Does anyone know what kind of bearing buddy like component MFI uses?

[itsdgm]

Huh, mine are Trailer Buddy units too! Interdasting.

I just looked at mine and realized that I have "Trailer Buddies" by UFP also. My guess would be that they're made by the same manufacture as Bearing Buddies" and labeled Trailer Buddies for UFP. But I'm just basing that on the fact that they look identical.

 

[Unreal Yammi]

The metal cover spoken of is part of the original bearing and the rubber boot cover it all to keep water out. I purchased a couple missing rubber covers from the manufacturer as stated in an earlier post.

 

[Bruce]

I ordered one of the Trailer Buddy 1.980 inchers and 4 of the stainless steel caps. I was able to remove the leaking trailer buddy by bashing it side to side with a hammer. Then I placed a board against the new trailer buddy and hammered it into place. I filled it with grease then topped up the other three. I decided to use the stainless caps. I cleaned the boots and put them in a zip lock bag. I will keep them in the boat in case the caps do not work out. I prefer the caps since they allow me to see the grease level by looking at the axles.

 

[zipper]

Refreshing thread, last fall at the end of the season, I lost a rubber cap on the right rear trailer buddy, It did feel warmer than the others. I made up a cover with some clean room tape, to keep the sand out, and decided to remedy this spring. A couple of week ago, before our first outing of the season, I greased all four. When we got back I noticed that bearing had given up its grease and the blue "gauge" had receeded into the hub. Any insights? This pic is of hub is after a 15 mi. trip.
When I greased it looked like this, the wheel in front of it.

 

[Bruce]

@zipper, either the grease came out through the bearing buddy or out the back side of the bearing housing. You should be able to see it on the back side if it went that way.

 

[zipper]

@Bruce I will check the back side in am, but it looks like it came out through the bearing buddy because the cap I made from clean room tape is full of grease.
Is there a seal to replace or some other quick fix or is this bearing buddy terminal. It was warmer than others, perhaps a sticking brake caliper?

 

[Ronnie]

I recently read in the monthly boat u.s. Pamphlet that losing a bearing buddy cap and / or having the grease ooze out of the bearing buddy are signs that the bearings underneath are over heating. This is consistent with my losing a cap at the end of last season. This season I found the bearings for that wheel were seized / rusted.

Here are some pics.



There are a lot more brands of bearing buddies than I expected. For the mfi trailers with 14" wheels as long as the diameter on the bearing side is 1.980" it should fit. The rubber cover has a 2.33" diameter.

 

[Bruce]

I replaced a leaking bearing buddy in 2017. I touch all my hubs to check for heat at each gas stop on the 1,250 mile tow on each way to the Bimini crossing and have never felt more heat in that hub or excessive heat in any of the hubs.

If the bearing buddy is leaking I would replace it. Northern Tool had them for $13 last year but are up to $18 now https://jetboaters.net/threads/stainless-bearing-buddies-for-13.12144/

 

[Bruce]

Also, I vastly prefer these stainless caps to the rubber boots as they let you see what your grease level is

https://jetboaters.net/threads/mfi-trailers-stainless-caps-for-the-trailer-buddy-grease-caps.6483/

 

[zipper]

@Bruce @Ronnie Thank You Both.

 

[KXCam22]

Aren't you supposed to put the rubber boots over the stainless cap? Thats how my late 2007 mfi has it. You pull off the rubber boot to check grease level and there should be just a bit of blue showing. I have way too many grease guns and greases so i label my hubs with what is inside. Cam.

 

[Bruce]

Aren't you supposed to put the rubber boots over the stainless cap? Thats how my late 2007 mfi has it. You pull off the rubber boot to check grease level and there should be just a bit of blue showing. I have way too many grease guns and greases so i label my hubs with what is inside. Cam.

Interesting question, I am only using the stainless caps and believe them to be an alternative to the rubber boots. I appreciate being able to see the grease level without needing to remove the boots.

 

[Seadeals]

The cap does the same job as the boot (keeps any leaking grease off your wheel and tire). double coverage will not hurt. That end is sealed, so unless it is failing, you would not have a reason for double protection. It will not hurt other than forcing you to remove the boot to see if you have a problem.

I had a rear seal fail on a trip to the lake once and lost most of the grease. With boots on I would not have noticed.

 

[jdonalds]

I lost a bearing grease protector and replaced it with a Bearing Buddy on my 2006 MFI trailer. Sorry I don't know the size.

 

[zipper]

@Bruce I purchased a set (2) bearing buddies with caps to replace the failed one and found the heat issue I was experiencing was due to a stuck caliper, ordering replacement.


Edit: WOW never liked the bummer dude rating much, but that is what I get for posting bad news.