06 Puma FQ bearing dust cap question

[bufanator]

I am wanting to replace my dust caps with a bearing buddy but I cannot figure out the cap size. Does Puma's come with a standard size?

I am leaving out Friday morning and been swamped with work and getting it ready...I forgot to take the cap off while I was getting the tires changed. Figured I could just look it up on the internet but that has been a difficult task. I am sure this is a noob question but was hoping someone knew so I didnt have to drive back to the house at lunch(20 minutes away) and get one to run the trailer parts store(45min from the house) to get the caps.

I appreciate anyone's help on this!

[Bama Rambler]

Sorry to be so late on this but you don't want to replace the bearing caps on your RV with bearing buddies. Bearing buddies are for boat trailers. Over greasing a bearing is actually bad for it. Boat trailers need the pressure created by the bearing buddy due to water immersion but RV's don't benefit from it. Check to be sure also that your Puma doesn't have EZ-lube axles. A lot of RV's do.

[PumaPro]

Originally Posted by Bama Rambler

Sorry to be so late on this but you don't want to replace the bearing caps on your RV with bearing buddies. Bearing buddies are for boat trailers. Over greasing a bearing is actually bad for it. Boat trailers need the pressure created by the bearing buddy due to water immersion but RV's don't benefit from it. Check to be sure also that your Puma doesn't have EZ-lube axles. A lot of RV's do.

Ditto. Leave the bearing buddies on the boat trailer.

[bufanator]

Okay...thank you I did not know that. I will check my axles.

[KyDan]

Yeah, sorry about being late also. We were camping last weekend!

Pull off one of your bearing dust caps.
Look closely at the end of the spindle. If there is no grease fitting
there it still might be drilled and tapped for one.
If it's drilled all you need are some 1/4-28 straight grease fittings
and maybe some new dust caps with the removable rubber center.
You can get them at etrailer.com
They are most likely 2" like this--
http://www.etrailer.com/Grease-Caps/...200L-DCRP.html

Use Lithium complex #2 grease

[bufanator]

I will do...thanks. I had a trailer several years back (borrowed from my dad) lock up on the right side going down the interstate and the tire pretty much flew off the axle. I was able to fix it fairly cheap and quickly myself but I am not a fan of repacking my bearings...but I do it on all my trailers.

I didn't know that over packing bearings was a bad thing. If you do not mind me asking, if I do have EZ lube axles how does it keep me from over greasing?

[milzat]

The problem with Bearing Buddies are that grease can get pushed out the rear of the spindles and onto the brake linings. Not good!!!!

[bufanator]

okay that makes sense. thanks

[KyDan]

I believe that the EZ lube hubs are drilled so the grease goes in
the end of the spindle and comes out behind the rear bearing between the rear bearing and the seal.
Then it moves outward thru the rear bearing and then
thru the hub and finally thru the outer bearing
and appears as excess oozing out around
the outer bearing washer and nut.
This is a pretty good design as it forces out most of the
air and more or less completely fills the hub and bearings.

If done correctly and SLOWLY it should not blow out the rear grease
seal as the excess is vented out the end around the grease
fitting. Stiff cold grease or grease shot from an air powered grease
gun can be forced out the seal as it cannot pass thru
both bearings and out the front end fast enough.

Note-- I bought bearing buddy caps before I realized my spindles
were indeed drilled and tapped.
After replacing my bearings and seals I greased my spindles
by placing a grease fitting in the end of the spindle.
I slowly rotated the brake drum while pumping in the grease.
It took many pumps on the grease gun before the grease started
to come out around the washer and nut on the end of the spindle
but I'm confident both bearings are completely full of grease.

I re-installed the bearing buddy caps because I had them and they
do look pretty good on there as they are shiny stainless steel.