What's a general "rule of thumb" for repacking the bearings, greasing, etc. I've owned the trailer for 3 years, probably pulled close to 7,000 miles over those years. Who knows when it was done before by the prior owner. I've heard some say every year, some say every two years. What's good maintenance vs overkill?
Posted 2012-09-12 12:33 PM (#146962 - in reply to #146956) Subject: RE: Repack Bearings
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
If you haven't done any maintenance since you've owned it, and don't know when it was done by the previous owner; I would have it done. Most likely when you pull a wheel and inspect the bearings, the grease will be black. Fresh wheel bearing grease is usually colored, like red, or green. With use and dirt and time, it becomes black. If your a light trailer user, you can proibably get by with every two years, but if you use a trailer a lot, have it done annually. Grease and a grease seal is pretty cheap compared to sitting along side the road with a chewed up bearings and axle spindle.
Posted 2012-09-15 8:34 PM (#147011 - in reply to #146956) Subject: RE: Repack Bearings
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
Sorry, had an operator error on the previous post....
I get mine done every year.. even if it's overkill. My trailer sits more than gets used, esp in the winter months. The guy who owned the racehorse barn I boarded at a couple years ago borrowed one of the boarder's trailers in a pinch, and the bearing failed down in Lexington and he had to get someone to pick up the horse and take it to where it was going, then have the trailer repaired. It was a big mess.
Worst part, the owner had the bearings packed and a safety check done that year at a local garage, and the folks DID NOT DO IT. I had the same thing happen to me, started taking my trailers to local places, not my favorite person who is a longer drive (local place is 6 miles from my house) and I had my trailer prepped for a trip to Chicago.. and found out the next year (took it to my favorite guy) that the bearings hadn't been touched. I could have had my bearing seize up and that would have been stressful. I do have US Rider, though.
Posted 2012-09-16 7:16 PM (#147016 - in reply to #146956) Subject: RE: Repack Bearings
Expert
Posts: 2958 Location: North Carolina
Jbsny ... Sorry you had a bad experience with a shop. Repacking bearings is a simple job but time consuming. There is no way to tell if the rear bearing was done except by taking the hub off. Sounds like some shops only do the outer bearing and call it good.
Repack Bearings
