I am an ***** that needs help!

[cliffy]

Let me start by saying that I have no skills when it comes to tools or working on anything mechanical. It always takes me twice as long to fix something compared to a normal person…but I like to do things myself so I give it a try. So please keep that in mind when you read the following:

I am planning a trip to Lake Vermillion next week…so I thought this would be a good time to check the bearings/hubs on my boat trailer. This trailer is new to me…just bought it this past spring. The previous owner didn’t use it much…just basically to put the boat in at the start of the season and to pull it out at the end of the season.

I took both hubs off and replaced one set of bearings due to a little evidence of water/rust. I noticed both hubs were basically filled with grease. When I replaced the bearings in the one hub, I packed the bearing really well with grease and throw some back into the hub…but not nearly as much as I had found when I first removed it. Is that good enough? Both tires spin freely with no play or noise.

Also, I noticed that the castle nut was not secured with a normal “cotter pin” but with a rather thick straight pin. Both pins were destroyed during the removal process. I replaced them with cotter pins that seem to have done the trick. When I pumped up the zerk (sp?) with the grease gun, I noticed the grease came out of the cotter pin hole…..and this made me curious of how and where the grease had gone before when the pin hole was filled with the thick straight pin. Does this sound right?

Last question! I bought some Bearing Buddies to replace the old covers..which were just hard plastic caps with a rubber plug. Do I need to remove the zerk from the shaft before placing the Bearing Buddies or do the just fit right over the top….or is that even possible?

Thanks for your help.

[cliffy]

The zerk or grease fitting is not on the hub thingy....its directly on the end of the shaft....or the metal rod that runs out from the trailer frame that you slide the hub/tire onto. I assume that is called a shaft. To me the hub is the round thingy that the tires bolt onto. I hope this is clear....

[ChuckN]

Cliffy,
I'm guessing you have a Karavan trailer?

I had a Karavan trailer that I converted the rubber cap zerk to buddy bearings. It was years ago and I cannot recall what the process was. Either way, you should only have one grease zerk per side. Buddy Bearings are great and should fit right into the hub, but you must have the right size...there are a few different sizes. I use a piece of 2x4 on the buddies and a hammer to pound it into the hub.

Yes, cotter pins are necessary to hold the hub/spindle parts together.

The "metal rod" on the axle is your spindle. I can't recall ever seeing a zerk on the spindle before...

[cliffy]

Yes Chuck your right, its a Karavan trailer. There is a zert on the very end of the spindle.

There is a zert, then the threads start, then the cotter pin hole and then the castle nut. When I pump grease into the zert, it comes out the cotter pin hole. This started to make me wonder how grease gets into the hub as it has to work past the castle nut and bearing.

I am assuming the Bearing Buddies "force" the grease past the castle nut and bearing into the center of the hub..and back to the rear bearing.

I was puzzled by the fact the bearing buddies had a zerk and if I put them on...the Buddy Bearing zerk would be end to end with the zert on the spindle. So, that go me to thinking I would have to remove the zert on the spindle to get the bearing buddy on.

Where are the zerts located on most trailers? On the hub? I checked and I dont have any zerts on the hub...just the spindle.

[ChuckN]

Ok, now it's coming back to me..
Yep, that Karavan was kinda goofy. The zerk on the spindle must be removed for the buddy bearing to go on. The buddy bearing zerk and the zerk on your trailer ultimately do the same thing.... so you must remove the factory zerk on the spindle for the buddy.

The reason I changed to Buddy Bearings was because I think they do a better job at lubing and they don't create the mess that factory rubber cap thingamajobby did to my wheels.

Pack that hub/spindle full of grease. Before you install the buddy bearing pack the inside full of grease. Then tap that new buddy bearing in and take a grease gun and pump grease until the spring loaded plate on the buddy starts moving towards you.

"I am assuming the Bearing Buddies "force" the grease past the castle nut and bearing into the center of the hub..and back to the rear bearing"
Correct, this is a spring loaded to constantly keeps pressure and push the grease in the bearings.

P.S. Don't over tighten the castle nut. I usually torque it a tad to seat the bearings and whatnot, and then back off the nut so it is somewhat loose. The cotter pin holds it in place.

Good luck!

[cliffy]

Thanks Chuck!

It looks like I did do everything about right...maybe not enough grease in the hub but I can add some more.

How do you remove the other zert? Does it twist out, pull off or do I have to cut it off?

I am still curious about those pins I removed...the ones that I replaced with the cotter pins. The original pins were so thick and tight that I didn’t understand how the grease could pass by them. Strange.

Oh yeah, as far as the castle nut goes. I was careful not to over do it. just tight enough that I can loosen them by hand...but tight enough there is no play in the wheel.

[cheesehead]

Most zerk fittings should un-screw but some are press fit and would need to be pulled out or cutt off. I would not use a saw or grinder on the hubs as you will get grit into your bearings and the'll be junk in a couple of miles. If you can't un-screw teold zerk fittings I would use a cold chisel to knock them off.

[Surface Tension]

" When I pumped up the zerk (sp?) with the grease gun, I noticed the grease came out of the cotter pin hole…"
Sounds like you have a grease fitting on the hub, is this correct?

"Do I need to remove the zerk from the shaft before placing the Bearing Buddies or do the just fit right over the top….or is that even possible?"
I'm not familiar with any spindles that have a grease fitting on them. Where is this fitting located?