How much is too much?

Dyllan · 07-03-2009, 02:43 AM

Today I did a quick check to make sure everything on the tralior is good to go for the 700 mile trip to FL. from VA.. My question is this???
When I was putting grease in the bearing with a grease gun,, how much do you put in there? I was pumping the grease gun untile I starting seeing grease come out around the zerk fitting where the grease gun was attached. Then cleaned out the buddy bearing cap and put the rubber cap back on......
Is this too much grease?

Is the grease suppose to come out?

How often should I add grease during the trip?

And what do I do if when I check the tires and on of them is very hot to the touch?

Thanks,

Mark

nautiduck · 07-04-2009, 09:17 PM

I didnt think there is a such a thing as too much grease. Ive always filled grease fittings till clean grease comes out then wiped off the extra. Apparently (after looking it up) you can over grease a bearing buddy. There is supposed to be a pressure relief on them, but Ive read that they sometimes dont release correctly. You should be able to rock the fitting back and forth slightly and it shouldnt be pressed out against the outer lip.

Are you saying the tire itself is very hot or is it the wheel? If its the tire I would think you need to check the air pressure (too low can cause excessive heat) and make sure the tire isnt rubbing on the frame or fender somewhere. The tires will warm up from running down the road but they shouldnt be too hot to touch. If the wheel (the metal part) is too hot you need to check the bearings and spindle and if there are brakes on that wheel they maybe dragging.

fishfighter · 07-05-2009, 10:52 AM

My trips are 200 miles one way. Prechecks that I do are,

Check air pressure and if its summer,I will drop air pressure down 5 psi below rated cold air max temp. After 200 miles,I will pick up that extra 5 psi and sometimes a pound or two extra. Winter,I fill to rated pressure.

Check spare tire/tires pressure(I carry 2 spares) and make sure it is not dryrotted.

Check all bearing by jacking up each wheel and do a spin check. One can over tighen bearing.
Grease buddybearing till clean grease comes out.Clean the rubber caps out too. By over greasing them,you will sling some grease out on your rims,but that cleans up easy.
I always keep a spare hub/bearing in the truck along with an extra tube of grease,spare light bulbs and fuses.

Tools that are needed for road side repair.
Hammer,chilse,basturd,sandpaper,roll of paper towels,(2) 4"x4"x16" blocks of wood,two jacks,channel locks and of course a breaker bar with the right size socket to fit lugs.

One time I had all these things and it paid off big time after I broke an axle on the interstate. There is no way to put my boat on a flatbed trailer without dropping the radar arch which normal height is 13'4". So,one trip,I had to replace an axle in the rain on the side of the interstate which took 10 hours running,having a new axle built and installing the new one.

On a side note. Once you hit the road,stop after the first 20 miles and check each hub for high temps. If you find one,jack up the wheel,check for free play. Often the bearing is to tight. Back off the nut a hair and drive another 20 miles,check again.

Regreasing,I do once I get to were I am going which is 200 miles before lanching my boat. Becouse the trailer bearing will be a little hot and once you back in,the colder water will suck into the hub/bearing. By regreasing,you are putting more pressure(grease) that helps keep water out.

As far as regreasing,check at 200 miles,I always still had some grease left in the buddy bearing caps and I never had any bearing trouble in the pass. Now all this depends on how good your seals are on your hubs.

Hope this helps!

nautiduck · 07-06-2009, 12:07 AM

Fishfighter that is what I used to do as far as greasing the bearings but as I have recently found out by filling till the grease pushes out with bearing buddies you are actually damaging the seals. Other types of bearing systems are meant to be filled that way but not BBs.

brokensheer · 07-06-2009, 02:54 PM

in short add grease until you see the bearing buddy spring compress, it is posible to blow the inside bearing seal by adding too much, it may not happen but I have seen it happen, the n check the tire pressure as stated above , also keep a eye on the wheel temp, careful they do get hot!

all noted in Fire fighters post!,

PS I keep very good P M on my rig I did however loose a wheel on a short 150 mile trip!, I left the boat and trailer at a shell staion on Rt50 about 45 miles from Ocean city Md then when I could not get the parts to fix it that week I ran her the rest of the way to the beach on three wheels! funny thing was , nobody ever pulled along side of me and said " hey you lost a wheel"

fishfighter · 07-08-2009, 09:46 AM

That is why I stated to check your seals when filling the buddybearing caps. There is a weep hole that will spit out grease when they are full. Just take your time when pumping them up.

