Bearing Packer

[theoldwizard1]

My son-in-law is a very nice guy, but has no "hands-on" experience with mechanical or electrical things. He now owns a travel trailer and is talking about re-packing the bearings (I never did that on a 1 year old trailer !). What tool (if any) do you use and would recommend for a rookie ?

 

[JJThrasher]

I have a bearing packer at work. His name is Jeff and he's the new guy.

In all seriousness I do it by hand.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have one like the first one, it waists a lot of grease if you are doing a large bearing.

 

[atomicpunk]

Small bearings by hand, larger ones with a bearing packer.

 

[ClineWrench]

I like to pack smaller bearings by hand, but larger ones using a Lisle bearing packer such as what's shown in image 2 with the clear cup and red press down packing top.

 

[Monkey Milk]

"No hands on experience" get him the bearing buddy. Takes the place of the bearing cap and has a zerk fitting for a grease gun. Don't have to take it apart and mess with the pre-load.

 

[Chevy-SS]

In old days I had bearing packer but it got lost. No real need for it any more as most automotive bearings not serviceable.

Packing by hand is easy and accurate. The key is to use rubber gloves to eliminate the mess factor. However, if doing lots of bearings, I'd get a packer...........

 

[BBC71Nova]

I like to pack smaller bearings by hand, but larger ones using a Lisle bearing packer such as what's shown in image 2 with the clear cup and red press down packing top.

I've historically done it by hand. However this year I purchased the Lisle as shown in the second pic. Works like a champ on wheel bearings. No idea why I waited so long to get one. Much faster too.

 

[mike93lx]

My son-in-law is a very nice guy, but has no "hands-on" experience with mechanical or electrical things. He now owns a travel trailer and is talking about re-packing the bearings (I never did that on a 1 year old trailer !). What tool (if any) do you use and would recommend for a rookie ?

I pack bearing by hand and don't see anything wrong with doing so at 1 year old. I don't tow my utility trailers a lot, and even i clean, inspect and repack bearings every 1-2 years.

 

[bczygan]

I had one like the first one. Misplaced for now. Packed the last ones by hand and tossed the latex gloves afterwards.

Would like one like the last one, but too pricey. Plus, what do you do if yuo use different greases?

Bill

 

[CJM8515]

I have the 2nd one pictured. I think I used it maybe once. I find its easier to just pack it by hand wearing gloves.

 

[bobcatdan]

While I can and do repack bearings by hand, only do it when I have to. I normally use the cone style you pump with a grease gun. I do not like the other style at all. In a perfect world, I want option D. I was spoiled at my first dealership. They had a drum mounted one. It was like the cone style, but with its own pump, easily the most civilized way to pack bearings. I may have one some day. At work we use 15 gallon drums of grease for most things. When the pumps spit, there is close to 5 gallons left, I have been snagging those. Once I collect a full barrel worth of free grease, I'm think I will buy one of those packer then have four lifetimes of wheel bearing grease.

 

[colin39]

I have a bearing packer at work. His name is Jeff and he's the new guy.

In all seriousness I do it by hand.

Tgis but his name is frank, he is my apprentice

 

[Outlander]

After the last adventure doing the 4 sets on my tandem trailer I bought one like picture number 1. Have not yet used it.

 

[Roberts210]

After many, many years of packing wheel bearings by hand I got lazy and bought the cone-type packer. I still think packing 'em by hand is best but I do use the cone a lot just to keep from getting so greasy.

 

[theoldwizard1]

"No hands on experience" get him the bearing buddy. Takes the place of the bearing cap and has a zerk fitting for a grease gun.

I know those are common on boat trailer, but I thought they require "special" axles/spindle (center drilled with port for grease near the inner bearing) ?

 

[MattPersman]

Second style pictured. Love it

Bearing buddy would be quicker not having to take apart and re set up bearings each time



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ken w.]

I have the one in pic 2. It's the best packer made. A lot of folks complain that it's too hard to push the grease into the bearing. You put it on the ground and step on it or squeeze it in your vise . They work awesome.

 

[Devious510]

I work as a trailer mechanic. We use the one in pic 1 works great. Bearing buddies don't require a "special" axle. The "special" axle is referred to as an ez lube axle. Unfortunately most bearings are now made in china and are junk.

 

[rsanter]

I have both
They both work good
The issue with the first one is that to keep it clean I have to store it in an old,coffee can with a lid. Then to use it I have to get the grease gun out.

The second one I got more recently. I like it because it is self contained.

Bob

 

[txvwnut]

I was taught to pack them by hand and did so for years, even razzed a friend of mine for using a packer tool for a while. I know have packer like pic#2 and like it for it's speed and the fact that I don't really care to be covered in grease that much.

 

[6PTsocket]

I have a bearing packer at work. His name is Jeff and he's the new guy.

