Bearing Buddy Came Off

[Can'tFishEnuf]

I just got home from fishing and noticed one of my Bearing Buddies came off somewhere between home and the lake. I noticed the grease seemed very wet, so it must have happened on the way to the lake. Anyone know why this would come off? When I re-pack the bearings they take quite a wacking with the mallet to get them off. I've never had this happen before.

[stick]

My dad always says that bearing buddies are great for greasing, but better to act as an indication of bearing problems. When the bearing hub heats up, it expands and the buddy will often get thrown...one of the earliest signs of trouble. So, you may have the start to some bearing problems.

Another thought is if they weren't tapped in completely and were out of balance and were thrown due to the rotation??

[SkunkedAgain]

The first time that I repacked my bearings, both Bearing Buddies got bucked off on my way to/from the lake. I bought new ones and tossed them on and made sure to tap them into place after towing for a bit. I figured that they were like tires, where you need to re-tighten the lugs after 50-100 miles of driving.

[Kodiak]

never stick your finger in one to rub out some old grease...i found out the hard way...slashed my finger.

[pascooter94]

yep did that too!!!!!!!!!!!

[Can'tFishEnuf]

I am going to take it all apart and give it a once over. I just repacked them, this was only the 3rd trip since then. I better be safe than sorry and give them the once over.

[boatfixer]

I've always used a chisel to slightly marr, or burr, the surface that gets pounded in to the hub. Acts like knurling and so far have never lost one out of the many bearing jobs if done.

[Supercrew]

I am going to take it all apart and give it a once over. I just repacked them, this was only the 3rd trip since then. I better be safe than sorry and give them the once over.

I've had this happen twice and this was after years of service. True about having to beat them off the hub and I asked how they could come off on their own, but after you get them back together and if you use the bearing bra too, run some electrical tape around the bearing bra the buddie and the hub. Also just like your safty check of the running lights carry a hammer and a chunk of 2 x 4 and give them a couple of taps to make sure they are well seated. I wonder what the guy behind you thought it was that hit him or went bouncing by.... they might have even passed you up.

[Hookmaster]

This happened to me two years ago. Went up to my friend's cabin for opener, probably 360 miles total. I noticed the bearing buddy backing out a bit when I got home. Knocked it back in. Headed up to Deer River the next weekend. Checked it after 30 miles and it was off. Put a cap on it and it threw that in 15 miles. Stopped and bought another set of bearing buddies. Jacked up the trailer and pulled the cotter pin. I tightened the spindle nut about 1/4 turn. It's been fine ever since. I still can't understand why it didn't tighten the first time and why it didn't throw it on the first trip. I've only been repacking bearings for 20 years and never have had no issues in the past.

[raymondk]

Last year at a public landing I was loading my boat it was a real shallow lake so i had my waders on I had to pull my boat on the trailer i see something in the water i reached down and it was a bearing buddy i dug around some more and there was 2 more the dock had the plastic wheels that stick out a little bit my guess people were hitting it just right s tearing the bearing buddys off i do have 3 spares now it is something to watch out for.