Replacing bearings SUCKS!!!!

[Gunga Din]

Well, I did it. I replaced the bearings in my trailer. And I must say what a worthless, no-good, stinking, messy job that is. It was like working in a grease shop! Grease everywhere! I'm not a mechanical guy. Don't work on cars. Don't get my fingers dirty. But I figured I better learn to replace/repack my bearings to prevent me from getting stuck on the road somewhere between the lake and home.

I searched and read all the excellent posts on this topic available on this site, including detailed posts from REW, Ranger, and AquaMan. But nobody warned me properly. What a nightmare! Grease everywhere! Pounding out races, not knowing whether I was doing it right or really screwing things up. In this technologically advanced time, surely there's got to be a better way. I would have paid $1000 for someone to come and install a Liqua-Lube or similar system for me. Here's how it went...

Day 1. I drove my boat to a friend's house who was going to show me how it’s done. He said it would take a couple of hours. We got through one tire when he had to leave, after which I tried finishing the other tire solo. Well, I ruined the seal trying to install it and the parts store was closed for the day. Drove his car home, leaving my immobile boat/truck taking up half his driveway.

Day 2. My hands were finally clean after the morning shower, only to have to get them greasy again. Came back in the morning with new seals and together we had it all back together in 30 minutes. Thought we were finished and put away the tools and cleaned up. We drove off to lunch and after a mile I lost a bearing buddy. The hub I'd just done was real hot. So we turned around and started over. The bearings were completely shot, like everything just disintegrated.

So my friend starts doing it himself and ruins a bearing trying to figure out why the hub isn't seating straight on the spindle. The store around the corner is out, so we quit for the day and I drive his car home again and buy new bearings/seals at the farther store. I leave my outfit still blocking his driveway.

Day 3 (today). I showed up early and met my friend who had called a more bearing-savvy friend, who used to be a mechanic before becoming an accountant and interacting with computer geeks like my friend and me. He replaced the bearings, showed me the best way to tighten the nut on the spindle, tightening it three times and backing it off each time. We checked and tightened up the other hub too. It all seemed to work!

Costs: Time taken was three half-days; cost for four bearings, races, and seals; can of grease; three rolls of paper towels; gas for three 45-minute drives; uncounted gray and lost hairs; future favors to those who helped me.

[Dave in Mpls]

Gunga

Welcome to trailer maintenance 101!!

I usually go through at least one roll of paper towels while performing this thankless task.

Food for thought - Cabela's has the liqui-lubes on sale for $79!!

Go take a shower, man...you're a mess!!

Regards

[Jack G]

I agree it is a miserable job for someone who does not do mechanical work if they can avoid it. The problem is that if you burn up a bearing in the middle of nowhere it can be a great time saver if you can do it yourself.

I suggest buying a new hub with races and bearings installed, grease the whole thing up so nothing will rust before you need it. If you get in a pinch it is a lot easier to replace the hub with pre installed bearings than it is to replace the bearings themselves. Then take your old hub with damaged bearings to a shop and have new bearings installed and keep it for next time.

Bearing buddies and seal replacement are not too difficult if you simply exercise care and do not take the approach that a bigger hammer and harder blows will hasten the job.

I would hire every bit of maintenance for my boat and motors but I have very little confidence in any local marine service departments.

[Robertp]

Thanks for sharing that story Gunga. I know exactly the helpless feeling that comes from being mechanically illiterate. If I had the chance I would have tried it too under the watchful eye of one of the mechanical geniuses on this board like, REW and several others, who I am constantly in awe of. Otherwise, I'm sure, your experience would have been a picnic compared to my taking on a similar job. I'll look forward to your future, experienced, posts on bearing maintenance now that you have achieved "expert" status.

[EricCO]

Really great. I was planning on giving it a shot next week, but now I'm really scared. I can strip screws, nuts and bolts like no one you've ever seen. I think I will just wait till they burn up and have no choice. LOL!!!!

[TomPGrouse]

My mechanic (truck) repacked mine last summer for 42 dollars.

[Eyez]

I hate bearing too. Last summer, we had a bearing go out on the tandem axle boat trailer the day before a tournament. Fixed it, then when we got back from the tournament took a look at all the others, they were bad too. 4 wheels there. Next weekend, same deal on the tandem axle flatbed trailer. 4 more wheels. You're right, it sucks.


Eyez

[Stezostedion vitreum man]

Gunga Din,

You live and you learn. The question to be answered here is : how much is your mental health worth to you? Sometimes it is easier to spend a few bucks on frustrating projects such as these. It's easier on the nerves and many times a person will feel more confident in the results when done by someone more competent in their field of "expertise". Good luck fishing.

Remember to keep your eyes open and your feet dry.


S.v.m

[Red Dog-UT]

Gunga!

