Bearing Buddy Question

Definite must have.
Towed that boat thousands of miles and launched/hauled dozens of times
each year and never had a problem. I used synthetic grease and repacked
them every fall prior to storage. I think I paid $25 for a pair.
To install them, remove the dust caps and use a 2 X 4 and hammer to
pound them in, just make sure you pound them in evenly. Then use a
grease gun to fill the hubs with grease. I have heard it said that the
grease will not make it into every void but the air/grease pressure in
the hub will help prevent water from being sucked in by the hot bearings
as they are cooling down. I always put the grease in just prior to
launching the boat (while in the launch prep area) so that they were
under maximum pressure.All in all, cheap insurance.
Kevin

No Spam wrote:

 >I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer. They
 >suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
 >which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
 >installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
 >
 >Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install? is
 >it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
 >Thanks for any advice..
 >
 >N.S.
 >
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

My old trailer came with them. Never had any bearing problems.


"No Spam" <no_spam RemoveThis @nosuchemailaddress.com> wrote in message
news:u3O7b.214438$_V.75547@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
 > I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
 > suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
 > which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
 > installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
 >
 > Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
 > it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
 > Thanks for any advice..
 >
 > N.S.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

No, they are easy to install, I use a wooden mallet (I have an old croquet
mallet) and hammer them onto the wheels after you take off the caps. Then be
careful how much grease you pump into them. Not too much, careful not to
blow the seals off the inside of the bearing assembly. Only about 2 or 3
pumps from a grease gun and only about every 1000 miles or depending on salt
water launching. Use good grease also not that cheap brown stuff.






"No Spam" <no_spam DeleteThis @nosuchemailaddress.com> wrote in message
news:u3O7b.214438$_V.75547@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
 > I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
 > suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
 > which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
 > installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
 >
 > Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
 > it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
 > Thanks for any advice..
 >
 > N.S.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

I agree they are a must have,BUT they do not replace a good spring
repack.It's easy takes about 20 min per wheel and then let the buddies take
care of the season."No Spam" <no_spam.TakeThisOut@nosuchemailaddress.com> wrote in
message news:u3O7b.214438$_V.75547@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
 > I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
 > suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
 > which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
 > installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
 >
 > Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
 > it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
 > Thanks for any advice..
 >
 > N.S.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

Well worth the $15 to 20. Any dumb bunnie can install them. You need a
hammer and a block of wood. Don't over grease them. There are all kinds
of clones of bearing buddies available
99% of trailers use the 1.980 size.

No Spam wrote:
 > I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer. They
 > suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
 > which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
 > installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
 >
 > Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install? is
 > it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
 > Thanks for any advice..
 >
 > N.S.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

"GF" (gfrang-unsubcribed@shaw.ca) writes:
 > I agree they are a must have,BUT they do not replace a good spring
 > repack.It's easy takes about 20 min per wheel and then let the buddies take
 > care of the season.

Agree 100%. Unless you have specially designed hubs that have a passage to
allow the grease to get to the inner bearings, the bearing buddies (or
similar non-brand name models) will only get the grease to the outer
bearings, so it doesn't replace a good annual repack as indicated above.

Steve.

--
----------------------------------------------
Ottawa Windsurfing <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://ottawawindsurfing.ca" target="_blank">http://ottawawindsurfing.ca</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

Excellent accessory. They don't pump the grease, though. You do. One thing:
I think it's nuts to not have your hubs cleaned out thoroughly and regreased
before installing the Bearing Buddies. Everything I've read says not to mix
different types of grease. If you have the marina do the installation, you
can ask them to use the kind of grease you're buying from them.

If you take lots of long trips, you need to find a grease application tool
that is easy to transport, and doesn't make a mess of the car's trunk or
your hands. Otherwise, you won't want to use it. Besides, you only notice
that you need grease when there's noplace around to wash the stuff off your
hands.

I found a good one on the same pegboard as tubes of OMC (brand) grease, but
I can't seem to find it anywhere on the web. Mine came from a marina.

Imagine a metal tube with a plunger on one end. The other end is placed on
the grease fitting of the Bearing Buddy. In the center of the tube is a
threaded thing made for the OMC grease to fasten to. (The grease is in a
thick plastic toothpaste-tube type of container). So, when attached, the
grease container makes the whole contraption into a t-shaped affair. You
squeeze the grease from the bottom of the soft container upward so it feeds
into the metal tube and then squeeze the plunger. When you're done, you
release the pressure from the grease container. That, and the release of the
plunger create just enough vacuum to pull any excess grease back into the
applicator. Nice & neat.

Now that I think of it, it must be made by OMC, since it fits their grease
container perfectly. The applicator's about 7" long and no thicker than a
screwdriver. That and the grease container fit into a medium-size Rubbermaid
rectangular food storage thing. Nice & neat.

