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Old 05-23-2013, 11:58 AM   #1
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Name: dave
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Bearing buddies

How often and what kind of grease should I use?
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Old 05-23-2013, 12:06 PM   #2
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Are you sure they're bearing buddies or are they EZ Lube by Dexter?

Bearing Buddies are made for boat trailers that get dunked all the time. I have EX Lube hubs by Dexter and I've never put grease in them. Instead I have the bearings removed and inspected, then repacked about once a year now that I'm retired and traveling some. While working and using the trailer on week-ends and two week vacations I repacked the bearings once in 4 years.
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Old 05-23-2013, 12:10 PM   #3
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Quote:
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Bearing Buddies are made for boat trailers .
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Old 05-23-2013, 12:47 PM   #4
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I stand corrected, I have the spindle lube type, not bearing buddies. The grease that is visible now is white. I want to use the correct grease.
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Old 05-23-2013, 01:36 PM   #5
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My friendly suggestion would be to go to your local auto parts, tell them what you want grease for, and buy what they suggest. All three of my trailers (boat, utility and travel) get the bearings inspected yearly, and get cleaned and re-greased. I've been doing that more decades than I like to think. I have no use for fancy, self greasing hub caps of whatever kind. I'm just an old fashioned fellow. I get marine grease for the boat trailer and regular plain old bearing grease for the others.

Frank
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Old 05-23-2013, 02:28 PM   #6
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If I had a trailer as new as your Snoozy, I'd ask the manufacturer what type/brand is in there already and use that. There are different schools of thought as to the wisdom of (possibly) mixing types- why take a chance?

Francesca
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Old 05-23-2013, 03:47 PM   #7
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Here's a link to Dexter's maintenance page.

http://www.dexteraxle.com/i/u/614960...rings_3-13.pdf
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Old 05-23-2013, 03:53 PM   #8
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Is the Snoozy axle a Dexter, Byron?

This is one of Carl's pics of his Snoozy axle, and I've been trying without success to read the mfr. name on the label :

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Old 05-23-2013, 06:16 PM   #9
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I have a Dexter 3,500# with EZ-Lube spindles. I bought two tubes of Lucas Red "N" Tacky #2 based on talking to a service fella at Camping World. I could NOT find even ONE of the brands on the Dexter PDF Service Bulletin anywhere in Portland, Oregon. I pumped enough grease through the zerk to see a change in color. Drove the trailer a total of about four hours last weekend and the axle stayed very cool.

YMMV
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Old 05-23-2013, 07:19 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles View Post
Is the Snoozy axle a Dexter, Byron?

This is one of Carl's pics of his Snoozy axle, and I've been trying without success to read the mfr. name on the label :

I just went outside to find out the brand for you.
It says: "MADE IN THE USA by Tie Down Engineering"
Marine Aftermarket & Manufactured Housing - Atlanta, Georgia - Tie Down Engineering
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Old 05-23-2013, 07:39 PM   #11
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WHEEL BEARING LUBRICATION.
Shading indicates the recomendation for the correct
amount of grease in wheel hub. (Fill wheel hub with
grease to inside diameter of outer races and also fill hub
grease cap.) Never use grease heavier than 265 A.S.T.M.
penetration (No. 2 grade). Grease bearing cone by
machine or by hand method. Force grease between
rollers, cone, and cage. It is not recommended that a
pressure grease fitting be installed on the hub.

http://www.tiedown.com/pdf/c125.pdf

DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM ON THEIR WEBSITE.

http://www.tiedown.com/technical-support.html
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Old 05-23-2013, 07:45 PM   #12
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AXLE Q & A

http://www.tiedown.com/pdf/b1063.pdf
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Old 05-23-2013, 08:35 PM   #13
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I guess the axle is NOT Dexter.
Nor is it E-Z Lube.

Here's Dexter's E-Z Lube description

http://l.b5z.net/i/u/6149609/f/produ...-Lube_7-11.pdf

Note that the grease travels in the center of the spindle to inner bearing then out to outer bearing. The Tie Down appears to be closer to bearing buddies where the grease goes in the front until you blow the rear seal. In other words be very careful.

