Trailer Grease Suggestions

[thejoefletch]

I have a salt water use Magic Tilt trailer that calls for EP#2 grease. Just wanted to see what others use.

[EricD]

I use the marine grease from Walmart. It’s a dark blue. I like it because it easy to see water intrusion because it turns a pale light blue. I repack my bearings every year. I’ve tried all kinds over the years I don’t think it matters all that much.

[thejoefletch]

I use the marine grease from Walmart. It’s a dark blue. I like it because it easy to see water intrusion because it turns a pale light blue. I repack my bearings every year. I’ve tried all kinds over the years I don’t think it matters all that much.

Thanks for the reply. Just to confirm, is this the one?

Super Tech Marine Grease, 14 oz Tube

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tech-Marine-Grease-14-oz-Tube/16928008

[EricD]

That link didn’t work for me. I copied and pasted it Yes it is thats it. Sometimes they have it in a tub too. I’ll get that and the grease gun tube. It’s dark blue. You’ll see if you get water in there in turns light pale blue.

[K447]

I will suggest that almost more important (especially for salt water) than the specific grease brand/whatever is the use of bearing buddies instead of the factory dust caps on the axle hubs.

I currently use the stainless steel Bearing Buddy (model 1980A-SS fits my hubs).





Not shown, I put a plastic dust cap (BRA-19) over the bearing buddy to keep road grit out.

The bearing buddy maintains a slight spring loaded positive pressure on the grease inside the hub. And that maintains a slight positive pressure where the inside grease seal rides on the hub surface. If the seal was to allow water to seep inside, the positive pressure on the grease at the seal lip instead pushes the water out.

The result is the grease seal and mating axle seal surface are kept lubricated by the pressurized grease inside, water cannot get in, and the wheel bearings do not rust since there is no water inside.

The Bearing Buddy shows you whether more grease is needed and grease can be added using the accessible grease Zerk. Takes only a minute to add more grease and only a glance and/or a finger press to confirm that enough grease is inside.

If a grease seal on the hub back side starts to leak, you will know when the indicator ring on the bearing buddy recedes again shortly (some miles of towing) after adding grease.

[EricD]

So how often are you repacking the bearings with bearing buddies? I have one trailer with and one without. The bearing buddy trailer I have been doing every other year and the one with out every year.

[K447]

So how often are you repacking the bearings with bearing buddies? I have one trailer with and one without. The bearing buddy trailer I have been doing every other year and the one with out every year.

My trailer has a grease flow through feature in the axle/hub called E-Z Lube.





With the bearing buddy removed I can pump grease in through the original internal grease zerk. The fresh grease flows through the axle core to the rear of the hub and then pushes the old grease through the bearings and out the front. I pump fresh grease in until I see clean grease following the old grease out.

I use a plastic bag to catch the exiting grease. Wipe up the hub area when done and dispose of the oil grease.

Then I reinstall the bearing buddy. And add a little more grease to pump the bearing buddy indicator ring out to almost 'full height'. Trapped air will escape during subsequent tow trips and I add more grease as needed until the indicator movement settles down from trip to trip.

I do not change the grease every year. Can't say I actually have a strict schedule, maybe 2-3 years?

[K447]

I am currently using Schaefer 221 grease.

I have dual axles with disc brakes on all four hubs (EHD). Since the trailer fully loaded weight is maybe 3000 pounds the disc brakes just don't get super warm and I think am ok using a regular waterproof wheel bearing grease that is not rated for high heat.

The axles are rated for 2500 pounds each, so also running well below their weight capacity.

[scittb]

Triton uses
Chevron 277111652 Starplex Grease Ep2
I get it on Amazon in a case of 10. I change my grease every year. Im saltwater. maybe overkill but im fine with it. I dont do much mileage with the trailer anyway. I have the same trailer as K447 and also a single triton.

[K447]

... I have the same trailer as K447 ...

I did start with a Triton WC2-2. Now modified in many ways from the original - frame, decking, axles, brakes, wiring, and more.

Photo above was taken part way through the transformation.

http://greenhulk.net/showthread.php?t=275121&p=2981647&viewfull=1#post2981647

It travels several thousand miles per year. Over 2,000 miles so far in 2020.

[EricD]

I have that grease fitting also in the end of the axle. I have never tried to pump grease through that until it comes out clean. I’ve always taken everything apart.

I will definitely try that.

[Mr. GP1800]

I have that grease fitting also in the end of the axle. I have never tried to pump grease through that until it comes out clean. I’ve always taken everything apart.

I will definitely try that.

If you have a leaf spring axle the old grease will exit into the axle tube not out the front.

[speeder]

i have an older torsion triton and the grease also exits out the back, onto the ground.

[K447]

i have an older torsion triton and the grease....

Where the old grease exits depends on the type of axle/hub. Leaf spring differs from torsion axle.

And, IIRC, Triton used different axles (with different greasing system) on some (perhaps older) trailer models, and may have used different axle manufacturers.

Best way is to check which brand and type axle is actually on the trailer, and then look at the axle/hub configuration to verify which grease system is present.

E-Z Lube vs. Sure-Lube, for example.