You da man ..... Well, I still need to do my bearings on the Red Dog II. Waiting for paper towels to go on sale though. I was fortunate when I did the bearing on the Red Dog I. I worked at a place that had a pneumatic press that was sweet for pressing out the bearing race. Also had access to a nice decreaser that made my hubs smell like fresh squeezed orange juice. I guess the right tools can make the job go a little easier but I know its a pain. Good news is that your good to go and next time you'll know what to expect.

RD

[DAM]

Greasy hands? Whenever I get near grease or paint I put on a pair of disposeable latex gloves. I keep a bunch in my tow vehicle and garage. $1.50 for 5 pair at Home Depot. Use 'em and toss 'em.

DAM

p.s. Jewel has paper towels on sale!

[RANGER]

LAST EDITED ON May-11-01 AT 05:57AM (CST)[p]SEE BELOW

[Adam KP]

I'm sorry I didn't offer my two cents when I first saw your post. I am a mechanically stupid individual who has tried to learn and understand the working of engines, brakes, wheels, moving dynamics, rotating mass, etc. to make me a better race car driver and boater.

Some jobs take more time than their worth. I pay $80 for new hubs with bearings installed, grease them up, and I'm ready to roll in one hour. The old hubs get traded in for a few bucks and I always keep two on hand in the truck for long trips. Personal time value often costs far more than what you think you saved.

[RANGER]

LAST EDITED ON May-11-01 AT 06:44AM (CST)[p]Gunga Din,

I feel badly that it went so wrong for you. When EricCo had ask for instructions a while back, I think we (not to be presumptuous Aquaman and REW) tried to cover as many aspects as we could but it is really tough if you're setup is slightly different from another and if you're (me) not there to cover variables! We did warn everyone that this is a MESSY job, no-bout-a-dout-'dat! My first crack at it was nearly a disaster also. Having said that, I don't think twice about it now.

If, and the operative is (IF!), you choose to do it again, a few pointers:

1) Have your parts-cleaning bucket sitting right under the hub and bearings. As soon as you remove them, drop them into the solution,

2) I buy latex/vinyl (preferred) surgical type gloves in boxes of 100 pairs and play "surgeon" when I do messy jobs. Especially greasy mechanical things.

3) Buy a "Go-Jo" dispenser and refill canister (hand cleaner) and have it handy. This stuff will clean the worst grease/oil grime from your body including nails and cracks in your skin. Don't get the stuff with the pumice in it, it's lousey. The "Original" is still the best.

4) If you have to remove races, and this is not the "usual" case, take it to your local garage/mechanic. There is a really easy way to do it but it requires more instructions and special tools. Better left unsaid. (Can you say, "Oxymoron"?)!

5) When tightening the hub nut I do run it down several times and back off each time. I torque it to 15 foot pounds each time. I know that sounds like alot and it is but I catch bad sets of bearings this way and it assures the wheel/bearing set is seated. If you run it down tight, once, and back it off, 9 times out of 10 it will be OK - BUT - Murphys' Law! Those bearings failing you could have been defective out of the box, you can't tell for sure.

You never know when this skill will save a trip/butt. Having gone through the pain now, the next time will be easier. What Jack G said is a great idea about having a completely ready wheel and bearing assembly good to go. Trouble is your looking at about $150+ bucks and the storage for it. Then again, it could also save your trip/butt. Decisions, decisions, decisions..............!

After all that - I have Liqua-Lube hubs now, only because I bought a new-to-me boat/trailer and the guy who owned the rig had the foresight to have the Liqua-Lubes installed. Ill tell 'ya, I ran that rig nearly 300 miles at highway speeds and those hubs were practically air temperature - no kidding and that's on a tandem trailer - four hubs! So far - I will never go back to grease! These Liqua-Lubes are a brilliant idea!

By the way, Cabela's WILL NOT BE CARRYING THEM IN THE FUTURE unless something is renegotiated with Liqua-Lube or vice-versa! That's why Cabel's has them on sale!

Have a GREAT season!


RANGER,


"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"!

[Nick(Ia)]

Good report Gunga!! I've taken to hiring it done due to the overall frustation factor. It is good to have the knowlege and ability to change'em and I think a backup set of bearings and seals are essential components for your travel box. I will have to get a new set of backup bearings and seals for a new rig but I'm considering a change to the Liquid Lube approach. Now take some time off...go fish..go climb something! Have a great summer.
Dave

[Leo Kam]

Take RANGER's advice and install the LiquaLube. The only maintanance required is to regularly check the fluid level and replace the fluid every other year. Just think of all the time you save that could be put top better use, say fishing.

[Rick]

Hey Gunga! When you do these things all of your life, it does'nt seem like a bad job! Now you know why us mechanics get the BIG bucks! It really isn't that big of a job. Sorry it was so unpleasant for you. Rick