Pack bearings - by hand or by tool?

gkainz wrote:

campinghut wrote:
This is the packer I use and I just filled it by hand and keep it filled https://www.amazon.ca/GearWrench-2775D-Hand-Bearing-Packer/dp/B0002NYDYE?th=1&psc=1&source=googleshopping&locale=en-CA&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_46t1jgeihy_e

I agree with your dad other than the grease going stale (which I would think would take a long time). I inspect my bearings and will grease only if necessary. Unless you are traveling long distances then I also believe once a year is overkill.

Yikes - Amazon kind of sticks it to you, being north of the border, eh? $40.47 CAN on amazon.ca and $24.24 USD on amazon.com ... maybe that's the penalty for letting the Quebec Nordics become the Colorado Avalanche? :)

Amazon lol... everything for us North of your border lol... Penalty LOL they were good when they left here :);)

I just did mine a few weeks back... I used one of these- bearing packer


I place the bearing inside it, step on it with my heal to push grease threw it.. The old grease comes out. Once I see new grease coming out, I remove and slop some extra around the exterior for good measure..Can't completely stop doing it b hand !! :B

campinghut wrote:
This is the packer I use and I just filled it by hand and keep it filled https://www.amazon.ca/GearWrench-2775D-Hand-Bearing-Packer/dp/B0002NYDYE?th=1&psc=1&source=googleshopping&locale=en-CA&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_46t1jgeihy_e

I agree with your dad other than the grease going stale (which I would think would take a long time). I inspect my bearings and will grease only if necessary. Unless you are traveling long distances then I also believe once a year is overkill.

Yikes - Amazon kind of sticks it to you, being north of the border, eh? $40.47 CAN on amazon.ca and $24.24 USD on amazon.com ... maybe that's the penalty for letting the Quebec Nordics become the Colorado Avalanche? :)

This is the packer I use and I just filled it by hand and keep it filled https://www.amazon.ca/GearWrench-2775D-Hand-Bearing-Packer/dp/B0002NYDYE?th=1&psc=1&source=googleshopping&locale=en-CA&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_46t1jgeihy_e

I agree with your dad other than the grease going stale (which I would think would take a long time). I inspect my bearings and will grease only if necessary. Unless you are traveling long distances then I also believe once a year is overkill.

I watched a couple of videos while looking at bearing packing tools last night. My initial thought was "I can be done packing that by hand by the time they get done monkeying around with the setup, connecting the grease gun and pumping it all in".

And the "forces the old grease out" thing ... yeah, I think I would rather clean and inspect it manually first.

But, last year when I went to my trailer supply place for new seals, the counter guy said "if you bring your bearings with you, we'll pack them for you free." Of course, I remembered that as I was standing at the counter for seals again this year without the bearings.

Which brings up another question - do you religiously - ok, stubborn and bull-headed, maybe? :) - keep the bearings matched to each hub and matched to each spindle when you do yours?

and finally - I scratched my head a little (figuratively, since I had a handful of grease), as I heard my dad's voice asking me what I was doing ... we ran a fleet of trucks, trailers of all kinds, and equipment for power line construction and never that I recall, did annual bearing repacks.

I use a very basic wheel bearing packing tool. I have packed enough bearings by hand that this is just quicker and easier. I find it does just as good of a job. Just have to keep it in a good container so the grease stays clean till the next time it is used.

I do it by hand (with the fancy gloves) just cause thats the way I've always done it.
I've seen the fancy bearing packers but have never used one. Maybe I'm missing out?