In both cases they expect you to use a manual grease gun to reduce blowing the seal thus getting grease into brake drums.
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Old 05-23-2013, 10:27 PM   #14
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I have been towing for a long time and never lost a wheel bearing.
I do have bearing Buddies in my boat trailer.
The only trailer TT I've owned was a Trillium Jubilee that I bought.
The guy said he had no idea why the brakes didn't work.
I got it home and pulled a wheel off and there must have been 4 pounds of grease in the hub.
In my opinion wheel bearings are the most trouble free part of our trailers if you clean and pack them every few years.
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Old 05-24-2013, 08:24 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perry J View Post
The only trailer TT I've owned was a Trillium Jubilee that I bought.
The guy said he had no idea why the brakes didn't work.
I got it home and pulled a wheel off and there must have been 4 pounds of grease in the hub.
That's the biggest issue I've read about when using Bearing Buddies. Folks just keep pumping in the grease and can't see where it's going!

Here's a pretty good YouTube video that shows how to lube EZ lubes:

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Old 05-24-2013, 08:54 AM   #16
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I wholeheartedly agree with Perry! I generally do it every spring on all three trailers. Each of these trailers I replaced the cups, cones and seals when I get them. Like Perry says, bearings are trouble free when taken care off. I manually load all mine (by finger), and as a result, have never blown a seal out. Most of the old trailers I have got with fancy self-grease hubs have blown seals. That's why I don't use them. I'm just an old maintenance nut.

If I was fortunate to have a brand new trailer of any kind, you can bet I'd be asking for grease type specifics and would write it down with a sharpie someplace.

Frank
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Old 05-24-2013, 12:02 PM   #17
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Carl gets the prize for "Best answer" to the O.P.'s question!

This is for you, Carl:


Hey O.P. Dave- are you still there?

Carl just posted a bunch of info re. your specific axle- everything you need to know, here reproduced all in one spot for your Greasing Pleasure: !


ORIGINAL QESTION:
Quote:
Originally Posted by djcolson View Post
How often and what kind of grease should I use?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles View Post
Is the Snoozy axle a Dexter ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by carlkeigley View Post
I just went outside to find out the brand for you.
It says: "MADE IN THE USA by Tie Down Engineering"
Marine Aftermarket & Manufactured Housing - Atlanta, Georgia - Tie Down Engineering
Quote:
Originally Posted by carlkeigley View Post
WHEEL BEARING LUBRICATION.
Shading indicates the recomendation for the correct
amount of grease in wheel hub. (Fill wheel hub with
grease to inside diameter of outer races and also fill hub
grease cap.) Never use grease heavier than 265 A.S.T.M.
penetration (No. 2 grade). Grease bearing cone by
machine or by hand method. Force grease between
rollers, cone, and cage. It is not recommended that a
pressure grease fitting be installed on the hub.

http://www.tiedown.com/pdf/c125.pdf

DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM ON THEIR WEBSITE.

Technical Support - Atlanta, Georgia - Tie Down Engineering
Quote:
Originally Posted by carlkeigley View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles View Post
Is the Snoozy axle a Dexter ?
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Old 05-24-2013, 12:10 PM   #18
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Awwwww!
Thank You Francesca.
I will have to display it at all the rallies I attend.
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Old 05-24-2013, 12:17 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carlkeigley View Post
Awwwww!
Thank You Francesca.
I will have to display it at all the rallies I attend.
I forgot to mention that there's a small cash honorarium attached. Or was...I spent it!

Francesca
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Old 05-24-2013, 02:28 PM   #20
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Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
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Lucas

Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D. View Post
I have a Dexter 3,500# with EZ-Lube spindles. I bought two tubes of Lucas Red "N" Tacky #2 based on talking to a service fella at Camping World. I could NOT find even ONE of the brands on the Dexter PDF Service Bulletin anywhere in Portland, Oregon. I pumped enough grease through the zerk to see a change in color. Drove the trailer a total of about four hours last weekend and the axle stayed very cool.

YMMV
When I had my axle replaced last year at the Scamp factory ,I asked which grease they recommend for repacking the axle bearings?
Their answer was "Lucas Red & Tacky # 2" . There had several cases of Lucas grease in their repair shop so they follow their own advice
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