MacGregorSailors.com

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http://www.shallowwatersailor.us/

If you have Bearing Buddies remember to keep them filled and pressurized to keep water from getting to the bearings. There are newer systems, such as Champion’s spindle-lube system. In this system the axle has grease fittings on the ends of the axle that deliver grease between the inner bearing and seal. It seems like a good design as it allows you to renew all the grease in the hub without taking the hub off. You pump in the grease and the new grease displaces all the old grease in the hub. Champion does not recommend the use of bearing buddies because the pressure tends to blow out the inner seal. Their axles come with special covers that do not pressurize the grease. But once a year you are supposed to replace the grease, removing any water that might have entered the hub. So on balance, Champion feels this approach works better. In any case don’t neglect your bearings.

Good Topic thread on these

I had never even heard of bearing buddies before this. I find the design intriguing. I was not argueing for or against either greased or oiled hubs. Merely stating my opinion on each and both. I tried to split the discussion a good 50/50, guess I didnt.

I am curious to know if the BB Mfr stated applied pressure of 3p.s.i. is within the failure limit of most seals designed for ambient atmosphere??

In investigating both forms of lube a little more thoroughly, as I shouldve perhaps before providing my opinion....Im still on the fence and lacking conclusive scientific data unwilling to take a definitive position on this subject.

I'm familiar with the Champion spindle-lube system as it's on the second axle I installed. In fact, I now have a mixed system, one axle with the original Bearing Buddy type lube, one with the Champion system. BTW, the Mac system is not the "real" Bearing Buddy brand, but a Fulton equivalent.

I would not be too surprised that Champion says their own spindle lube system is better than the Bearing Buddy system. However, if you pay attention when you're filling the Bearing Buddies m and don't overfill them past the spring travel, the pressure is not that high and a good seal won't blow out.

Both seem to work equally well on my trailer, but now that my boat is wet slipped for our sailing season it's not as much of a test. It only gets dunked 4-8 times per year, about half of those in salt water, and I always rinse everything thouroughly after a salt water dunk.

After 50 years of towing trailers, 20 of them using bearing Buddies, I have yet to have a bearing failure or wearout. Owner vigilance and preventative maintenance is the main reason. I use Lubrimatic marine axle grease in the hubs of the boat and travel trailer (which often goes offroad and fords streams) and bearing buddies. They have always performed as advertised, so I won't change. My motto is if it ani't broke, don't fix it.

BTW, I keep a small box of vinyl gloves in the compartment where the tool box is located. After a bearing check, sewage dump, paint touchup or other dirty job, trash the gloves and walk away with clean hands.