How do I know when to grease?

[jg1891]

I had new hubs and bearings put on my trailer a few months ago. I take the rubber seal off and check them periodically. They are the kind with removable rubber gasket on the outside. Each time I check the grease it still looks the same blueish green color as it did when they were first installed. I have heard if you add too much grease when it is not needed you can blow the seals out, so my question is how do I know when to add grease and how much do I add. Also Is it ok to use a different marine grade grease than was originally used if I can not find the original blueish green stuff? Here is a picture of my hub and bearing. Thanks for any help!!!

[CFISHN]

I have the same on my skiff and had the same on my old rig for close to 20 years !

Their is pressure keeping the water out , I greased every year or long trip.

The excess "old " grease should come out the back and the front hub kit keeps it under pressure , just don't let it run dry " ignore a long time " !

Most any grease will work but you'll be glad later if you use good grease now !


Craig

[Dave]

By the color of it, I think your original grease is LubriMatic Marine Trailer Bearing Grease... good stuff, I use it myself.

Looks like your hub has the same Posi-Lube feature as my current and last trailer. Here's a page from Wesco Trailers that should provide you some helpful information about how to grease the hubs/bearings. GREASE POSI-LUBE HUBS (http://www.wescotrailers.net/hubs.html)

With the posi-lube hub feature, when you add new grease, the grease goes to the back of the hub via the grease zerk channel, while pushing out the old grease to the front of the posi-lube mechanism. I understand that some brands/formulas of grease are not compatible with others, so if you don't want to use the same grease as is currently in the hub, I recommend you decide on the grease you want to use and continue pumping in the new grease until all the old grease comes out... noted by the change in color from the old grease to the new grease.

I recommend pumping new grease (top it off while removing some of the old grease) frequently, whether you think you need to or not. I routinely grease my hubs several times a year (minimum 4 times per year) and always before, during, and after a long pull away from my home area. I typically put 60/80 miles, round trip to and from my usual ramp area. Oh yeah, if you are new to greasing hubs, have a flat head screwdriver and plenty of paper towels handy to scrape and wipe off most of the extra grease from the outside of the hub before reinstalling the rubber boots... anything left on the outside will be slung onto the wheels.

[corl]

Best to do it in warm weather and go slowly to start. High pressure and cold weather can sometimes cause a problem with seals on the inside of the hub. I grease after every trip - freshwater or salt water. Might be a waste of grease but grease is still cheaper than bearings.

[jg1891]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. And thanks for the link Dave. Corl recommended greasing them when the weather is warm. Would it be beneficial to pull the trailer briefly to warm up the grease before pumping in some more? Thanks again!!

[Dave]

Won't have to worry about the temperature there in Wilmington, jg... doesn't get that cold so you can/should grease the trailer, motor, etc., year-round, as you use it. Up in the north country, where it gets below freezing much of the winter, the grease will stiffen up and makes it a little difficult getting the grease to move, and because the boat trailer isn't likely to be used then, no need to continue greasing the bearings during the off-season.

[TrailerGuy]

Once a year remove bearings flush and repack buy hand E-Z Lube zerks are only meant to keep a "maintenance" charge of grease 3 pumps max to much grease will blow you seals and once they're gone water can easily leak in and yes even with grease in water will still rust your bearings also never use a silicone based grease silicone absorbs moister.

[megsar]

Do you know what type of axle and hub assembly you have? If your trailer came with a super lube spindle (made by Tie Down) like mine did you have to jack up the trailer and spin the wheel slowly as you pump in the new grease, the old grease will flowout around the spindle. This is the best design I have ever seen, I have the same type on my fleetwood popup camper.

[rayteagarden]

Maybe the most important advice here is as “megsar” said.

Spin the wheel when pumping in the new grease to avoid blowing out the rear seal.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/rayteagarden/RayCharicture.jpg