Thread: "Bearing protectors"

not sure this is such a hot idea on a trailer, if the trailer gets left unmoved the top of the seal will dry and crack a little when you turn it it weeps oil, when was the last time you checked your trailer bearings?

The other down side to oil filled bearings is as they sit at night they get cold any moisture condensing on the seal will slowly migrate into the hub, not so bad if your moving it every day as the seal will get a wipe of oil to keep its integrity as it rotates, but let it sit......

The oil filled hub would be even more a liability if the seal does not have a very good surface on the axle - I note that they suggest smoothing it with 80 grade if you can feel ridges, suggesting they have at least thought about it. But the sealing surface on most axles, unlike most vehicle equivalents, is not heat treated, and is rather soft, and hence unlikely to continue to provide a good sealing surface, even if it is to start with.

John

I have had no end of trouble with them as they are very rarely used properly like Dave has stated they should be used.

I once towed vans and did maintenence on vans for a cirtain company called Lowline who hire and sell vans as well as other things and we would not use them as people were tempted to keep pumping grease into them damaging the seal.

I also did a bearing job for a bus company who's trailers were towed behind the busses from Vic to NT and WA etc and they insisted on having them as they had had some bearing problems in the past.

At each stop the driver would put 2 pumps of grease in each and I told them in the politest way possible that this would have the opposite effect but insisted on it anyway and just outside Adelaide lost a wheel and tried to take us to court.

If you do use them, put a speedy sleeve on the sealing surface so it wont wear and you will know it is flat and do just as Dave said and use them for packing only.

I have never had a failure from hand packing and a normal cap (other than old age or if it sat around for too long) as long as if it sits for more than 6 months you repack before you go on a trip and you make sure they are adjusted correctly which is to finger tight and maybe just enough to get a split pin in any more and the bearing wont self lube and will make a dry groove on the shell which will prematurly wear you bearing and cage.

Hope that is of sime help

They are great for any trailer, except one that is taken offroad as they get knocked off to easily.