How do you install bearing buddies?
Do you need to repack bearings with bearing buddies?
The Bearing Buddy® system maintains a constant pressure of 3 p.s.i. on the grease inside the hub. Since the hub is always full of grease (with proper maintenance) there is no need to repack your bearings.
Can you put bearing buddies on any trailer?
Yes! You can use Bearing Buddies on anything as long as you use the right size and as long as the axles are not EZ Lube axles with the grease fittings on the ends of the spindles. If your outer bearings are L44643, L44649, or L44640 then you can use # BB1980A-SS.
Do bearing buddies really work?
Bearing Buddies do help at keeping water out of the bearings by keeping them under a slight pressure. They don’t however work well at getting new grease to the bearings themselves. If the rear seal is in good condition, it will not allow the new grease to flow through the bearings.
Can you put too much grease in a bearing buddy?
If you pump in too much grease after all voids are filled it will start to squeeze out the front of the bearing buddy because of the built in relief system. As your rear outer seal wears, and it will over time, you will see a ring of grease start to ooze out around the seal and shaft.
How often should I grease bearing buddies?
So how often to grease boat trailer bearings? Every 3,000 to 3500 miles or annually, whichever comes first. Manufacturers recommend to remove old contaminated grease from the hub and repack with new grease instead of just adding more. Unlike regular trailers, boat trailers get submerged in water on regular bases.
How do you know when bearing buddies are full?
The air pockets inside the hub cavity and Bearing Buddy® will work their way out past the piston (or blue ring) on the Bearing Buddy®. You should see the piston extend out or the blue ring past the front of the Bearing Buddy® when it’s properly filled.
Can you over grease trailer wheel bearings?
There’s no such thing as too much grease for bearings! It should be a tight fit to where you would have to use a tool or block of wood to get the grease cap in place. If one side is in further in the hub than the other side of the same cap then eventually it will work itself free.
Can you overfill bearing buddies?
Just don’t overfill. If rear seals are good and you overfill grease will come front of BB. That’s why they sell covers for BB. But seals do wear and the rubber goes bad.
How do you lubricate bearing buddies?
Does bearing buddy grease inner bearing?
Bearing Buddy pumps grease into the center of the hub all the way back to the grease seal. A double lip seal should be used to prevent grease from blowing out the seal when added. When the hub and seals and bearings are first assembled, they should be packed.
How do you measure for bearing buddies?
What is a Bearing Buddy® Bra?
- Remove the dust cap and measure it’s outside diameter.
- Measure the inside diameter of the HUB. We recommend using a caliper or a micrometer to get a precise measurement.
- Using our Size Gauge Card: The card can be used to select a Bearing Buddy® model based on the size of your dust cap.
What size bearing do I have?
You can measure the dimensions of a bearing by using a vernier caliper like the one below or measuring accurately with a ruler. All bearings will have an inner diameter (ID), an outside diameter (OD) and width (W). Bearings are sometimes referenced by these dimensions, in that order: ID x OD x W.
How do I know what size wheel bearing I need?
What size bearing buddy bra do I need?
Expert Reply: Most likely the correct replacement bearing buddy bra that you would need is the part # BB19B which has an outer diameter of 2-1/8 inches. Part # BB17B has an outer diameter of 2 inches, and part # BB23B has an outer diameter of 2.441 inches (this would be the second most likely one for you to use).
How are bearing dust caps measured?
Expert Reply: You can measure either the outer diameter of the part of the dust cap that fits into the hub OR the inner diameter of the hub where the dust cap goes using calipers such as # PTW80157. Calipers are needed because the measurement has to be as accurate as possible.
How do you remove a bearing buddy?
To remove Bearing Buddy®, lay a block of wood against the side of it and strike the wood with a hammer. Place the wood on the opposite side and hit again. Continue this procedure until you ”walk” the Bearing Buddy® out of the hub.
What size are dust caps?
Expert Reply: You would need to measure the inside diameter of the hub opening to determine which cap size is needed. You would want to choose a cap whose outside diameter matches the inside diameter of the hub. Some of the most common sizes are 1.980 inch, 1.986 inch, 2.441 inch and 2.717 inch.