Greasing trailer bearings

[robert843]

So never done this my boat trailer has the easy grease system with the jerk outside the bearing. How much grease do I add and what kind?

 

[Bruce]

I use store brand marine grease from Walmart. I carry a small grease gun with me on the tow back and forth to Fort Lauderdale. It is long enough that I add grease on the way back or soon after I get home.

 

[Andy S]

So never done this my boat trailer has the easy grease system with the jerk outside the bearing. How much grease do I add and what kind?

I use a good waterproof bearing grease, this is what I like http://www.amazon.com/Green-Grease-203-Waterproof-Temperature/dp/B004Y0788O, I got mine at AutoZone.

As for the amount I never put more than a couple pumps in each bearing. If I don't when the last time the bearings were greased, I put a couple of pumps in then after a few uses of the trailer I put a couple more pumps in and then after that then only once a year I will put in a couple of pumps.

 

[robert843]

Must the trailer be lifted to do this or can I move the trailer slowly on the ground to get the same effect?

 

[Bruce]

Must the trailer be lifted to do this or can I move the trailer slowly on the ground to get the same effect?

I must have linked to the wrong video. You should have some sort of Bearing Buddy like device on your axles. They are spring loaded and push the grease through the bearing. All you have to do is make sure it has grease. You can tell the grease level by looking at the inner piece with the zerk. It will be out when it has grease to push into the bearing.

Here is a short install video where they quickly fill one with grease.

 

[Matt Phillips]

I keep a grease gun in my trailer box as well as some paper towels for checking the bearings. I use a good waterproof grease in it as well.

Good video as it shows the proper amount of grease in the bearing buddies. The type with the blue ring make it easy to check for the proper amount of grease. If you don't have those blue rings, you can still tell when you have enough grease...just watch for when the spring begins to collapse.

On another note, the guy at the trailer shop gave me some good advice a couple of years ago that I always follow now. Essentially water will flow into a space with a negative pressure difference and the bearing buddy keeps positive pressure on your bearings and thus water out of the bearings. The guy at the trailer shop suggested checking the bearing buddies pre-launch after you've towed the boat for a while. the idea is to make sure there's no negative space in there before dunking your hubs into that relatively cold water.

Enjoy!

 

[robert843]

All right just pick my boat up from the shop after getting new tires put on got back to my storage area started to pull the dust caps off and I have the metal filler bigger issue now there is one of the wheels hub rim everything is really hot. Does that sound like a bearing issue or does it sound like the break was stuck on that wheel ?

 

[Scottintexas]

You could Jack it up and see if the wheel spins freely or if it wobbles at all

 

[robert843]

Ugh just frustrating I'm supposed to be towing up to the Lake House in the Morning. I guess I will have to see if I can get it raised up in the morning and see if the wheel spins free. I did back it in to the space with out the brake lock out on but I dought it would heat up that much in a 20 foot back up. All 3 other hubs were cool to the touch.