I have a late model EZ Loader trailer. It has Knott Waterproof hubs. Did some quick googling and apparently these are "no maintenance" and maker says to not add bearing buddies. Anyone have experience with how these hold up?
Hi guys, I've worked on most all brands of trailers over the last 10 years. The only problem with "Bearing Buddy's" is the bad information you find on their, and other's, website(s). You only need to put 1 to 2 pumps of grease into the Bearing Buddy about every 6 months. This does not create pressure on the grease seal. After about 3 years of doing this you will most likely see the spring in the Bearing Buddy begin to compress. When this begins to happen the cavity inside the hub has become full, and pressure is most definitely beginning to be exerted on the seal. When you first see the spring begin to compress you want to remove the Bearing Buddy, remove the hub, and clean all parts therein, including the bearings. Repack the bearings, using a tool, mine is like a canister, that squeezes fresh grease into, through, and out the Bearing. Apply clean grease to the spindle and the inside of the hub. Put it all back together and begin the 2 pump method all over again. Unfortunately, most sites, including, Bearing Buddy's, tell you to pump grease into the Bearing Buddy until it begins to compress and repeat this process, over and over again. Problem being, as others have mentioned, is that pressure IS being created and the only place for all this excess grease to go is out the back, through the grease seal. And trouble begins. If you do not want to undertake the above cleaning process, find a good marina near you and they should be able to direct you to a reputable trailer service repair shop.Well the hubs your referencing is from Tracker. Are at least there the ones they have been using for many years. I have found with my trailer hubs, that the rubber plug on the end. Will get old and shrink are crack. This will sling grease out and let water in.
So what I do, and a few other guys I know. And a few guys on another site does. Some just buy new plugs every year so they stay tight and good. Or as I do. 2, after putting new grease in with the zerk until old grease is pushed out and new grease is showing. I take the zerk out. And put a Buddy Hub on. Then put just enough grease in it to take the air out, usually just one pump of the gun. This totally keeps the water out and the grease in. You're not putting any force on the seals. Doing this I have gone to seasons before taking the hubs off. And no water in the grease looks brand-new still. Yes it's a little more work but like I say, I don't have to touch them very often. The easier path would be just to make sure those rubber plugs are new every season so that they stay tight and not dry rotted.
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One reason not to use bearing buddies is they pressurize the hub, hub has a rear seal. What happens to the rear seal when you put pressure on the hub ? Ever wonder why you have grease on the back side of your wheels when bearing buddies I mean killers is used. The pressure blows out the seal and wala grease everywhere. That's not the bad part, that seal also keeps water out, YIKES I don't know who invented the easy lube axel with the grease fitting in the end of the axel but that's the cats meow. Its the one that has a little rubber plug in the dust cap that you just pull out and pump grease into the end of the axel which flows out between the bearings and back to the dust cap to tell you its full with out pressure. No place for water because the hub is full of grease and the seal stays intact. Now that's some good engineering right there and no bearing killers needed.
I worked in Manufacturing Maintenance for over 40 years. Anytime I saw "No Maintenance Required" meant I had to add a stock part to my In-House Stock Inventory because when (not if) the part failed, I had to replace it which meant "Downtime" instead of "Scheduled Maintenance" Depending on the age of your trailer, I would schedule at time, and install Bearing Buddies, then you can perform routine maintenance on the bearings.I have a late model EZ Loader trailer. It has Knott Waterproof hubs. Did some quick googling and apparently these are "no maintenance" and maker says to not add bearing buddies. Anyone have experience with how these hold up?
I worked in Manufacturing Maintenance for over 40 years. Anytime I saw "No Maintenance Required" meant I had to add a stock part to my In-House Stock Inventory because when (not if) the part failed, I had to replace it which meant "Downtime" instead of "Scheduled Maintenance" Depending on the age of your trailer, I would schedule at time, and install Bearing Buddies, then you can perform routine maintenance on the bearings.
Given it has been 7 years since you asked about them, they are doing just fine!Thanks. The Knott waterproof hubs are a completely sealed system. I wish I could add bearing buddies. To do that would require swapping out the hubs.
Given it has been 7 years since you asked about them, they are doing just fine!
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