12" Tire Lube question

[Mary K]

How many squirts of the the ol'lube do I give my 12" tires on the Red Trailer. It has a grease fitting in the back and I know I'm not supposed to overfill it, least I blow a seal. But I have no Idea how much it can take. The bearings were greased and I added grease in the cap when I assembled it.

Any thoughts?

Mk

[brian_bp]

Q: "A plane crashed on the border of two countries; where were the survivors buried"
A: Nowhere; it's a trick question...

The tires don't get greased!

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Even worse, I have no idea how much lube to pump into a Red Trailer hub! I'm sure someone has a serious answer...

[Mary K]

Ummmm....sorry I spoke incorrectly...

[madjack]

MK...I went to the RedTrailer website to find info...other than a pic, I found none, so what I would do is remove the dust cap, put a squirt of grease in the fitting and rotate wheel, put another squirt in and rotate wheel, when new grease makes an appearance at the outer hub opening STOP, and replace dust cap........
madjack

[Mary K]

I couldn't find any info there either. Thank you MadJack.

Mk

[sdtripper2]

Mary K:

Jack has the best advice ~ Grease gun squeeze and rotate again and again
till the grease makes an appearance.

This is the information I found on the Red Trailer site that explains more ideas.
http://tinyurl.com/2cv43d

[Gerdo]

P.S. Adding grease to the dust cap will do nothing. Clean it out. Extra grease may find it's way in as you drive, no big deal.

[Roly Nelson]

When I bought my HF trailer, I popped the bearings out, to check how much grease I had squirted into the void between the bearings. I used a whole tube of grease but it barely made a dent in the cavern. So, I hand packed both bearings, and left the void full of air, just like it was when I got it. After 4 years, and re-packing the bearings every year, no problems so far. I totally ignore the zerk fitting on the back of the hub.

Roly

[Gerdo]

I am told that filling the "Void" with grease can retain heat, so having the void w/o grease will allow the hub/bearings to cool/shed heat faster.

[bobhenry]

I am told that filling the "Void" with grease can retain heat, so having the void w/o grease will allow the hub/bearings to cool/shed heat faster.

The term is "churning" and it will build up heat which leads to seperation of the oil from the carrier base. The void in the hub is for a small reserve but more than a ping pong sized extra glob is more than you need.

I will admit to using the grease zerk before the big trip this week. Having ran out of time I took a short cut and shot in some grease and tried to call it good. On the way out of town we dropped off a bill and driving close to the building I heard a low growling noise. Fearing a bearing problem on a 800 mile trip I took Chubby back by the house and removed tires and hubs.
Since my 4x8 and my 40x48 HF trailers share the same hubs I stole both off of Eggbert my motorcycle tear and put them on the 5x10.

I bought my HF 4x8 used and I assumed all was well, however the rear bearings had been bone dry prior to my 3 pumps of grease and the bearings were much the worse for wear.

Thank God I heard the noise I would much rather work at home as opposed to on the interstate with semi's nipping at my butt.

So If you have purchased a used trailer as I did , don't asssume that the previous owner did anything right, take it apart and clean and visually inspect the bearings then repack them.

[tonyj]

Wheel bearings is wheel bearings.

Too much grease==bad thingy happen

Too little grease--bad thingy happen

I think the whole idea of "Bearing Buddies" and the like is to pack enough grease into the cavity so that water can't get in. Unless you are going to launch your tear in a body of water, you don't want that quantity of grease in the chamber.

Inspection and hand packing is the only way to go IMHO.

And Mary, don't let anyone give you a hard time. You just go ahead and lube those tires and air up your muffler bearings.

[Mary K]

Wheel bearings is wheel bearings.

Too much grease==bad thingy happen

Too little grease--bad thingy happen

I think the whole idea of "Bearing Buddies" and the like is to pack enough grease into the cavity so that water can't get in. Unless you are going to launch your tear in a body of water, you don't want that quantity of grease in the chamber.

Inspection and hand packing is the only way to go IMHO.

And Mary, don't let anyone give you a hard time. You just go ahead and lube those tires and air up your muffler bearings.

I lubed dem tires guud, And I got 60 PSI in the muffler thingie too.

Mk