Vortex Hubs

[marlake]

I bought a new single axle trailer for my 2005 Nitro NX882 in 2020. It came with Vortex hubs and they are advertised as good for 6 years or 100,000 miles with no attention required. Now that sounds great but, after 2 years and about 7500 miles, I couldn't fight my "preventative maintenance" nature any longer and decided to tend to these hubs in the same manner as all the other trailer hubs I've had for over 50 years of owning boats/trailers.
Jacked the trailer up and found a little back and forth play in the left side wheel. I removed the cotter pin and slightly tightened the castle nut which will compensate for the normal wear on the bearings and remove that play.
Next, I pumped the required Lucas marine grease through the zerc fitting until the old blackened grease was pushed out and replaced by the new blue Lucas grease. As usual, a small amount of water was forced out as well which, to me, is another clear indication that these Vortex hubs cannot go unattended for 6 years or 100,000 miles.
The hub on the right side required no tightening  and, when grease was applied, no water was noticed.
I inflated the tires to the proper psi and switched the tires to the opposite sides of the trailer from where they were. Frankly, this is the first time I ever "rotated" my trailer tires position and I have no idea if that does any good or not but I can't imagine that it could cause any harm.
You guys do what you want, of course, but I'm gonna take the time and little effort it takes to give me the peace of mind I need while towing my rig 1500 miles to Florida every winter. Wheel bearing failures in the middle of nowhere, at night, in the rain, half way to your destination are no fun. Ask me how I know. 

[Bud Kennedy]

Good post.  I too have wondered about the claims for the service requirements for vortex hubs.  Good thing you did what you had to do to prevent some real problems while towing.    Good Catch.  Other folks with those hubs should pay attention.

[Capt. BassinLou]

By using the Lucas grease, you basically converted the Vortex hub to a traditional grease hub no?
Don't Vortex hubs use a specific grease thus making them a Vortex hub?

I ask because I also have a Vortex hubs, the videos I have seen where the grease is being replaced, they are using specific Vortex grease. I'm going on 3 years on mine with out any issues.

[marlake]

By using the Lucas grease, you basically converted the Vortex hub to a traditional grease hub no?
Don't Vortex hubs use a specific grease thus making them a Vortex hub?

I ask because I also have a Vortex hub, and the videos I have seen, everyone is using a specific grease. I'm going on 3 years on mine with out issues any issues yet.

My understanding is that you MUST use Lucas Marine Grease specifically for the Vortex warranty to be honored.

[Capt. BassinLou]

By using the Lucas grease, you basically converted the Vortex hub to a traditional grease hub no?
Don't Vortex hubs use a specific grease thus making them a Vortex hub?

I ask because I also have a Vortex hubs, the videos I have seen where the grease is being replaced, they are using specific Vortex grease. I'm going on 3 years on mine with out any issues.

I answered my own questions. Just looked it up, Lucas marine grease is what's being used.

[Capt. BassinLou]

By using the Lucas grease, you basically converted the Vortex hub to a traditional grease hub no?
Don't Vortex hubs use a specific grease thus making them a Vortex hub?

I ask because I also have a Vortex hub, and the videos I have seen, everyone is using a specific grease. I'm going on 3 years on mine with out issues any issues yet.

My understanding is that you MUST use Lucas Marine Grease specifically for the Vortex warranty to be honored.

Yes sir, you are correct. Thank you for sharing this information.

[Oldfart9999]

For the time spent and the cost early preventative is well worth the effort, better than fixing a major problem on the road.
Rodney

[Mike Cork]

I converted all my vortex hubs (4) to regular disc brake grease. I like to inspect my bearings regularly and this is the cheapest way. Costs me 2 dollars a hub for seals each time but the bucket of grease was 10 and I've used it for several repacks.

All my of my hubs started leaking within about 3 years.

[Donald Garner]

I have Vortex Hubs on my Stratos Trailer also.  I really like them.  I don' travel as much as I used too but when I did travel I never had any issues with my trailer hubs.  When I made the long runs to East Texas Lake Sam Rayburn and over to Toledo Bend I always had the hubs and bearings checked by the marine dealership I trade at.   

Although they mention 6yrs 100,000 miles, once a year I have the hubs checked just to make sure.  My marine tech mentioned as a safety thing it was the smart and safe thing to do.  As far as which grease to use I always had Lucas Marine Grease used during the repacking etc.  That's what the factory recommended also. 

[marlake]

By the way, I don't know why I didn't mention it in my original post but, the plastic cap on the vortex hub that I noticed water being forced out by the grease being pumped in was badly cracked at the base of the threads.
I have, just today, emailed Dexter (the vortex supplier) asking about a metal replacement option to the stock plastic caps.
From someone who has suffered from at least 4 roadside breakdowns due to bearing failure, it frankly pisses me off that Dexter would continue to claim this preposterous   "no touch" longevity with the numerous accounts of failures that are all over YouTube and various forums that I visit. This is a classic case of "If it's seems too good to be true----" bs.
Folks who are new to any type of trailering will want to believe the claim and will find themselves broken down alongside the road long before the 6 years or 100,000 miles that are promised. Shame.
FYI-- The bearing failures I suffered turned out to be due to a bent axle causing the wheels to turn on an angle that put unusual and indirect pressure on the wheel bearings thereby causing the premature failure. Once I replaced the axle, the problem disappeared.

[Oldfart9999]

A source of water incursion can be an end cap that leaks, after doing the service work, run a bead of silicone sealer around the lip on the cap, it will seal off any leaks there.
Rodney