"No Spam" <no_spam DeleteThis @nosuchemailaddress.com> wrote in message
news:u3O7b.214438$_V.75547@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
 > I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
 > suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
 > which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
 > installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
 >
 > Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
 > it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
 > Thanks for any advice..
 >
 > N.S.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

"GF" <gfrang-unsubcribed RemoveThis @shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:XIQ7b.936403$3C2.21340904@news3.calgary.shaw.ca...
 > I agree they are a must have,BUT they do not replace a good spring
 > repack.It's easy takes about 20 min per wheel and then let the buddies
take
 > care of the season.

Do you have your hubs & bearings totally degreased when you repack, or just
wipe out what you can see?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

How do I install it? do I hammer out the silver cap from the wheel (see
photos link below)? that sounds scary to me.. i aint a mechanic. so... also,
the guy told me bearing buddy comes in different size to fit my hub.. do I
bring that silver thing to the marina to buy the right size? thanks...

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/images/wheel/wheel.jpg" target="_blank">http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/images/wheel/wheel.jpg</a>

N.S.


"No Spam" <no_spam DeleteThis @nosuchemailaddress.com> wrote in message
news:u3O7b.214438$_V.75547@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
 > I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
They
 > suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
 > which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
 > installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
 >
 > Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
is
 > it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
 > Thanks for any advice..
 >
 > N.S.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

At home, are you famous for fixing things quickly and correctly, or do you
try and fix a faucet and end up flooding the basement?

And, did you check out the web site? <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.bearingbuddy.com" target="_blank">www.bearingbuddy.com</a>

If you're really not sure about it, just pay the dealer and be done with it.

"No Spam" <no_spam DeleteThis @nosuchemailaddress.com> wrote in message
news:aA18b.438515$4UE.78570@news01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
 > How do I install it? do I hammer out the silver cap from the wheel (see
 > photos link below)? that sounds scary to me.. i aint a mechanic. so...
also,
 > the guy told me bearing buddy comes in different size to fit my hub.. do I
 > bring that silver thing to the marina to buy the right size? thanks...
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/images/wheel/wheel.jpg</font" target="_blank">http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/images/wheel/wheel.jpg</font</a>>
 >
 > N.S.
 >
 >
 > "No Spam" <no_spam DeleteThis @nosuchemailaddress.com> wrote in message
 > news:u3O7b.214438$_V.75547@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
  > > I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer.
 > They
  > > suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
  > > which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
  > > installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
  > >
  > > Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install?
 > is
  > > it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
  > > Thanks for any advice..
  > >
  > > N.S.
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

No Spam wrote:
 > I went to a local marina, and I asked about maintenance on the trailer. They
 > suggested to me that my trailer needs a product called "Bearing buddy"
 > which can easily pump grease into the hub with a grease gun. I haven't
 > installed it yet coz wanna get some comments from you guys.
 >
 > Any comments on this "Bearing Buddy" product? Is it worthy to install? is
 > it easy to do it myself or should I let the Marina guy to do it for me?
 > Thanks for any advice..
 >
 > N.S.
 >
 >
Get them they are worth their weight in gold as far as keeping you
bearings greased and water out.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

Doug Kanter wrote:

 > "GF" <gfrang-unsubcribed RemoveThis @shaw.ca> wrote in message
 > news:XIQ7b.936403$3C2.21340904@news3.calgary.shaw.ca...
 >
  >>I agree they are a must have,BUT they do not replace a good spring
  >>repack.It's easy takes about 20 min per wheel and then let the buddies
 >
 > take
 >
  >>care of the season.
 >
 >
 > Do you have your hubs & bearings totally degreased when you repack, or just
 > wipe out what you can see?
 >
 >
Totally clean if possible<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Bearing Buddy Question 

"No Spam" <no_spam.RemoveThis@nosuchemailaddress.com> wrote
 > How do I install it? do I hammer out the silver cap from the wheel (see
 > photos link below)? that sounds scary to me.. i aint a mechanic. so... also,
 > the guy told me bearing buddy comes in different size to fit my hub.. do I
 > bring that silver thing to the marina to buy the right size? thanks...
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/images/wheel/wheel.jpg</font" target="_blank">http://members.rogers.com/londonboy/images/wheel/wheel.jpg</font</a>>
 >
 > N.S.


The dust cap comes off rather easily as others have already said. One
thing I would like to mentiuon is also purchasing a pair of Bearing Buddy
Bras. They are rubber "caps" that fit over the Buddies and keep grease
from spreading over your rims and tires. I keep mine in place (cuz I used to
lose a few) by securing them with 11" plastic tie straps pulled very tightly.
The when I need to re-grease I snip the tie strap and remove the bra,
grease it, and put on a new tie strap.

Ron.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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