07-04-2009, 09:17 PM	#2
nautiduck I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Rock Hill SC (Charlotte) Posts: 1,272 Credits: 3,847.5 Best Catch: Duckie	I didnt think there is a such a thing as too much grease. Ive always filled grease fittings till clean grease comes out then wiped off the extra. Apparently (after looking it up) you can over grease a bearing buddy. There is supposed to be a pressure relief on them, but Ive read that they sometimes dont release correctly. You should be able to rock the fitting back and forth slightly and it shouldnt be pressed out against the outer lip. Are you saying the tire itself is very hot or is it the wheel? If its the tire I would think you need to check the air pressure (too low can cause excessive heat) and make sure the tire isnt rubbing on the frame or fender somewhere. The tires will warm up from running down the road but they shouldnt be too hot to touch. If the wheel (the metal part) is too hot you need to check the bearings and spindle and if there are brakes on that wheel they maybe dragging. Last edited by nautiduck; 07-04-2009 at 09:27 PM.

07-06-2009, 02:54 PM	#5
brokensheer Anthony's Ark is a blowboater Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 309 Credits: 2,406.1 Boat: Witch 23' Marolina Yachts Home Port: Ocean City Md / Solomons Is Md Best Catch: Lines are still in the water	in short add grease until you see the bearing buddy spring compress, it is posible to blow the inside bearing seal by adding too much, it may not happen but I have seen it happen, the n check the tire pressure as stated above , also keep a eye on the wheel temp, careful they do get hot! all noted in Fire fighters post!, PS I keep very good P M on my rig I did however loose a wheel on a short 150 mile trip!, I left the boat and trailer at a shell staion on Rt50 about 45 miles from Ocean city Md then when I could not get the parts to fix it that week I ran her the rest of the way to the beach on three wheels! funny thing was , nobody ever pulled along side of me and said " hey you lost a wheel" Last edited by brokensheer; 07-06-2009 at 02:57 PM.

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07-05-2009, 10:52 AM	#3
fishfighter Bite me Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gulf of Mexico Posts: 222 Credits: 1,665.4	My trips are 200 miles one way. Prechecks that I do are, Check air pressure and if its summer,I will drop air pressure down 5 psi below rated cold air max temp. After 200 miles,I will pick up that extra 5 psi and sometimes a pound or two extra. Winter,I fill to rated pressure. Check spare tire/tires pressure(I carry 2 spares) and make sure it is not dryrotted. Check all bearing by jacking up each wheel and do a spin check. One can over tighen bearing. Grease buddybearing till clean grease comes out.Clean the rubber caps out too. By over greasing them,you will sling some grease out on your rims,but that cleans up easy. I always keep a spare hub/bearing in the truck along with an extra tube of grease,spare light bulbs and fuses. Tools that are needed for road side repair. Hammer,chilse,basturd,sandpaper,roll of paper towels,(2) 4"x4"x16" blocks of wood,two jacks,channel locks and of course a breaker bar with the right size socket to fit lugs. One time I had all these things and it paid off big time after I broke an axle on the interstate. There is no way to put my boat on a flatbed trailer without dropping the radar arch which normal height is 13'4". So,one trip,I had to replace an axle in the rain on the side of the interstate which took 10 hours running,having a new axle built and installing the new one. On a side note. Once you hit the road,stop after the first 20 miles and check each hub for high temps. If you find one,jack up the wheel,check for free play. Often the bearing is to tight. Back off the nut a hair and drive another 20 miles,check again. Regreasing,I do once I get to were I am going which is 200 miles before lanching my boat. Becouse the trailer bearing will be a little hot and once you back in,the colder water will suck into the hub/bearing. By regreasing,you are putting more pressure(grease) that helps keep water out. As far as regreasing,check at 200 miles,I always still had some grease left in the buddy bearing caps and I never had any bearing trouble in the pass. Now all this depends on how good your seals are on your hubs. Hope this helps!

07-06-2009, 12:07 AM	#4
nautiduck I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Rock Hill SC (Charlotte) Posts: 1,272 Credits: 3,847.5 Best Catch: Duckie	Fishfighter that is what I used to do as far as greasing the bearings but as I have recently found out by filling till the grease pushes out with bearing buddies you are actually damaging the seals. Other types of bearing systems are meant to be filled that way but not BBs.

07-08-2009, 09:46 AM	#6
fishfighter Bite me Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gulf of Mexico Posts: 222 Credits: 1,665.4	That is why I stated to check your seals when filling the buddybearing caps. There is a weep hole that will spit out grease when they are full. Just take your time when pumping them up.