Bearing Problems

helm · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:42 am Post subject: Bearing Problems

I'm hoping someone can solve my bearing problems on our E-Z loader trailer we use for our S2 7.9. The trailer is usually only in freshwater twice a year, once to launch in the Spring then to retrieve the boat in the fall. We use bearing buddies, and fill them before we launch, then I bring the empty trailer back to our house instead of leaving it at the lake with the idea that run home will help work out any water that got into the bearings, then I refill the bearing buddies when I get the trailer home. We never launch with warm bearings. So the problem is last year we replaced all the bearings and seals, and now a year later when I go to repack the bearings they are pitted and rusted already. We are using Lucas marine grease. Its an older galvanized trailer with solid axles and spring suspension, drum surge brakes
All ideas most appreciated
Thanks
Eric

thataway · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:10 am Post subject:

Just for those who do not know--S2 is a sailboat: abut 7.9 meters long. Nice boat! I have gone from the Bearing buddy to the in the spindle lube or shure lube system. With the SureLube the old grease is pushed out the front, as new grease is pumped into the rear. The Bearing buddy only pumps grease into the spring loaded area--and if there are seal leaks, then the water is trapped there.

When I lube the bearings, I pump in grease until there is all new grease coming out of the front--and it may be a bit more wasteful of grease.

In year case, I suspect that the rear seals are going--and that with the buddy bearings you are not really replacing all of the grease. The bearing buddys should not really be using grease--and that leads me to suspect that grease is lost around the seals.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:43 am Post subject:

Eric, I agree with Bob. You've got leaking seals. I got caught with this on a trip to Bend, and ended up changing bearings and seals in a parking lot. My own complacency. I've also come to the conclusion that bearing buddies are not the silver bullet they claim to be. From now on the bearings get packed at the end of each season.

Are you keeping the S2 at Howard Prairie?

helm · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks you guys
We will do seals and bearings
Bob you are right we have the sure lube system on our Float On trailer for our C-Dory its muy bueno
And yes we do keep our S2 ar Howard Prairie
Thanks again
Eric

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:56 pm Post subject:

When you do your bearings, make sure that the spindle surface where the seals ride are not pitted, rusty, or damaged in any way. If that surface is not nearly perfect, you can wire wheel it very carefully, and then run some emery cloth over it to clean up any of the small imperfections. New seals will do you no good if your spindle isn't in nearly perfect shape where the seals ride.

thataway · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:35 pm Post subject:

One of the items I carry in my trailer tool kit is some emery paper (in very fine grits) as well as some emery cloth, which comes in coarser grits. I use the long strip of wet and dry emery paper, as I would use the cloth for polishing surfaces.

journey on · Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 1:34 pm Post subject:

If the seal surface on the spindle is pitted or rough, I'd suggest seal wear sleeves. While smoothing the surface might work, I feel the sleeves are a long term solution. And if the surface is pitted from rust, removing the pits takes a lot of filing.

BTW, on Journey On, I went to Timken bearings, since the Chinese ones were failing: pitted but no rust. So far so good.

Boris