Someone school me on this. Wondering how much grease is enough and how often to do it.

Coach,

If you don't already have them, put Bearing Buddy on your trailer. They are not expensive and will prevent wheel bearing failer from the trailer being in and out of water. They're pressurized and are a permanent fix. Checking the amount of grease needed is simple with them. Just add grease until the pressure plate moves out. I put them on last year after my wheel bearings failed twice. They work great.

You can get information from them at bearingbuddy.com.

I like to check and regrease the trailer hubs as soon as I get home from a trip. This way, the bearings will be warmed up and you'll be ready for that early morning start next time out. I'm assuming you already have bearing buddys on your rig.

If you don't have bearing buddies, the when you pull the bearings and clean them, put a blob of grease in the palm of your hand and hold the brearing with a finger thru the axle hole and push the bearing into the grease and let it slide down your palm this will force the grease into the bearings between the rollers. Do this until you see grease coming from the top of the bearings. When you see grease coming out the slightly turn the bearing. Repeat this until you have grease coming from all the way around the top.

Coach I fully agree with David bearing buddies are worth there weight in gold. That is just 1 more thing I dont worry about. The spring keeps pressure on the grease and that helps keep the water out.

you got a brand-new axle on that trailer coach.. you shouldnt have to worry at all about the bearings going out as long as you take care of them..when I had the boat I put some grease in every time. just a couple of pumps.

Hey wan2fish,
Does the trailer have the bearing buddies they are mentioning? I have no idea what to look for to know the answer to that one.

no bearing buddies on it..I have never used them..I do know that the axle is only about 6-9 months old now. I am pretty sure those caps keep it air tight and it doesnt use much grease.

Water seems to get into "air tight" things and installing bearing buddies is just a safe means to protect your investment. They are pretty cheap at wal mart and install very easy, just replace the dust caps that are on the hubs right now. Sure beats the heck out of replacing the bearings every 2-3 years and the time involved in proper maint. is cut to about 5 mins at the most.

I have bearing buddies on my trailer, and in 13 years have replaced the bearings and seal once. The only reason I replaced them was due to the seals leaking from putting too much grease into the bearing buddies. They only need grease when the spring plunger has almost reached the bottom and then only enough to bring the plunger back out to the internal snap ring. Too much grease will ruin the seals. I add grease to them about once a year and I pull the boat all over south Texas and to Missouri and Tennessee.

Thanks for all of the advice men. I look into it more with some knowledge now.

Hey wan2fish,

Loving the boat by the way.

Coach,

I had Countryside Trailers @ I-45 and Spring Stuebner rework the berings on my 8 year old trailer. They did a great job for around $200.

Do you ever fish Conroe?

coach I have sent you an e-mail

Scott

Purchase the bearing buddies. They are easy to install and worth the money.

Coach,buy Bearing Buddy's if you want to have grease throw all over your wheel,tire,and trailer.I have pulled boats for over 30yrs.,and Bearing Buddy's are the worst I have ever used.I have been using Red Eye for app. 5yrs.,and they are great.You add marine wheel bearing grease until you see the orange ring.Have never had one drop of grease throw out.You don't have to use a bra on the Red Eye like you do on the Bearing Buddy.I add grease before I leave the house and when I pulled the boat out of the water,this is to get all the water out before you head home.Also,every 1000 miles I pull the wheels off,clean the bearing,wipe off all the grease and pack with fresh grease.Before anyone says this all is not necessary,try going down I-35 at 70mph,pulling a 5000lbs. boat on a double axle trailer and have a wheel bearing lock-up. You can get Red Eye Bearings at Academy for less than 20.00 a pair.