Dexter E Z lube bearings

I should be a little more specific. After repacking I drove about 20 miles, came back and used the EZ lube system again. With that less than a tube for 4 wheels, now just a few strokes for each wheel.

Also as Jetstream said: I picked a July day that would make the Devil sigh.

I think that one of the main problems, is getting the system full of grease during the repack. If you do it yourself, flush the old grease out and fill every nook and cranny with new. Then before you put on the cap, you grease through the EZ lube system. Slow, careful while spinning the wheel. No way it takes a tube, I got returns on 4 wheels with 1 tube of grease, but I was lavish with filling from the tubs. Then each season, just a couple of strokes should get a return. When you feel the urge, tear down and repack again.

I think all new, or new to you, campers need a tear down and repack. After about 10,000 miles I found a dry bearing when I repacked my new camper. I haven't a clue how it lasted that long. It was a nice pretty blue color, it would not have lasted much longer.

Picking a nice hot day to do it would help as well...

ScottG wrote:

laknox wrote:

snowpeke wrote:
My Jayco has E Z lube bearings. The Dexter has a you tube video and shows that you pump grease in until the new grease comes out. I called a Jayco dealer and he says not to do it that way. Says that grease gets in to the brake drums. Witch way do I go?

What I do, and this is experience from decades as a farmer and greasing all kinds of stuff, is to jack each wheel up and add grease until you start to hear small popping sounds, while spinning the wheel. This is air being forced past the seal; grease will follow shortly behind that. I always give it 3-4 more shots after I start to hear the popping. This means that it needs to be =quiet= while you're greasing, so turn the radio down or take your ear buds out. :B

Lyle

That wont work on the first service of an EZ lube.
It takes half a tube of grease (of more) to fill the void in the hub so that it will go through to the front bearing. It makes all kinds of sounds as it fills gaps before the job is done. It's paramount that you don't stop pumping grease until you see it come through the outer bearing.
But I still strongly suggest gresing them the old fashioned way.

I a$$-umed that this was a "maintenance" greasing, not a full repack, as the OP never mentioned a repack.

Lyle

I have the EZ lube and it works GREAT!!! I do have Disk brakes so I can see if the grease is coming out the back. So the only negative IMHO with the system is having Drums. Drums are a negative IMHO any way.

Have someone turn the wheel and pump away!

laknox wrote:

snowpeke wrote:
My Jayco has E Z lube bearings. The Dexter has a you tube video and shows that you pump grease in until the new grease comes out. I called a Jayco dealer and he says not to do it that way. Says that grease gets in to the brake drums. Witch way do I go?

What I do, and this is experience from decades as a farmer and greasing all kinds of stuff, is to jack each wheel up and add grease until you start to hear small popping sounds, while spinning the wheel. This is air being forced past the seal; grease will follow shortly behind that. I always give it 3-4 more shots after I start to hear the popping. This means that it needs to be =quiet= while you're greasing, so turn the radio down or take your ear buds out. :B

Lyle

That wont work on the first service of an EZ lube.
It takes half a tube of grease (of more) to fill the void in the hub so that it will go through to the front bearing. It makes all kinds of sounds as it fills gaps before the job is done. It's paramount that you don't stop pumping grease until you see it come through the outer bearing.
But I still strongly suggest gresing them the old fashioned way.

snowpeke wrote:
My Jayco has E Z lube bearings. The Dexter has a you tube video and shows that you pump grease in until the new grease comes out. I called a Jayco dealer and he says not to do it that way. Says that grease gets in to the brake drums. Witch way do I go?

What I do, and this is experience from decades as a farmer and greasing all kinds of stuff, is to jack each wheel up and add grease until you start to hear small popping sounds, while spinning the wheel. This is air being forced past the seal; grease will follow shortly behind that. I always give it 3-4 more shots after I start to hear the popping. This means that it needs to be =quiet= while you're greasing, so turn the radio down or take your ear buds out. :B

Lyle

snowpeke wrote:
Is the inside of the hub the same as standard bearings?

Yes. I bought generic trailer bearing kits from Napa, two different sizes inner and outer. Bearings had USA stamped on them.

None of the bearings I replaced looked bad, but since I had gone through the motions to remove them, replacement only cost a few dollars.

Is the inside of the hub the same as standard bearings?

Consant turning and painfully slow pumping.
50% failure rate.
I was warned but thought I was better than most. From my years here on the forum that failure rate is the norm.
The guy at Dexter is right. Dont fo it.

BTW, you wont know when you uhave grease on the the brakes. It makes them slightly grabby and they run warm but still seem to work .
Most wont notice the failure and you will never know for sure unless you remove the hub and check.
So why not just do it the right way.