Vac packing spare trailer wheel bearings
Hi all,
i had this brainstorm the other day and was wondering whether others had contemplated the idea.
we all know how important it is for carrying spare trailer wheel bearings, particularly on those long trips away.
the usual prep of checking over the trailer and replacing or repacking bearings prior to leaving etc. also there are always recommendations of never mixing the type of grease used when packing the bearings, but that's not always an option on the side of the highway.
I usually pack a complete set of new bearings at the time of changing trailer bearings anyway, to be used as emergency spares. The problem however is even with being covered and packed in grease, if they sit in a placcy bag for extended periods, they end up with surface rust on the bearing races and bearings ect. Therefore I had this lightbulb in the head idea, what about prepping a full set of bearings at the time of regular changing / replacement, and then vac packing them straight after? That way they are sealed to the point they won't get condensation and surface rust when sitting for longer periods, plus they could even be placed somewhere within the car without grease getting smeared on everything because the packet is fully sealed. Make sense?
i have literally just replaced my wheel bearings on the tinnie boat trailer, however have run out of vac pack bags. But as soon as I have some more this weekend, I'll vac seal the spares which are already greased and ready to go, and report on how it all went. With the grease being very thick and tacky, I don't see it being drawn into the sealing strip area of the vac packer too easily.
thoughts?
scano
 (Custom).thumbnail.JPG "130kg Black")
eziliving
Posts: 875
Date Joined: 30/12/09
I reckon it will work a
I reckon it will work a treat and will probably do the same the next long trip I do towing a trailer. If the grease does suck up I'll just put a piece of paper towel in there.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
rodfishsa
Posts: 82
Date Joined: 29/03/13
G'dayAnother option I did on
G'day
Another option I did on a previous setup was to buy one of those stub axle type spare wheel carriers and carry a complete replacement bearing set up. Just undo the old and slide on the new. Check the type of bearings though, the one I bought came with chinese bearings
Cheers
Rod
doublej
Posts: 169
Date Joined: 08/07/09
+1 rodfishsa
+1 rodfishsa
But I attached mine to the drawbar with a spare wheel on it!!!
Stevo81
Posts: 1278
Date Joined: 16/04/12
Me too
Me too
•••••••• Electrical Contractor NOR ••••••••
Anyfishwilldo (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Yes I've done it & it woks
Yes I've done it & it woks well, even vac packed smaller amounts of grease. Obviously you stop and seal the bag before it sucks the grease through the machine.
Silver Fox
Posts: 1113
Date Joined: 19/06/14
Good idea
I've taken to vac bagging spare plugs for me donk and other items that I don't want to be trashed by salt water . Although you never might need to use them it's always better to have em bagged up nice n snug . Better than opening up spark plug box to find that they're in a shittier condition than the fouled ones! As far as bearings go I've got a spare hub assembly in the rear drawers with a tub of grease and all associated tools for bearing change on side of road. It's nice to have a kit set up with only the tools needed for the job . We learnt that idea the hard way when looking for a file or hacksaw to cut off a munted bearing collar that had fused itself to the axle halfway between Overlander n Gladstone , thank fuck we had lots of beer and a sense of humour on board that day. Pays to pack disposable rubber gloves too
My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....
slugger
Posts: 164
Date Joined: 17/02/11
+2
even vac packed the complete hub, one for the front disc and one for the rear
gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
I do this with a standard
I do this with a standard heat strip bag sealer and it works well and the vac sealer would be perfect. I even include a seperate sealed bag with a sealed portion of grease inside the package so if I have to do it I have all the gear on hand. I have this pack in the cabin of the boat at all times.
I haven't had a trailer wheel bearing failure yet though.
I'm probably over the top on this stuff though because I hate crawling around in the dirt doing mechanical repairs. I did have the substandard shockies on my camper trailer explode a few years ago by the time I got to Kalumbaru which was annoying...
Marine trimmer NOR (available for clears, tops, carpet, upholstery, custom equipment covers)
dodgy
Posts: 4578
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I've got 2 spares complete
I've got 2 spares complete on the drawbar. That way I know I have everything I need. Also function as drop down wheels for beach launching.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
squidvicious1
Posts: 824
Date Joined: 22/07/10
I've got a cheap tarp to
I've got a cheap tarp to sit/lie on also,with a similar kit for the trailer.
last Xmas trip tyre blowout was in 45'heat with ground temp around 55.
gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
Yep, same here. I had a tire
Yep, same here. I had a tire delaminate on that same trip. Ended up costing the insurance company about 8k to fix the 200 series. Good result in the end after a lot of pain and got the poxy arb rear wheel carrier replaced with a much better kaymar unit.. but this topic is heading off track now..
Marine trimmer NOR (available for clears, tops, carpet, upholstery, custom equipment covers)
scano
Posts: 1247
Date Joined: 31/05/07
i like Silver Fox's ideas
particularly vac packing additional spark plugs (just bought a tiller steer 30hp tinnie). If anything is going to foul a plug it is a 2 stroke at a time when you least expect it. I reckon a couple of spare plugs vac packed with a cheapish spark plug spanner would be ideal for keeping in the boat for emergencies.
Also the ideas of adding a spare sealed grease packet to the already greased bearings is a good one.
Good to see I am not the only one doing silly stuff in the kitched with the vac packer! hahaha
Scano
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18036
Date Joined: 11/03/08
sounds like a fantastic
sounds like a fantastic idea, certainly save a few headachs if you had to do the job roadside or anywhere for that matter
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Swompa
Posts: 3893
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Yep, I've done it. After I
Yep, I've done it. After I did all of the food for the trip of course.
Scotte
Posts: 1145
Date Joined: 07/12/06
I have a set for 2 wheels so
I have a set for 2 wheels so 4 bearings packed and kept in the grease container with the remaining grease in it. luckily not had to use them yet but vaccum sealing is a good idea
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
Yeap
ive got a full set of bearings vac packed into 2 separate bags ready for use. also got a little tube sealed can of marine grease ready to go and they actually live on the boat under the bunks so I always got that backup :) Then spare hub lives in the shed ready for the big trips away
Doc
Posts: 691
Date Joined: 29/05/16
the vac bags are a good idea,
the vac bags are a good idea, I have my spares for the trailer in sandwich bags, you can leave them in there while you pack the grease in the bearings. Never has a failure yet, probably because we only drive short distances at a time, and it's always in the cool of the morning. We've just done the trip from weipa to archer river over 3 days. It's on an unsealed road, so prevenative maintenance is important.
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
What's that road like these days Doc?
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Doc
Posts: 691
Date Joined: 29/05/16
pretty well worn as you would
pretty well worn as you would expect this time of year, but theres half a dozen graders on it at present
scano
Posts: 1247
Date Joined: 31/05/07
so i gave this idea a crack over the weekend
worked a treat!
I vac packed the spare, pre greased wheel bearings. Also put some spare grease in a sandwich bag, and vac packed that in conjunction with the bearings.
Then I got super excited and vac packed some spare spark plugs for the 2 stroke outboard, along with a spark plug spanner. That is in case I foul a plug on the water.
to finish it off, I sealed up some emergency tools like a couple of screwdrivers and an adjustable spanner, which can live in the gunnels until they are needed. At least this way it is sealed and has half a chance on not corroding to death. hahaha
Silver Fox
Posts: 1113
Date Joined: 19/06/14
Niiice
Just don't forget a knife....:)
My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....