I admit to being totally ignore of everything mechanical - so guidance is absolutely necessary.
Purchased a 10 year old Hannigan Astro. Still has the original tire and I suspect, never serviced.
Do wheel bearing need to be packed? If so how often - and more importantly will the procedure be the same as a standard trailer(no brake on rig)? Can I just pull up instructions on the internet and follow them without major surprises?
Thanks
Inspect, clean and pack the bearings with a good lithium grease if you have it since aren't sure of the maintenance history of the rig.
Well adjusted wheel bearings don't need attention often unless you're running off road, in the mud or water or carrying very heavy loads.
Lonnie
Hello Wayne,
when you grease a bearing just take one thing in mind:
To much grease is as bad as or even worse then too less!
Why? Because if there might be not ANY space left for to flow to, the grease causes friction as hell and heats up = >up to total destroy (including the bearing nest).
Sounds strange but I have seen that on some machinery, where the operator was TOO generous.
As general rule you can fill up the free available space inside the bearing about 1/3 (when the capturing does not permit grease to flow away) to max 2/3 (when there are some elevated cups or shaft sealings that permit the grease to settle in).
The grease should not be too stiff. In low temperature aplications (generally in reduction gear boxes) I often mix some oil into the grease so that at operation temperature the grease still FLOWS down a little bit and will weten the bearing cage and balls.
Marine grease is great for its water repellant caracteristic, but many times made for far too high temperatures. (I once had a grease with Boride aditives for high temperature application that increased service life of that machine bearings times 3, but it was too stiff for Bike wheel bearings (exept in the desert))
Litium grease with Molybden aditives (example Molycote) is great and is available in diferent temperature ranges. Grade II is generaly perfect. (softens in between your fingertips)
-----
Be aware that you do not over load those bearings that are in contact with the breaks. On my actuall rig I did grease in the beginning too much and in the mountains often the breaks heated up the bearings so much that the grease became liquid, passed the felt covers (Velorex) and spoiled the breaks.
Buddy that are moments you start to pray!
Then the only thing to doo was open the break somewhere in the midle of nowhere wait for to cool down and wash the parts with thinner.
Best reagrds
Sven Peter
PS: Shaft sealings always should be lightly wetened with oil or grease on the race before assemble.
