smithkeith
|
|
It's that time of the year when I need to check the bears on the boat trailer before putting it away for the winter. The trailer was new in Feb. and has surge brakes on it which I have never had before. What is involved when the trailer has brakes? Any special tools needed? I have always repacked but think I am going to just check and see what the grease looks like. If no water is present, I am just going to put new seals on and put everthing back together.
While asking questions, does everyone change the oil in their 4 strokes at the end of the year even if they have less than 100 hours on it? Since the weather is cold and I can't warm the motor up before changing the oil, I was thinking about waiting until spring and after running it a time or two, then changing it? Thanks.
--------------------
If your lucky enough to be at the lake....your lucky enough!!!
|
Jesse Krook
|
|
If you have ever done the brakes in your car or truck then you shouldnt have any troubles dealing with the brakes in your trailer. I would definately re-grease the bearings before putting it away for the year
--------------------
Everts Fishing Resort
|
Jami Ritter
|
|
All you need to do is remove the break caliper just like a car. Mine takes an allen wrench. Since I use mine all year around, some anti seize on all the lugs so they don't rust up tight, same with the spare tire.
I would change the oil this fall, just so everything is ready to go in the spring. It might drain a little slower than warm, but you can start the drain and work on the trailer at the same time. Just my 2 cents.
Jami
|
trumar
|
|
I gather you dont have bearing buddies ? if not,I would install them.if so all you should have to do is raise tailer and spin tire ,listen for any sounds other than a smooth roll,,grap tire see if bearing play is NOT lose,if it feels tight just regrease as bearing buddy instuctions say.With bearing buddies any water inside will be pushed out as you grease,I am guessing since trailer is fairly new you shouldnt have water inside unless you have a bad seal.
I have bearing buddies and would never go without them, only put in one set of bearings in 6 years and that was when I bought the boat set-up  .But I check mine before every trip long or short.
--------------------
"When it comes to family-Sometimes it not all about fishing" ~Trumar 2009
|
smithkeith
|
|
I do have buddy bearings. Had them on my last trailer and had an inside bearing fail. Weird thing was that I had pulled the boat 400+ miles that spring before the bearing seized.
--------------------
If your lucky enough to be at the lake....your lucky enough!!!
|
northstar
|
|
A seized bearing is a whole lot less than fun. I have bearing buddies and pull the wheels anyway. There is no way to know if you have trouble or water in there if you don't do a visual inspection. If there is water in there even if the bearing buddy lets you push it out, the bearings will rust and then you have trouble waiting to happen. I vote for repacking them now so they are clean and bright all winter and ready to go in the spring.
--------------------
Northstar - Even as you have done it unto the least of my children, you have done it unto me.
|
The Chucker
|
|
 Bearing Buddies...
To put it lightly, I dont think verymuch of them, here is why.
Hubs have 2 bearings, inside and outer.
All the bearing buddy does is fill the outside area with grease. It is not even guaranteed that the outer bearing is getting any grease into it. And there is no way that grease is getting to the inside bearing.
Those of us that have packed bearings can attest that it takes preasure to get grease into a bearing not to mention passing it through one, moving it 3" and into the inner bearing. 
Lengthy and technical, yes but experience and knowledge doesn't lie.
On the bright side they are a nice heavy duty dust cap that does not bend when tapped back into the hub.
--------------------
This is why we can't have nice things...
|
Jon Jordan
|
|
Couldn't agree more on that, Chucker! Take a hammer to them and get a set of $1.99 dust caps and be done with it!
-J.
|
Don Miller
|
|
Every trailer I have owned with bearing buddies had damaged seals. I only give it just enough pumps with a grease gun to see the plate under the spring move. Then after a few hundred miles I'm wiping the grease splatters off the wheel & tire. I've gotten to call them seal busters.
|
Jami Ritter
|
|
Quote:
Couldn't agree more on that, Chucker! Take a hammer to them and get a set of $1.99 dust caps and be done with it!
-J.
just don't fill them to full.... or you'll be back buying another set... don't ask me how i know that...
|
Wheel Bearing w/Brakes?