In all seriousness I do it by hand.

I agree. Just wear a set of disposable gloves to make clean up easier.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[L.Cheapo]

I have the one in pic 2. It's the best packer made. A lot of folks complain that it's too hard to push the grease into the bearing. You put it on the ground and step on it or squeeze it in your vise . They work awesome.

This. After recently doing a set of bearings on a late model 2wd Ranger the old fashioned way, I realized it wasn't a prudent use of my time. I can now do 4 bearings in less time than one bearing the old way, and I don't get nearly as greasy.

For multiple greases, just use multiple packers. They're less than $20. Whats your time worth?

 

[Cope]

Started out by hand, then to #1, and now using #2.

 

[Git]

#2 Lisle 34550 Handy Packer Bearing Packer.

$20 - and well worth it

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002NYDYO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[beatcad]

it depends, but mostly pic 2.
especially on timkin bearings on like motorcycle steering stem brearings.
bicycle style caged bearing by hand

 

[geartow]

I have the second one for small bearings, large bearings a use a hyperdermic needle on a greese gun between each roller till it comes out top n bottom turn a couple turns and repeat works great.

 

[Superbec]

2 is much faster , also less impurities in the grease ... Idon't mind doing it by hand when I can't find the gizmo

 

[royesses]

I packed bearings by hand for 50 years. Then I purchased the Lisle bearing packer. Still got my hands covered with grease but it does a great job of getting the grease packed in. Teach the youngins how to pack by hand first then let them use a packer.

 

[04chase]

pic one , it fits larger bearings which is what i see more often, it also pushes out old grease. Also an electric grease gun makes it alot quicker. Then you can use all the inner grease to fill the inner hub between the races. Ive seen a few of the newer china axles have a passage inside the axle tube with a zert on the very end of the axle where the bearing dust cap goes. When you lube it the grease comes from the center out and packs the bearings while they are installed. Electric grease gun is needed unless you have pop eye forearms and like pumping alot.

 

[owenst7]

#2 Lisle 34550 Handy Packer Bearing Packer.

$20 - and well worth it

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002NYDYO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Exactly what I use. They're made in USA and cheaper than the chinese ones I've seen in stores.

I packed them by hands for years and thought the tools were dumb until a buddy showed me how much less grease the Lisle tool uses. I use expensive grease, and I'm pretty sure this tool pays for itself in the first couple tubes. It's way faster than doing it by hand also.

 

[Doug Arthurs]

By hand unless the bearings and grease spent the night in sub freezing temps in the back of your truck.

 

[johndeereman]

As COPE said by hand but then purchased option 1, then option 2. I either do them by hand with a glove or use option 2.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

I would pick option number 3 (not touch them). repacking bearings after one year is ridiculous unless you tow the trailer 30 to 40 thousand miles a year, most don't see 1K in a year. years ago cars and trucks would go 50k or more on tapered bearings before a repack and the repack was only necessary because you pulled them out to turn the rotors. All the RV dealerships recommend repacking yearly because they charge between $150 and $200 dollars an hour. at 1.5h per axle this is easy money. I am willing to bet that the vast majority of trailer bearing failures are due to harry homeowner doing his own work and tightening the preload nut too tight (they should have zero preload and preferably just a "tick" of play measured at the outside of the wheel). Boat trailers are a different story but you don't go submerging your travel trailer axles in a lake on a weekly basis.

Oh ya, when I do pack bearings I use the one in the second pic.

 

[gooblunar]

I have always done them by hand. I just bought option 2 and I really like it. If I can help it and the bearings aren't to large, no more by hand!

 

[Empty Pockets]

I still pack by hand. Utility trailer gets repacked about every 3rd year. I used to have the kids do it. They learned then moved out.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I had always packed them by hand, then got a #1 and did one set and loved it, But lost it some where. Got another one, have not used it yet. But found the first one now.

 

[HighPlainsWrencher]

We have one at work that is on a drum. throw your bearing in tighten the cone down and give her a few pumps. works good. I bought one like in the 2nd pic to do the bearings in skid steer bogies. I like it. A lot quicker than doing them by hand and easier to cleanup.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Always done #1, after reading this it's looking like #3. As to how often, suffice to say on the farm it's when something new shows up with no history, or when something breaks, honestly with the new **** Chinese bearings in everything, I don't know if you could do it often enough to make a difference. We had some on a front tractor that made it less than a year from new. The quality just isn't there. I wish it wasn't so time consuming to source quality parts.

 

[justanengineer]

I use #1 as its the easiest to clean but #2 works well too. Packing by hand doesnt push the old grease out worth a dam and will lead to early bearing death. The aforementioned "bearing buddy" system is similar, its meant for boat trailers being submerged not long-haul trailers and will overfill and overheat bearings in short order.