Trailer Bearings?

[edseed]

:hello: Hello everyone. I'm Ed. I just bought a 1996 2100sr. And its my First! I really like the boat so far but am struggling with some small projects. Right now I'm trying to repack the axle bearings on the trailer with marine grease and possibly put in some new bearings. I was wondering if anyone has done this and how I can tell the size of replacements I need to get? The trailer is a 1997 maxum.

I guess the only reason I'm doing it is because when I was replacing the bearing covers I noticed that normal all purpose grease was used and that one of the hubs had some badly discolored grease(looked like mud).

Anyway, any tips and technical know-how would be helpful. From what I've read this is possibly the best forum I've seen yet.

Thanks
Ed.

P.S. I'll get some pics up when its gets a bit warmer and I can put her back in the water.

[seapuppy]

Ed...not sure what size you use for your bearings...but what alot of trailer boaters use is bearing buddies...it's a cap that has a grease fitting that uses an oil instead of grease....plus they are sealed....so...what you can do is take the bearings off..clean them up in a bucket of gas...take them to a local napa auto store.......they can usually match them right up with a decent set of bearings...don't forget to replace the outer seal.....

and thanks for the kudos....we try..
SP irate:

[edseed]

Thanks! I'll be doing that next weekend.

[edseed]

Just finished replacing all the bearings! Not really as hard as I thought it would be. Thanks for the input. I also found some really good how-to videos on Utube.

[Argonaut]

Originally Posted by edseed

Just finished replacing all the bearings! Not really as hard as I thought it would be. Thanks for the input. I also found some really good how-to videos on Utube.

Good tip to fully strip down wash out grease and refit and repack every year.

I also fitted bearing buddies .. but they keep losing grease through rear oil seals, even after replacing seals twice ... must be the spring pressure. But it is easy to top up.
I'm going to fit BB spindle seals when I strip down this year ...to cure this .....

[casinoreverend]

Originally Posted by Argonaut

Good tip to fully strip down wash out grease and refit and repack every year.

I also fitted bearing buddies .. but they keep losing grease through rear oil seals, even after replacing seals twice ... must be the spring pressure. But it is easy to top up.
I'm going to fit BB spindle seals when I strip down this year ...to cure this .....

Very Nice! You are not alone, I as well have the same issues with slinging grease all over my rims after topping them off..I've checked and re-checked and most of the grease has stayed inside my bearing buddies but it does look like some of the spring pressure & centrifugal force is forcing grease out once is filled up!

[Argonaut]

Originally Posted by casinoreverend

Very Nice! ..I've check but it does look like some of the spring pressure & centrifugal force is forcing grease out once is filled up!

BB do a low cost spindle kit exactly for this issue.