Ultra-Lube,Perma-Lube, Other??

[SSmbs]

I purchased a 2008 rockwood 5th with 3500# AL-KO axles. The previous owner never did maintenace to the bearings. The manual talks about the Ultra and Perma not needing packing but also refers to packing every 6 months. My axles do not have grease zerks (but they do have a hole in the end) so I assume they are not Ultra. How do you tell the difference between Perma and those needing to be packed?

[SSmbs]

A rep at AL KO emailed back that they never sold Perma Lube axles to Rockwood. Just Ultra and standard axles.

[h20ski]

If your alko axle has a hole in it and not just a dimple for milling, you probably have an Ulta lube spindle. All you would have to do is install a grease fitting. I had a axle problem several years ago and had to order a new Ultra lube axle from AL-KO and when I got it it didn't have grease fittings installed in either side. Installed some and I was good to go.

[Herk7769]

If the bearings have never been serviced, they should be removed and inspected BEFORE you do the Zerk fittings. Who ever does your bearing inspection/repack and new axle seals can verify you have Ultra-lube axle spindles at the same time. Once they are packed and the Zerks installed, you can use the flow through lube change without worry.

[SSmbs]

The hole,about the correct size for a grease zerk but no threads,ends at about 3/8 " in with metal that appears a different color than the axle. I will be re-packing soon and I assume Ultra Lube axles must have a hole in the shaft toward the back where the grease comes in. It is odd that they don't make them all Ultra. It can't cost much to drill a hole through the axle. From reading this forum and others I plan on using Lucas red and tacky to repack the bearings.

[Herk7769]

A bit more complicated than drilling a hole, but here is more info on the system.