Wheelhouse pivot for tire

[harvey lee]

Was packing the wheel bearing for each hub and thought about pulling the pivot arm on the tub and cleaning it all up.

Anyone ever make a grove or two in that pipe so when you grease the zerk, the grease will go all over the area instead of just by the zerk hole? Figured it would give the entire area grease for a much less chance of the thing freezing up from lack of grease.

Maybe a bit on the overkill side but it would surely keep grease in that entire area much better than just one spot where the zerk is, Also going to install a zerk on the other side for better coverage.

Looking at the winch cable, anyone ever use the synthetic rope that will not rust or corode instead of the steel cable? Alot more in regards to cost versus the cable but low maintaince and it should last alot longer.

[Hawg]

I think the best is to take the pivot off once a year and really gunk it up. Those are a real pain if they rust tight.

[Gus]

I pulled mine this year after one side was starting to get sticky. It's a brand new 2014 house. Maybe 1000 miles. One side was pushing grease out the inside and outside edges of the pivot, the other side was just blowing it out of a weep hole. Not sure why they put that weep hole in there at all. The zerk seemed ok.

After pulling the sticky side it was almost bare on 3/4 of the shaft. Cleaned it up well and greased the heck out of it. It still doesn't want to push grease like the other side does.

I'm also curious if grooving the shaft would have any benefit or not. Either way, I think an annual pull and re-grease are in order.

[harvey lee]

I am also going to put some anti sieze on the shaft after I have it apart, can't hurt and a little added protection sure cannot hurt.

Like most maintaince, I go way overboard but I never have issues either so maybe the overboard is really not.

[Hawg]

I agree with you Harvey. Overboard is easier in the warm than the hassle is worth in the frigid cold.

[harvey lee]

Well, one side is done, took the whole assembly apart, cleaned everything up, added a zerk on the backside of where there was one but on the other end.

Then I used my dremel tool and made a small diagonal cut in the pipe like a v cut, added some anti sieze and then reassembled it all. Then I filled up the grease zerks and now lets see if this baby can sieze up. I always also add grease after every trip.

Have to do the other side and then I should hopefully never sieze up.

I have to believe adding the V for the grease to travel through to the other areas cannot hurt in anay way. Will just keep the entire area well greased.

[Hawg]

Why not just grease it up good by hand while you have it apart, then you know it's done right?

[harvey lee]

I did with anti sieze, one can put all the grease you want on by hand but one will still need to add some throughout the ice season.

As I stated above, a bit of overkill but I will not have one sieze up either. I will fish while some will fight it when it's -30.

[JakeJ_Mn]

My current house has grease grooves and zerks on both sides. I use synthetic marine grease and have on all my houses. I grease the hubs and shafts before every move.

Anti-sieze is good, but not really made for moving parts and in the cold doesn't spread as well as a good grease.(IMO)

I also spray all my winch cables, pulleys, pull pins, and winches with white lithium grease. I have canvas covers over my winches when traveling.

[harvey lee]

I agree the anti sieze will not spred but I put it on for an added protection. I wipe it entirely on the area so no spreading is needed. For guyds who do not remove the swivel area for the wheel, without a groove in the pipe, I do not know how the grease would get to the entire area unless you pull it off and do it by hand. It will sit all summer and if there is bare metal, more than likely it will rust, with anti sieze, no issue there for sure while in storage. One could just grease it all but I put the anti sieze on for added protection, don't want any issues come next fall getting it out of storage ot next winter. Overkill maybe but, no issues in the end.

I also grease the area and then grease the zerks before every trip, only takes a few minutes.

House came with 1 zerk on each side, I put 1 more on each side and then put a diagonal groove on each side also for the grease to spread.

Far as the hubs, I repack once a year on all my trailers and never have any issues and I do not do anything to the hubs till the following year.

I have bearing buddies on my boat trailer but if they fell off, they would not get replaced as they do nothing for the inner bearing.