How to Monitor Grease in Hub With Bearing Buddies

Question:

I have inquired with the BB manufacturer and got an ambiguous reply, and no reply to my follow up message. I have inquired with the trailer mfg. and got no reply at all. I have a light duty Yacht Club brand boat trailer with Dexter axle, no brakes. I installed bearing buddies because of the positive pressure they maintain to guard against water entry when launching and retrieving the boat. The message from Bearing Buddies implies that there is no other service needed other than topping off the grease for each trip. I have three concerns: 1. Is inspection for leaking grease on the inside grease seal adequate to find out when seals need to be replaced? 2. How often, if ever, do bearings need to be disassembled, cleaned, repacked? 3. Is it safe to reinstall the bearing buddies after this is done, or will they be worn and unable to stay put?

asked by: John D

Expert Reply:

These are good questions so I will answer them in the order you asked.

1) When using Bearing Buddies the inspection will be done depending on which model you use. For Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors - Model 1980A w/ Auto Check # BB1980A there is a blue indicator ring which will gives you a visual indicator of the amount of grease in your hub; this ring needs to be flush with the top of the cylinder. If it is under the cylinder you simply need to add grease until the piston is 1/8" outward.

For Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors - Model 1980T-SS - Threaded # BB1980T-SS you can check the grease level by pressing on the edge of the piston, which you should be able to move and this will tell you the hub has the correct amount of grease. Each of these models utilize automatic pressure-relief so when it is full grease seeps around the edges of your piston into the barrel so you do not overfill it.

2) We recommend repacking your bearings with grease about once per year or every 12,000 miles if you happen to use your trailer more than that during the course of a year.

3) You can re-install the Bearing Buddies, just be careful when you are taking it off.

I have added some links for you to check out which show cleaning bearings as well as a link to a help article on this which I recommend checking out.