What's the fascination with trailer bearings?
So I've seen many, many posts over the years about checking hubs with IR guns for excessive heat. I've even seen posts where people check their hubs every stop. :E My question is why? I have never ...
Forum Discussion
Well, one of the key parts of good maintenance and repair is observation. It's difficult to observe what you can't see when assembled.
This opinion about unused bearings in storage effecting the maintenance schedule is one I don't agree with, that part that says "bearings in storage need more frequent repacking". Oil separates from soap, rusted and pitted bearings, dirt and water entering the bearing area, are all ill informed, IMO. If there is enough grease distributed through the bearing, there should not be any effect on the bearing from storage.
A few years ago, I resurrected a boat and trailer parked in a swamp. It was necessary to dig the wheels out of the ground as the trailer had sunk to the rails. After jacking the trailer up, I removed the hubs, repacked the bearings and went on my merry way. The hubs, in this case were packed with the old grease and that had prevented any water intrusion or damage to the bearings.
This opinion about unused bearings in storage effecting the maintenance schedule is one I don't agree with, that part that says "bearings in storage need more frequent repacking". Oil separates from soap, rusted and pitted bearings, dirt and water entering the bearing area, are all ill informed, IMO. If there is enough grease distributed through the bearing, there should not be any effect on the bearing from storage.
A few years ago, I resurrected a boat and trailer parked in a swamp. It was necessary to dig the wheels out of the ground as the trailer had sunk to the rails. After jacking the trailer up, I removed the hubs, repacked the bearings and went on my merry way. The hubs, in this case were packed with the old grease and that had prevented any water intrusion or damage to the bearings.
