Question Is there a specific type of grease gun needed for Dexter EZ Lube axles?

[Kevin D Pem]

I would guess the last seals I bought were about 5 a piece, just plan on replacing them and avoid the stress.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

A 1" wood dowel or a length of wood broom handle is great for driving out the rear bearing and the seal at the same time. The outside bearing likely fell out when you pulled the hub. Just remember to install a NEW seal. You can tap it in carefully all the way around. Just be sure to put the rear bearing in place first and then the seal. It must be flush with the inside ring of the hub. Look at the old one before removal.

I replaced bearings and seals including grease for less than $75. It takes a couple of hours to remove the hubs, clean everything, pack the new bearing, and reassemble and adjust to torque specs. Then adjust the brakes and install the tires.

Be sure to clean all of your tools and hands. They will get dirty and greasy.

Bob

 

[Bob K4TAX]

I did read somewhere that the zerk could be stopped up, and I bet that is the case since I haven't ever changed the grease. I'll repack the bearings by hand at this point. Maybe I'll try the EZ Lube system again next year, but if repacking isn't really difficult, I might just keep doing that.

Thank yall for the advice.

Yes, always wipe off the outside of the Zerk so as not to push dirt into the bearing area.

 

[kkaos]

So now I'm wondering if I need to go to all this trouble. Although we have had this travel trailer for three years, we don't take it far and not very often. Last year, we took it on 3 or 4 trips, and I would say the mileage for the year was less than 1000 miles. The year before, the usage was similar. For the first year, we might have taken it for 6 trips. Overall, I'd say we've put no more than 4000 miles of usage on the trailer.

Although I do see some black (dirty) grease, I also still see a lot of red (clean). Also, I mentioned my usage of the trailer to someone recently, and he said that given how seldom the trailer is used, a couple squirts of fresh grease with the grease gun for each wheel per year should be good enough.

Is that sound advice? How often do yall add grease or repack?

Also, I went ahead and put the tire back on yesterday, making sure that the outer bearing, washer, and nut were added in the correct order beforehand. I had hand-tightened the nut and tested rotating the wheel. It would turn smoothly for about a rotation or two before getting a bit stiff, then smooth for another rotation or two, and then get a bit stiff again. The only way to get the wheel to not feel stiff was to loosen the nut to where it really isn't hand-tight at all. That doesn't seem right. Shouldn't the nut at least be hand-tight and the wheel still be able to turn smoothly?

 

[Rich W.]

A couple pumps per year is usually enough. If its been a long time since the bearings have had any attention, repacking them is a good idea. Since its a fairly new trailer and you are apparently the orig owner, normal maint with the bearing buddies should be fine.

On the axle nut, you first set the pre-load on the bearing by tightening the nut. With the nut loose, get the wheel spinning and then tighten the nut until it slows, then another 1/4 turn or so. Then turn the wheel a few times. That gets grease where its needed and firms everything up. Then loosen the nut and run it down hand tight, then put in the cotter pin and you’re set. If you have it about right and the cotter pin hole doesn't line up, just tighten it a bit more until it does - it wont take much. Thats why the nut (castle nut) has three slots.

Do a google search on setting the pre-load if you are unsure. You’ll probably find several different methods - use the one that works for you. When you’re done, your wheel should spin freely but there should be no play in it. Grab the top and bottom of the wheel and push on while pulling the other back and forth a few times to see if its firm - there should be no play or slop.

If after going through the above proceedure your wheel still hangs up and doesn't spin freely, it’s time to take a close look at your bearings.