Clear up some confusion for me on EZ-Lube Trailers

[jlh42581]

I have read on more than one response in my search for information that people state you can fill the hub via the zerk and essentially repack the bearings without removing the hub?

That just seems odd to me, wouldnt that blow the rear seal? 

[jlh42581]

Well the tracker dealer just called me as I sent in for some bearing info.

Apparently yes, you CAN just pump away till you get fresh grease coming out the front however, you probably should pull the wheel at minimum once a year to check condition of the bearing. With that said, if your grease is coming out without looking like it has water intrusion you could probably forgo it.

I however, have had a bearing nightmare on the road before. 75 miles from the nearest place to buy a bearing after leaving a remote lake I had to leave the boat, drive to get the bearing and change it out under headlights and if you can avoid that I recommend it.

[Mike Cork]

Great info. Sorry I missed this post the first go around. But, I have pulled boat trailers for 35 years and until the last few when oil baths came out, grease was the only way to go. Many hubs had a spring compressed system and you pumped grease into them until you compressed the spring in the hub. This kept a positive pressure forcing grease to the bearings. We always, once or twice a year, repacked them whether there was evidence of water or not, just to prevent a road side issue.

[DBrooke]

So I just thought about it for 10 secs and decided I'm not gonna try that maybe its just because I like knowing the bearings are full, not just hoping the theory worked, know what I mean.

[jlh42581]

So I just thought about it for 10 secs and decided I'm not gonna try that maybe its just because I like knowing the bearings are full, not just hoping the theory worked, know what I mean.

I will only do it after knowing the condition of the bearing inside. Aka, after pulling it in the spring up until the following spring.

Im sure there are owners out there who know they can do this and have never repacked a bearing, theyll learn the hard way some day. Its not fun when you looking in the rear view and see your assembly wobbling all over the place.

[Mike Cork]

Wheel bearings are the most neglected part of the boat. It's a dirty job for some (I'm a born grease monkey) but I'm with your guys I like to get a visual on greased bearings just to make sure.

[Mike Cork]

On a side note: if you don't have evidence of grease leaving the hub an annual check is usually enough for the average angler. Someone that travels a lot needs it more often.

[DBrooke]

I flash back to a couple months ago when I was stranded in a grocery store parking lot in a not great part of town with a broken cotter pin and how it could have been 100 times worse if that wheel came off on the highway coming home. For the record, a Trokar 5/0 flippin hook made a good cotter pin

[Trailer_Guy]

Ok, just so we don't get any arguments of what I'm about to post here is where I'm coming from. I've been a trailer mechanic for a few years I work on anything from boat trailers to 20k lbs. fifth wheels. I have seen just about any type of bearing failure you can think of from over loading, dirty grease, no grease, moister/rust etc. So the trick with EZ-Lubes not over fill your hub. Your not greasing the hub, your greasing your bearings. The best way I have found to use EZ-Lubes is to remove the dust cap clean any excess grease from inside the dust cap (the dust cap is also a catch can for excess grease so if it's full any excess you pump in will have no were to go but out the seal) once you have the cap off check for any water droplets if you see any call your local trailer mechanic, and flush and repack your bearing once he/she does that they can see if there is any damage to the bearings. If everything looks good begin pumping in grease SLOWLY pumping fast or useing any powered grease guns can over pressurize and blow the seal. (make sure your matching your grease type mixing greases can be very bad usually they will break each other down and thin out till you can literally pour the grease out of the hub. If you need find out who made the axle Dexter, TDE, Axle-tech, Demco, Quality, Alco Ect. most about 98% of trailer manufactures do not build their own axles and install them as complete units so most chances are if call lets say Loadstar Trailers they most likely wont know what type of grease was used btw Loadstar usually uses Reliable or Lippert Components) Pump until you see clean grease reach the outer bearing, and stop wipe away excess. jack up the wheel and give it a spin wipe any excess that comes out replace the dust cap and your done. you should have a professional flush and repack every year or 12k miles Seals do go bad, and do need replaced every once and a while they are normal wear items warranties do not cover them. Remember taking care of bearings in a trailer is the same as changing oil in a car it is routine maintenance that's needs done!     

[jlh42581]

A professional repack the bearings? I hope thats a joke because if you cant even pack a trailer bearing you should probably not own a boat.