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Old 04-07-2016, 07:44 AM   #1
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Gotta be a better way???

My 2016 Wildcat MAXX has a center cap that has a lip that fits behind the wheel to hold it on. This cap needs to be removed before I can put grease in the "bearing buddies". The only way to currently grease the "bearing buddies" is to jack up the trailer, unscrew the lug nuts, pull the wheel/tire/center cap off the trailer axle, grease the zerk, and reverse the process. Needless to say, this is a time consuming process to add a small amount of grease to the wheel bearings on 4 wheels. I know I can leave the center caps OFF ,but I'm wondering if there's a replacement cap that;
1) attaches in a more user friendly manner, like on the outside if the wheel
2) has a removable metal end or a large rubber plug
3) ???????

My unit has the "casted wheels" that are black and "silver" with X pattern bars. Any suggestions are appreciated.
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Old 04-07-2016, 10:30 AM   #2
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I don't know about size, but the bearing buddy caps on my boat have a rubber center that can be removed for greasing, just a thought.
I also believe that bearing buddies come in different diameters
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Old 04-07-2016, 12:19 PM   #3
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Brookstone,
Thanks for the reply. I probably didn't do a good job of describing the configuration of the metal center caps (cones) that are covering the axel and Bearing Buddy's. My Bearing Buddy's also have a rubber cover on the end. My issue is I have to take the wheel off which allows the removing of the center cap (cone), then I can remove the rubber cap on the end of the Bearing Buddy. It's removing the tires to get at the Bearing Buddy's that's my issue.
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Old 04-07-2016, 03:10 PM   #4
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Maybe try a mag wheel shop for a different center cap?
I don't know what the wheels are on my 5th wheel, but center of my chrome cap pops off for access.
I will check when I get home tonight
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Old 04-07-2016, 03:21 PM   #5
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Maybe find a rubber plug of a suitable size and then drill a hole in the end of your current center cap that the plug would fit?
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Old 04-07-2016, 05:26 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by capav8r View Post
Maybe find a rubber plug of a suitable size and then drill a hole in the end of your current center cap that the plug would fit?
As they say-----Great minds!! Thanks for your suggestion, it's what i've been considering but wanted to see if there was an "easier solution". I'm thinking the hole would need to be pretty good size as I would need to be able to get my fingers, or a pair of long nosed pliers into the hole to remove/replace the rubber cap on the Buddy Bearing during the lub process.
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Old 04-07-2016, 06:00 PM   #7
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FYI, "Buddy Bearings" DO NOT get grease to the inner bearing. Learned the hard way and got to see the evidence first hand as my wheel fell off the trailer.

If you have the Dexter axles with "EX-lube" grease fitting, that is a different story. Are you sure you have "Buddy Bearings"?
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Old 04-07-2016, 06:13 PM   #8
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Excellent question. I'll need to do a bit of research to see which lub system FR uses on the 2016 28RKX Wildcat MAXX.
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Old 04-07-2016, 06:29 PM   #9
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My center cap has a little removable center to get to the rubber plug. I still pack the bearings by hand.
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Old 04-07-2016, 06:51 PM   #10
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The center part of cap is removable

Click image for larger version

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Entire center cap piece can only be removed by taking off wheel
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Old 04-07-2016, 07:17 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brookstone345sa View Post
The center part of cap is removable

Attachment 104212

Entire center cap piece can only be removed by taking off wheel
Thanks for taking time to check your center cap, I appreciate it. Guess I'll be looking for a center cap with a removable end section.
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Old 04-07-2016, 07:25 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tragusa3 View Post
FYI, "Buddy Bearings" DO NOT get grease to the inner bearing. Learned the hard way and got to see the evidence first hand as my wheel fell off the trailer.

If you have the Dexter axles with "EX-lube" grease fitting, that is a different story. Are you sure you have "Buddy Bearings"?
I have the EX-lub system and I've have found stainless steel center caps that have the removable end on e-trailer for $11 each! Thanks to all.
I'll be ordering these soon!!!
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Old 04-07-2016, 07:38 PM   #13
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Great! There are some good youtube videos showing exactly how they work. I went to my local trailer shop and they had a demo axle for me to see. Looked like it should work well.

Some guys on another forum say to still be very careful not to blow out the rear seals by pumping too hard. It's not good to get grease in your brakes. They say they would still hand pack, which I'm considering doing too.
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Old 04-08-2016, 12:54 PM   #14
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Great! There are some good youtube videos showing exactly how they work. I went to my local trailer shop and they had a demo axle for me to see. Looked like it should work well.

Some guys on another forum say to still be very careful not to blow out the rear seals by pumping too hard. It's not good to get grease in your brakes. They say they would still hand pack, which I'm considering doing too.
I bet those same guys only drive manual transmission vehicles, don't use cruise control and would NEVER touch a microwave oven!
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Old 04-08-2016, 01:03 PM   #15
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Do you think they use the heat in the winter or add a layer of clothes ?

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Old 04-08-2016, 02:37 PM   #16
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How often are you adding grease to the bearings? They are the same tapered roller bearings used in a car. The bearings on a car usually go 50,000 miles plus before needing to be cleaned and re-greased. If they are properly packed with grease during service there is no need to regularly add more grease.
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Old 04-08-2016, 03:24 PM   #17
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We installed wheel caps with removable centers on our cargo trailer. Purchased at E-Trailer. They work very well.
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Old 04-08-2016, 04:52 PM   #18
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How often? The trailer we had a failure on was a brand new trailer. Beware of the factory grease job. Our inner bearings were dry as a bone.
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Old 04-09-2016, 10:39 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by ChateauV10 View Post
I bet those same guys only drive manual transmission vehicles, don't use cruise control and would NEVER touch a microwave oven!
i see you never found a bad bearing on your first manual repack and grease leaking on your brakes. Yeah, that never happens on these axles.

You can be cute all you want with you opinion, but I've been there done that and will hand pack now.

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Old 04-09-2016, 11:32 AM   #20
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I have the bearings repacked by hand every one or two years depending on mileage towed. I use the grease zerks in between manual repacks.
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