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Author	Topic:   Trailer/Bearing buddy question ?
ghost	posted 02-04-2002 06:57 PM ET (US)      Hello all, I have a Caulkins galvy trailer with bearing buddy attachment on the hubs. I have had the trailer for 6years,saltwater use. I use white marine grease regularly on them. My question is. Do I ever need to rip the bearings out to check them for wear ? Or should it be O.K. because of regular greasing ? Kind of a dumb question. But really don't want to rip things apart if it is not needed. Thanks
kamml	posted 02-04-2002 07:53 PM ET (US)             I do a complete cleaning every year prior to first use. It is not a difficult job though a little messy. But a little messy in your driveway beats a little messy on the roadside by a factor of ten, and thats not considering the weather at point of failure. Ken
ghost	posted 02-04-2002 09:46 PM ET (US)          Thanks, I just found there web site also. http://www.bearingbuddy.com/faqs.htm
triblet	posted 02-04-2002 10:14 PM ET (US)             Is that white marine grease made for bearings? I'd use a marine grade bearing grease. OMC has one, so does Lubrimatic. Chuck
ghost	posted 02-05-2002 08:54 AM ET (US)          Yes, white marine grease. I don't know the difference vs. the blueish marine grade grease. Thanks...
Dr T	posted 02-05-2002 10:00 AM ET (US)             The difference between the types of grease has to do with the compatibility of the chemical basis of the various greases. Basically, white grease is almost universally compatible with every thing else. There is quite a bit of information in the "Wheel Falls Off Trailer" thread on this.
Dr T	posted 02-05-2002 10:03 AM ET (US)             See [urlcontinuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000406.html[/url]
Dr T	posted 02-05-2002 10:04 AM ET (US)             See http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000406.html
hauptjm	posted 02-05-2002 11:06 AM ET (US)          Bearing Buddies are great, but don't let them lull you into a disaster. I wouldn't own a trailer without them, however I rebuild my bearings every 5-6k miles. It's cheap, and the single best preventative maintenance you can do to a trailer. My .02.
lhg	posted 02-05-2002 03:41 PM ET (US)          I would not use that white marine grease. I tried it, and can't believe it works as well. I believe the waterproof blue-gray version is what you want to use.
Dick	posted 02-05-2002 03:47 PM ET (US)             I don't think there is anything better than Lubrimatic's wheel bearing grease. I have used it for years on my trailers as well as seeing it used in most of the dealerships I have worked at.
ghost	posted 02-06-2002 12:53 PM ET (US)          Thanks all for your info/advise. I will pull'em apart check'em out.....
Duncan	posted 02-06-2002 01:17 PM ET (US)             Jack the trailer up. Spin the wheel. If it doesn't stick or creak or clunk like the bearings are loosened in the races, screw it!.....just fill 'em up with the grease gun and take off. Yippeeeee!
dauntlass 18	posted 02-06-2002 07:28 PM ET (US)             I clean and repack wheel bers once a year put about 2000mi per year on trailer.I hand pack bers. to get grease between rollers and races and relube buddy bers three to four times over summer.I use automotive wheel ber grease.
Guts	posted 02-07-2002 08:51 AM ET (US)             Same as Duncan, after I lanch,and park. I put my hand on the top of the wheel and with the other hand move the trailer side to side. if there is any (play) in the bearings it is easy to tell. give it a try, it works for me. Guts

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