HF bearing question

[Melven]

My tailer came with what looks like pre greased bearings. In the directions they make a big deal about greasing them. Do I need to clean this grease off and re grease them or are they fine?

[suckerpunched]

clean them and use a good quality grease

[Melven]

clean them and use a good quality grease

What should I clean them with? There is a ton of grease in there.

[Melven]

clean them and use a good quality grease

Also would marine grease be ok?

[absolutsnwbrdr]

That crap that comes in them is just a rust-inhibiting gel. Wipe all that stuff off bearings and hubs, and then spray everything clean with brake cleaner. Repack with a good bearing grease. I like Valvoline SynPower Full-Synthetic multipurpose grease

[Melven]

That crap that comes in them is just a rust-inhibiting gel. Wipe all that stuff off bearings and hubs, and then spray everything clean with brake cleaner. Repack with a good bearing grease. I like Valvoline SynPower Full-Synthetic multipurpose grease

Solid advise. Thank you.

[LDK]

Instead of using a multipurpose grease you would be better off using a grease designed just for wheel bearings. I just repacked my HF bearings and I used this.



I also bought extra bearings and seals too.

[marshall0000]

My tailer came with what looks like pre greased bearings. In the directions they make a big deal about greasing them. Do I need to clean this grease off and re grease them or are they fine?

Almost any grease will be fine including the stuff that they came packed with. Just be sure you keep grease in there. If you want to go overboard use Mystic JT-6 Hi temp. No need to overthink this.

[pete42]

your concern about packing the bearings is legit
others have already said what they use I also used a grease designed for bearings.
I cleaned mine using kerosene and a stiff round brush some use gasoline but I found gas tends to cause rust.
what ever you use, keep them lubed and you won't go wrong.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Almost any grease will be fine including the stuff that they came packed with.

NO NO NO NO

The stuff that comes on Harbor Freights' bearings and hubs IS NOT BEARING GREASE.

You know how we know? Because it says so right in the manual.

[les45]

I agree with the others that the stuff that comes with the trailer kits is not suitable grease. Also, you never know how much contaminants they may have left in the grease like dirt or metal shavings. I'm more concerned about how people clean the bearings (gasoline?). I only use acetone or brake cleaner and even then I use nitrile gloves and lots of ventilation anytime I'm cleaning or packing.

[Wolffarmer]

I live dangerously, clean the bearings in gasoline and don't wear gloves. At least I don't smoke while doing it. ( I have seen people smoking while cleaning parts in gas ) That is something even I will not do. But yes nitrile gloves are not a bad idea. Keep the fumes down wind, DO NOT SMOKE. Next time I think about repacking bearings will probably use Coleman fuel. That is not half as nasty as car gas. Then a dip in kerosene as I have a lot of that around. Then keeping the bearings from spinning blow them out with compressed air. Don't forget to clean the race also. Then really squish the good quality grease into the bearings. I can't see that it matters if you use a grease marked for wheel bearings or some high quality grease. I use high quality stuff. Can't remember the name right now and I am to lazy to run out to the shop. But I think it is some Lubriplate product. It is kind of blueish, maybe next time I will stop at JOhn Deere and pick up some JD green grease. I pick it up at a bearing store here in town. I don't think I would even bother to look in Walmart for good grease. Unless you are going for that 50's greased hair look.

Randy

[eamarquardt]

The stuff that comes on Harbor Freights' bearings and hubs IS NOT BEARING GREASE.

You know how we know? Because it says so right in the manual.

You can read Chinese?

[pjo129]

Thanks for the great advice. I had the same question.

[markhusbands]

I cleaned the bearings with gas and packed them with bearing grease from NAPA. I used a little syringe style gizmo to force the grease around the bearing. Did it work? No idea; thing's still parked in my garage.