shooting grease through a zirc. The bearings must be removed, cleaned, and packed by hand (literally).

A big gob of grease goes into your palm, and you kneed the bearing against the grease in your palm until grease is flowing from one side to the other between every roller in the bearing. You need to use Marine grease as well. When you put the bearings back on, you'll want to change the rear seals, which only cost a couple buck a piece. Once installed, Airtool is correct, it takes darn near a tube of grease to fill the hub cylinder. Filling the cylinder with grease does not pack the bearings, it only ensures that an already packed bearing is "sitting in a bucket of grease" and not a bucket of water. Eventually the grease actually packed into the bearing will wear down, it's just the nature of the beast. When you get the grease hot it liquifies, and then dunking it in water doesn't help. But, If you check your bearing buddys periodically and ensure that you are topped off, you can greatly prolong the life of the bearings and/or the periods between packing. Be sure not to overfill the bearing buddies as you will either blow the back seals out, or at least push grease out the back.

BKH

[wakecrashin]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

Cool guys thanks!

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Re: RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

A big gob of grease goes into your palm, and you kneed the bearing against the grease in your palm until grease is flowing from one side to the other between every roller in the bearing.
BKH

I've never tried that bearing packer tool ...but seen it used in shops. Pretty handy...but heck...there are only four bearings on my axle.

http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1...ng_packer.html

The trick I learned was the big gob of grease in the left palm...but instead of kneading you scrape the bearing along the palm which forces greas in the gaps. As the grease comes out the other side, move to the next spot....but don't let the bearing roll. Keep the rollers and cage in one position relative to the ring.

Next time I pack a bearing....I'll post a picture.

AirTool

[bkhallpass]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: How to lube hubs on trailer???

Better description than mine AirT. For lack of better description, I used the word kneeding. Scrape with the larger side of the bearing and push the grease through to the smaller side. Kind of like scooping bean dip onto a chip.

I've never used a bearing packing tool either, but lord only knows how many bearing my Dad made me pack by hand growing up. It's messy, but not that big of deal. BKH