harbor freight and bearing buddies

[Wizard765]

I would really like to use bearing buddies on my harbor freight trailer. Mostly for peace of mind. BUT I cannot find the right size. Does anyone know the size that I need?

 

Wayne

[Steve S]

Wayne

 

Most of those bearing hubs come in 2 or 3 different sizes, but they are pretty much standard sizes. You may have to take the bearing cap off, and take it to the supply store with you, to get the right one.

 

The question I have is, why do you want to use Bearing Buddies? You aren't going to be submerging the wheels in water, so it's not likely to pull enough water into the bearing housing to ruin the grease. Just repack the bearings every 5 to 7 years.

 

Just my 2 cents worth. :mo money:

[Wizard765]

5 years? I only have to repack the bearings every 5 years? I was just thinking the buddies would give me peace of mind. I could check to see if the grease is ok with a glance and without taking it apart.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

I tried bearing buddies on my bike trailer and ended up taking them off. They are ugly, make it look kinda 'boatish' and stick out far enough to worry me.

 

Heres a trick: Use the bearing buddy as a bearing packer tool!

 

Install the bearing buddy, inject enough grease to fill it, then pull it off and put the old cap back on...looks MUCH nicer, and now you KNOW it has enough grease. ( it may weep some grease out when the hubs are warm...just wipe it off)

 

5 years is too long to go without at least CHECKING the bearings....the bearing buddy trick is so easy you can repack them once a year without much trouble.

 

Yeah, I know they make special tools for repacking the bearings, but if you already HAVE the bearing buddys, might as well get SOME kinda use outta them!

 

[buddy]

My Harbor Freight trailer 12" wheels have grease certs on back side of hub so I do not need the bearing buddies, to me its even better set up because you get grease to both bearings at the same time, where the bearing buddies you have to go past the outer bearing first before the inner bearing gets any grease, unlike bearing buddies its out of sight as well & no mess . Over 2,400 mi so far with no problems.

[Steve S]

I do CHECK my bearings once a year and before a trip. But I don't see the need to repack them every year. If the seal doesn't blow out or the wheels get submerged in water, there really isn't a need for it.

 

Bearing Buddies were designed for boat trailers that submerge thier wheels when they are hot. Without Bearing Buddies the hub will suck water in through the seal when it hits the cooler water. Bearing buddies are spring loaded to allow the grease to expand and contract without sucking water into the hub.

 

As with anything, the most important thing is to keep a good regular maintance program. It is better to prevent than to have to repair on the road.

 

I'll get off my soapbox now... :whistling: