extra bearings

[Mary C]

Now that I have the extra bearings, how do I package them up? Do I put a light coat of grease on them put them in parchment and then in a plastic sip lock? Would that keep them form rusting? I may not ever need them and we have some pretty wet summers and springs. Because of the weather and humidity and the fact I will put them in the TD when it is time to camp I just want to know they are going to be ok. Any ideas and suggestions will be appreciated?

Mary C.

[bdosborn]

Pack them with grease just like your would when you install them. Throw them in a ziploc bag and add some more big glops of grease on top of that. Then you have greased bearings and grease to install them.

Bruce

[PaulS]

Pack them with grease just like your would when you install them. Throw them in a ziploc bag and add some more big glops of grease on top of that. Then you have greased bearings and grease to install them.

Bruce

I agree grease them up and put them in a ziplock with some extra grease

[GuitarPhotog]

A friend of mine always carried his embedded in a can of axle grease. No extra messy container needed.

But having a set of extra bearings begs an answer, "Are you prepared with appropriate tools to install a wheel bearing in the field?"

<Chas>

[Irmo Atomics]

I keep my extra bearings packed up inside a spare hub, it would be a lot easier to swap out on the side of the road.
I got the idea from this post: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=54715&p=995117&hilit=spare+hub#p995117

[MtnDon]

That is a great idea!

[bdosborn]

It's a little more more cumbersome if you have brakes. My hubs, lug nuts and drums are all pressed together and it weighs a ton. It would sure help to have the assembly if you had a race go bad, those things are hard to get out without a press.

Bruce

[Mary C]

Thanks for the suggestions and as far as being prepared to change bearings in the field I will have a pair of gloves and since I put them together when I built the trailer , I ought to be able to tear them down. Just cause I am a girl "I ain't scared" I can do it!!! My tool box will now have a grease can with the bearings inside. unfortunatly HF said they don't sell Hubs by themselves any longer or else I would have one. Thanks ya'll are very helpful, just one more question should I put the seals in the grease too or just keep them in the plastic bag?

Mary C.

[GuitarPhotog]

Mary you will need a heavy hammer and some drifts to drive the old bearing out of the hub and the new one in. I was lucky enough to have a set made by a friend, but wouldn't try it without tools and practice. When you replace the bearings, you must replace the outer races which are pressed into the hub and which must be pressed or driven out. I have a drift punch to take them out and a custom made drift punch to put them back in. And ditch the leather work gloves and buy a bunch of nitrile (blue) mechanics gloves, that axle grease is nasty stuff.

<Chas>

[Mary C]

Chase thank you for your concern. I just didn't know how to package up the bearings, I have a home made bearing puller and yes I will have a good hammer and I have three pairs of examine gloves I keep in the first aid box sealed in a little package, 4 pair nitrite in the tool box and one cloth pair to keep hands clean for tire changing and one pair leather gloves for wood and fire building and DO cooking The homemade bearing puller is a large screw looking thing with three pieces of metal with hooks on the end and the other end is a large nut, as you screw on the nut the metal hooks just bring the bearings out. no problem. oh it has a hat like piece that goes on before the nut. and I have a stool to sit on!!!!! for putting or pressing them on put a large washer must be right size on the spindle put the washer that is the size of the rubber seal then the bearings just pressed barely inside the hub then put a washer on the front and the castle nut and tighten as you tighten the washer on the back will push the race and rubber washer in. then take the hub off, remove the extra washers then put the race and rubber seal in and washer and castle nut and tighten as you do it the washer will push all inside. I learned it from a 95 year old mechanic many years ago. Thank you for being concerned really I can do it as long as I have a pull bar, have the right wrench and I can find leverage. I don't want to have to do it but I can if I had too. and if there is a garage around I think it will be good if I already had the bearings and seals with me instead of having to wait till they found them or wait for HF to ship. either way I think for the safety of going 3500 or more miles on my big trip better safe than sorry!!!! I think I probably wont need them but I being raised by boys and being in the boy scouts being prepared is my motto, I am taking extra wire and extra nuts and bolts and all the tools I need to work on the trailer if needed. I am taking the time to be prepared for every type emergency including Duck tape and a couple of coat hangers. The HF trailer hub is not that difficult to work with. I put the together when I built it. I realize that the number of women who can change alternators, starters brakes, bearings, oil and take out the radiator and put on a new water pump, hoses, belts and make other emergency car repairs is few and far between but I have done all but I don't like too but if push comes to shove I will do it.

Mary C.

[KCStudly]

Mary, I don't like to mess with that greasy stuff either, but I can if I have to. (I get enough of that cra.....p at work. )

I love your spirit and I have a new found appreciation from this post of your "can do attitude" and abilities. It sounds like you have the best bearing puller/pressing tools of any of us.

I was going to post that a brass punch (a piece of brass rod) would make a good tool to have along with a ball peen hammer... tippity tap, tippity tap, drift those outer races out, then in, a little bit at a time, all around... but you have trumped me with your specially made jacking pullers. The next best thing to a press; better even.

[Mary C]

KC you are a sweety but being a woman ,and a weak one at that I have always had to rely on fulcrums, hinges, leverage and squeezing, using belts binders and bolts and whatever I can find, instead of pushing or pulling and a large bolt with a nut may seem like it takes for ever but if I have a bar to put on the end of the handle, I can usually git er done. I cant use brute strength I ain't got any, I have to use slow methodical ways to get things done. the biggest problem is that it takes me longer. Thanks for the kudos I just do what girls gotta do.

Mary C.