Thread: Bearing check

Originally Posted by jimp

What does a "cold hub" mean after you've traveled a bit while the other hug is warm from being towed/

X2! Was wondering the same thing myself. Not doubting, just trying to lean.

Well I had trailered the boat about 10 miles. More than enough time for the temps to normalize. The one I said was cold was at room temp or as this was outside I guess it was outside temp. Which means when I touched it it wasn't hotter or colder than my hand. On the other hand the one that was warm wasn't to hot to touch, as that would have been very bad, but rather it was warm to my touch. Like someone running a low grade fever.

Now the one I replaced a week or so back was the warm one. It had a very small piece of steel on the race that was being rolled over by each bearing roller on each revolution. That piece of steel was being pounded into the race and possibly chipping away at the rollers. What ever, it made it warm to the touch.

The one I replaced today was the cold one or the one that felt room temp. The corrosion I showed the picture of was not bad enough to cause the bearing to overheat, It was mostly stains cause by water sitting on the race. Running it like that it wouldn't be too long or too many miles before it started getting warm also. At what point would it give way. I'm not willing to find out.

By the way JR can I have a point or two back for being frugal.
"gene"

A hub that is room temp is a good thing then but it still never hurts to check the parts to be sure. Good catch, I went thru basically the same thing on a trailer I recently purchased but the hubs were just warm to the touch. I went ahead and pulled the bearings and found similar marks along with some scorching marks as well, so all new parts for me as well.

No points back PPG. As you know money is no object when it comes to fishing

Jimp, You are perfectly correct. Once all the parts are new and have been run-in for a time, it's time to do the touch test. From then on you can compare that to all future tests. It only take a small rise in temperature to indicate that something is starting to fail. If ever in doubt pull the hub and do it once a year for good measure. I also do it before every long haul no matter how long it's been since my last check. If you wait until the hub is hot to touch you have done yourself a dis-service and to your fellow motorists. By follow my own advice, these bearing which were the original ones that came with the trailer 8 years ago, have led a good and productive life. One more point, it's better to do your maintenance in summer when the fishing slows than in winter. Spring and Fall are great times but the fish are always calling.

JR an old school mechanic like myself has to get his hands greasy at least once a year just to feel right. When I learned how to do bearings there were no such things like that fancy high tech device you have.

"gene"

And all this time I thought you were just an old geezer. LOL

I've been an old geezer all my life but now it's beginning to show.
"gene"

Gene, you're wiser than many I know. I see things most don't. A real pleasure to know you.