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05-22-2019, 06:24 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Cleaning Bearings
What do folks use to clean the old grease out of bearings before repacking?
On a side note... Going through my brothers Jayco which has E-Z lubes, what a mess cleaning out all the grease folks pump into these things.
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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05-22-2019, 07:14 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Naugatuck, Connecticut
Trailer: 2017 50 TA, 2016 F150, 2.7 Ecoboost
Posts: 1,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
What do folks use to clean the old grease out of bearings before repacking?
On a side note... Going through my brothers Jayco which has E-Z lubes, what a mess cleaning out all the grease folks pump into these things.
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Gas or kerosene, outside of course. Get rid of it by adding to drain oil (still change my own oil) a bit at a time. Dry with compressed air, DO NOT SPIN THE BEARING.
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05-22-2019, 07:18 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2019 5.0TA "Junior", 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
Posts: 1,600
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Brake cleaner works well also.
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David, Mary, and the cats
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05-22-2019, 07:24 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Naugatuck, Connecticut
Trailer: 2017 50 TA, 2016 F150, 2.7 Ecoboost
Posts: 1,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidmurphy02
Brake cleaner works well also.
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Absolutely, but I’m cheap, I mean frugal 😎
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05-22-2019, 07:46 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Trailer: April 2016 21' "Ramble On"
Posts: 283
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On the E-Z lubes, I thought you just keep pumping in new grease at the zerk fitting until the new grease displaces the old. Keep going until you see fresh coming out of the bearings.
How come you want to clean the bearings? Do you have a different method of re-packing?
Thanks
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Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt
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05-22-2019, 08:10 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Even with the E-Z lubes Dexter says you should inspect the bearings yearly or every 12k, which ever comes first. Talked to the RV repair shop about it yesterday, along with checking the bearings he tells me the seals need periodic replacing anyway, which folks don't do if they only use the Zerk fitting. Add old seals with the pressure of the Zerk fitting and you have blown seals.
FWIW, I do mine every 2 years. I've not cleaned out all the grease in the bearings in the past, just get them as clean as I can, check and repack. Doing my brothers, he has them full of grey grease, if that's what you call the color. All I have is red so I;ve got to clean out the old.
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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05-22-2019, 07:02 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by huskersteffy
On the E-Z lubes, I thought you just keep pumping in new grease at the zerk fitting until the new grease displaces the old. Keep going until you see fresh coming out of the bearings.
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That's what you do every time you back your travel trailer down the boat launch ramp and immerse the bearings, to flush out the water-contaminated grease. You do realize that's the purpose of E-Z Lube, right.
The grease-flushing does nothing for inspecting the bearings.
Quote:
Originally Posted by huskersteffy
How come you want to clean the bearings?
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To inspect them properly. I don't see any need to do this as frequently as annually, but a couple of times a decade is probably good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by huskersteffy
Do you have a different method of re-packing?
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There is only one proper method of repacking (as opposed to grease-flushing).
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05-22-2019, 07:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
I've not cleaned out all the grease in the bearings in the past, just get them as clean as I can, check and repack. Doing my brothers, he has them full of grey grease, if that's what you call the color. All I have is red so I;ve got to clean out the old.
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That makes sense to me. I agree that there is no need to completely de-grease them, as long as the condition can be clearly seen and there is no dirt left, except in this case of changing grease type. Even then, as long as it is compatible (which you may be unsure of in this case) just wipe, inspect, and re-pack is appropriate.
Since I've never changed grease type, I've never done this full de-greasing, so sorry... no useful suggestions.
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05-22-2019, 08:02 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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It's done. Used gas, which works but kind of slowly. Would be okay if I let them soak overnight, which I didn't. They sat in the gas for maybe 30 minutes then blasted with brake cleaner. Thanks for the help.
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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05-22-2019, 09:39 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,289
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For years I have used a soup can from like Progresso soup. Put about an inch of gasoline in the can and drop the bearing in. Use a pencil or a stick to put in the middle of the bearing and swirl it around the edge of the can. The old grease will flush out pretty quickly. Then inspect and dry off with a shop towel or a rag or whatever. Set in the sun for a few minutes to let the last of the gas evaporate. Do not use an air compressor to spin the bearing. Once clean check for play, pitting, deep scratches. If the bearing is discolored ( Blue ish) it’s been hot. If any of these conditions are present, buy a new bearing. That’s what I have done for 50 years and never had a bearing failure so I’m not changing now.
Iowa Dave
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Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
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05-22-2019, 09:55 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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That works for me. Only time I did my bearings myself, I filled a gallon bucket with gas, that I had to dispose of after the job.
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What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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05-22-2019, 10:35 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,882
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Timely post, that's my agenda for tomorrow before I head off on a trip.
What's with a number of you using gas to clean bearings, , are you too cheap to buy some good old solvent?
I've used solvent since I was a teenager and never had a problem getting the old grease out. But I have to confess, I was told as a teenager not to spin the bearing with compressed air. And every time I've cleaned bearings since.......... it's kind of like an addiction, love that revving up sound.
Ron
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05-23-2019, 12:54 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
Timely post, that's my agenda for tomorrow before I head off on a trip.
What's with a number of you using gas to clean bearings, , are you too cheap to buy some good old solvent?
I've used solvent since I was a teenager and never had a problem getting the old grease out. But I have to confess, I was told as a teenager not to spin the bearing with compressed air. And every time I've cleaned bearings since.......... it's kind of like an addiction, love that revving up sound.
Ron
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I also do my bearings and seals . I use solvent or brake clean . Gas is pricey here . Pat
PS Ron I don't spin the bearings
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05-23-2019, 08:40 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DFW, Texas
Trailer: 2018 21 Sept 7 2018
Posts: 1,073
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I agree Ron nothing better than hearing the bearring motor rev up several times
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05-23-2019, 09:35 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Naugatuck, Connecticut
Trailer: 2017 50 TA, 2016 F150, 2.7 Ecoboost
Posts: 1,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldtimer
I agree Ron nothing better than hearing the bearring motor rev up several times
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☹️ Right, several times faster than it was ever designed to go 💣
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05-24-2019, 07:12 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Had 2 blown rear seals out of 4 which may or may not have been the result of my brother using the E-Z Lube feature.
This is the worse of the 2.
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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05-24-2019, 08:50 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Ocean Park, Maine
Trailer: 21NE picked up in May 2022
Posts: 207
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I never use gasoline for bearings or CV joints, just a good solvent (like Varsol or even K1) in a plastic coffee can. I also only use a synthetic grease anymore, my normal is Valvoline or Castrol. Never an issue.
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05-24-2019, 12:11 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Trailer: April 2016 21' "Ramble On"
Posts: 283
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Wondering why the E-Z lube feature would cause a bearing seal failure?
__________________
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt
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05-24-2019, 01:02 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,289
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Too much grease, pushes the seal out. Grease leaks out and dirt comes in. Bearings get hot, dirt acts as grinding media. failure results.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
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05-24-2019, 01:15 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2019 5.0TA "Junior", 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
Posts: 1,600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave
Too much grease, pushes the seal out. Grease leaks out and dirt comes in. Bearings get hot, dirt acts as grinding media. failure results.
Iowa Dave
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During our orientation last month they showed me where to add grease to the hubs and said it would take perhaps three pumps, be careful not to overdo it. At least on the current hubs there's a little washer-like plate and they said you can see that start to move outward when you add grease, as soon as it starts to move, stop. I'm sure it's easy to overdo - you definitely don't want to keep squirting until you see grease gushing out.
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David, Mary, and the cats
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