Spare wheel bearings

[Kris]

Another thread got me thinking.
Back in the Day I put on a lot of miles towing my boat.  I always carried two sets of pre-packed bearings with race, seal and cotter pin.   I used two of those short Pringles Chips snack cans to hold them, packed with grease. Each can in a plastic bag to keep leakage to a minimum. I carried two sets for my tandem axle along with the tools necessary to change them out.  I guess I would have carried one set with a single axle.  Never needed them but I was prepared if I did.

[Thornback]

What is the first symptom you notice that a trailer wheel bearing is going bad or needs to be replaced? Naturally if the wheel started squealing, froze, or the grease caught fire it would be obvious. Do you feel the temperature of the bearing after a long trip? I would think as long as the bearings were kept greased they would never be a problem.

[Kris]

Although it is two metal surfaces running against each other I think the most damaging is contamination.  The rubber seal I believe is the weakest link.  They last a long time but eventually water will seep into the hub and without periodic checking there could be a problem.
For example, I just replaced the bearings and seals in the trailer for the Ouachita aluminum boat I was given.  It is a 1973 Cox Trailer but I have no idea when they were last cleaned and repacked or replaced.
There was a little water in the hubs, several different color greases were used but they were in ok shape.  No visible flaking, bluing or wear on the races.  I replaced them anyway so I can start with a known serviced time.  All old grease removed, new parts and a good quality Marine Grease were used  Cleaned the inside and outside of the wheels to remove some leakage, main reason I replaced them.  Now we will give them a shot of grease once in awhile and pull the cap to  check them periodically.  These don't have the fancy spring loaded cap it has Wondercaps.  Just a zerk fitting in a regular dust cap which might get replaced later.  The fancy caps, whose name escapes me at he moment, allow you to have positive pressure in the hub to help keep out water.

[Mike Cork]

Great tip Kris Love the pringles can idea 

Thornback, when I'm on the road I check the temp of my hubs every time I stop. Just takes a second. Even in the hottest part of the year you should be able to hold your hand on the hub. If you have trailer brakes and just went through several stop and goes the hub will be warmer but still shouldn't burn you.

[Oldfart9999]

Great tip Kris Love the pringles can idea 

Thornback, when I'm on the road I check the temp of my hubs every time I stop. Just takes a second. Even in the hottest part of the year you should be able to hold your hand on the hub. If you have trailer brakes and just went through several stop and goes the hub will be warmer but still shouldn't burn you.

Yep, Mike is correct. I prefer the zerk in the end of the axle over Bearing Buddies, I found it's possible to ruin the seals with Bearing Buddies, using the axle zerk and turning the wheel lets you change all the old grease out with fresh. Seals do wear and should be changed every so often, the other area of problem is the axle itself. If the bearings aren't maintained a groove or pitting can happen which lets water  in, this can be repaired with Speedi Sleeves, a little pricey and need an installation tool but work very well and with the tool are easy to use. I had a trailer that needed them, that's how I know they work.
Rodney

[Kris]

Thanks Mike, Rodney and Thornback,
The axle with the grease fitting in the middle is a neat deal.  I used to have them on my Gambler's trailer.  This trailer is too old to have them but it does have a neat option that I didn't know until I serviced the hubs.  This actually has two zerk fittings, one on the dust cap and one on the rear bearing area.  The one in the back is between the seal and inner bearing.  Gonna try and give it a shot of grease once in awhile also.

[Oldfart9999]

Thanks Mike, Rodney and Thornback,
The axle with the grease fitting in the middle is a neat deal.  I used to have them on my Gambler's trailer.  This trailer is too old to have them but it does have a neat option that I didn't know until I serviced the hubs.  This actually has two zerk fittings, one on the dust cap and one on the rear bearing area.  The one in the back is between the seal and inner bearing.  Gonna try and give it a shot of grease once in awhile also.

Pull the dust cap and try it, I think it would work like an EZ-LUBE axle and clear the old grease out.
Rodney

[Kris]

Pull the dust cap and try it, I think it would work like an EZ-LUBE axle and clear the old grease out.
Rodney

This zerk fitting is on the back of the hub and might work like the ones on the axle.  All new bearings and seals so I will probably wait until the next service interval to try it.

[Thornback]

Thornback, when I'm on the road I check the temp of my hubs every time I stop. Just takes a second. Even in the hottest part of the year you should be able to hold your hand on the hub. If you have trailer brakes and just went through several stop and goes the hub will be warmer but still shouldn't burn you.

Good idea. I just gave my trailer bearings a shot of grease yesterday and tomorrow I'll be driving about 40 miles to do some fishing so I'll try to remember to feel the temp of the bearings when I stop. I don't have trailer brakes.
Question: My trailer wheels have the rubber cups covering a center zerk fitting, so is there also a rubber seal on the inner side of the bearings?

[Kris]

That fitting under the rubber plug is drilled through the axle and comes up behind the inner bearing in front of the seal.  That allows you to pump grease in that end and force a lot of old grease out.  I used to remove the cap and catch the old grease in a bowl or other container.  Using that to put a shot of grease in will go through the inner bearing.  If nothing comes out the rubber plug hole there is no new grease to the outer bearing.  This is not a problem if you keep checking the hub temp.  Those drilled axles are a really good deal.

[Thornback]

After driving 40 miles on Thursday I checked my trailer wheel bearings and they were cool. Thanks to all who contributed to this OP.