Guys,
How do you know you’ve put enough grease into the hub? I’m referring to when using a grease gun. Is it a certain amount of pressure or should I go until grease starts squirting out?
I just don’t want to do more harm than good. The trailer is less than a year old, but I’m taking it on a road trip in a month or so. Thanks.
quote:The grease either moves a cover plate out or there is a relief hole drilled into the hub by the manufacturer to indicate the hub is full (or TOO full). 4 big shots of grease would probably be a safe alternative from actual knowledge if you don't get the REAL answer before your trip. :wink:
Originally posted by OccamsRaiserGuys,
How do you know you’ve put enough grease into the hub? I’m referring to when using a grease gun. Is it a certain amount of pressure or should I go until grease starts squirting out?
I just don’t want to do more harm than good. The trailer is less than a year old, but I’m taking it on a road trip in a month or so. Thanks.
Until it is full and sometimes that means the grease pops out.
Carry extra bearings and races for your trip. Also carry the grease gun. Before you go take the boat for a lap on 526 and check the hubs for heat with your hand.
big dog
quote:
Originally posted by Wando Grill…check the hubs for heat with your hand.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Ummm…Don’t.
quote:
quote:Originally posted by Wando Grill...check the hubs for heat with your hand.Ummm…
Don’t
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>That’s what I do too. Every time I stop for gas I feel the hubs. If they are too hot to touch then they are too hot. Normal is fairly warm but not hot enough to hurt your hand. I pull my boat to the Keys every summer and I can still put my hand on the hubs if nothing is wrong. I use the spring loaded Buddy Bearing caps to keep grease packed tight in the bearings.
I also carry 2 spare hubs with the bearings already packed, a grease gun and all necessary tools on a road trip. I’m not sure why they can make car wheel bearings that last 20 years and boat trailers only 2. It’s a real pita to have a locked up wheel bearing on I95 at 0300. Be prepared. Especially if your wife is along
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Lol Larry that last part was more important than anything else you said.
2007 Scout 221 150 Yamaha 4 stroke
whole bunch of wisdom in this thread. thanks
quote:
I'm not sure why they can make car wheel bearings that last 20 years and boat trailers only 2.
Most of us don’t park our cars in the water for 5-10 minutes each weekend.
I have a jon boat that the trailer has the bunk slicks. I can unload or load the boat without having to submerg the hubs. Bearings have been on the trailer for probably 10 years and no problems. Drug the boat to Arkansas in January. The hubs were always cool when we would check them at the gas stop.
218WA Sailfish
The "Penn"sion Plan
Bearing Buddies are wonderful things. Push grease in until the spring loaded portion of the BB moves outward and begins to let grease out the relief port on the BB. The spring loaded mechanism with its relief port won’t let you over pressurize the hub. As you drive, the light spring load on the BB will push grease out the rear seal on the hub. You slowly push old grease out and put new grease in. I check my hubs every time I pull into a parking lot. A quick touch of the hub on the way by lets you know if it is running hot. But, as mentioned, if you have a bearing going bad, the hub can be quite hot.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
quote:
Originally posted by PalmerScott…I check my hubs every time I pull into a parking lot. A quick touch of the hub on the way by lets you know if it is running hot. But, as mentioned, if you have a bearing going bad, the hub can be quite hot.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Quite hot means hot enough to melt metal.
After you touch the hub, go ahead and unscrew the radiator cap and see if the engine water is too hot.
A safe method might be to pour a little water on the hub (or radiator) to see if it produces steam… before you touch it.
quote:
Originally posted by TyOneOnquote:
Originally posted by PalmerScott…I check my hubs every time I pull into a parking lot. A quick touch of the hub on the way by lets you know if it is running hot. But, as mentioned, if you have a bearing going bad, the hub can be quite hot.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Quite hot means hot enough to melt metal.After you touch the hub, go ahead and unscrew the radiator cap and see if the engine water is too hot.
A safe method might be to pour a little water on the hub (or radiator) to see if it produces steam… before you touch it.
Yeah. If they’re smokin’, I wouldn’t touch 'em.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
I lick my finger first and see if the spit sizzles 
Make that first touch very carefully.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
No… just check the hub for heat with your hand.
18’ CC w/ 115 Yami
I’ve got a friend who is somewhat of a fanatic, and somewhat of a wimp with soft hands. He has a fancy infrared thermal thermometer that he points and takes bearing and tire temps with every stop. I just stick my hand on it. I’ve got calluses on top of scars. Gonna have to be real hot to do any damage with a touch.
quote:
Quite hot means hot enough to melt metal.
Man, it takes a couple thousand degrees to melt metal. If it’s that’s hot you’re going to know you have a problem before you even pull off the road [:0] They shouldn’t ever be much warmer than hot bathwater.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Make sure your grease gun has a full clip:smiley:!
NN
07, 23 Key West, Twin 115 Yammys
“Coastal Bound”
quote:You are right. Here are a few other things that are safe to touch. :wink: Does a skunk smell? Just touch it.
Originally posted by Cracker LarryI’ve got a friend who is somewhat of a fanatic, and somewhat of a wimp with soft hands. He has a fancy infrared thermal thermometer that he points and takes bearing and tire temps with every stop. I just stick my hand on it. I’ve got calluses on top of scars. Gonna have to be real hot to do any damage with a touch.
quote:
Quite hot means hot enough to melt metal.
Man, it takes a couple thousand degrees to melt metal. If it’s that’s hot you’re going to know you have a problem before you even pull off the road [:0] They shouldn’t ever be much warmer than hot bathwater.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Does a hooker cost $500? Just touch it.
Does a bullet make a hole when it comes out a barrel? Just touch it.
Does a dog’s poo smell? Just touch it.
Does a stove make heat? Just touch it.
This thread is hilarious!
I still put my hands on hubs to check for heat. If it is too hot to touch you’ll know it before your hand hits it. I don’t open radiator caps though.
OccamsRaiser, I’ve never had a boat trailer that the back side of the rims were not plastered with grease. Boat trailer hubs seals are installed to let excess grease pump out but not let water or contaminants enter.
As said from some get the bearing buddies pump grease in it and the spring pressure will keep constant force on the grease and as you travel some will work out, then add more. no big deal.
Biggest thing on trailer bearings is running the smaller tires. If your trailer tires are half the size of your tow vehicle then when you are running 70mph down the interstate they are running 140mph.
Would it be normal for my hubs with brakes be considerably hotter than the ones without brakes?
28 WA Hydra Sport
Twin 225 4 stoke Yammies
“Fin Loco”
I don’t think so.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
The wheel hubs on the break axel will be heat up more if you are on the brakes a lot or have a pad dragging. Just running down the Interstate they should be about the same temperature!