Jet SKi Trailer - Grease Cap Leak?

[gibbywmu]

Hi All,

Wanted to try and get some feedback. I've got a 2018 jet ski/trailer, and at the end of last season, I pumped grease in the zerk until I saw the new grease come through. Did not dip the trailer in water after that, went to storage shortly afterwards. (FYI.....This trailer has the Super Lube hubs which I really like, which has the zerc fitting on the backside of the hub).

I brought my trailer/ski back from storage a few weeks ago. I started noticing drops of grease coming out of both hubs which I thought was strange. It looks like newer grease but is watery. Its not terrible, but I don't think anything should be coming out of the grease caps. I've double checked and both caps seem to be flush with the hub, so appears they are all the way on. I didn't notice any leakage last year either. I'd say this is coming out at the rate of maybe 1-2 drops per week, but still don't want this at all..............because if this is able to get out, I'm afraid water will be able to get inside the hub when I dip it in the water.

Should I take the caps back off and pump more grease in there? Maybe some water is still left inside the hub? Can't see any reason for this to be happening?

[K447]

The dust caps on the hub are not necessarily water tight, nor leak proof for the oily grease inside.

Grease is basically liquid oil bound into a soap compound. Some greases tend to weep oil over time. Not unusual, and some greases are much better at not excreting oil than others.

You could;
Wipe the oily drippings away every so often. Maybe eventually the grease will slow down how much oil it releases. Maybe.

Pump in a different/better grease brand/type to replace the weeping grease.


In terms of keeping water out, I prefer the Bearing Buddy 'dust caps'. These maintain a slight positive pressure on the grease inside, preventing water from wicking inwards. I use the stainless steel version genuine Bearing Buddies.

To pump fresh grease through the bearings you would first remove the bearing buddy just like the stamped steel cap.

[gibbywmu]

K447,

Thanks for the feedback! I thought there was a chance that mixing grease it could cause this. Sounds like its not a major concern. Worst case I'll pull the caps off and see if any more grease is needed, or at least try to get all of the old grease out (which I thought I did last fall).

Good call on the bearing buddy caps..........

[steve45]

I wouldn't worry about the caps, I'd worry about the lug nuts! They're on backwards.

[K447]

... the lug nuts! They're on backwards.

They are installed incorrectly!

Wheel lug nuts always install with the nut taper fitting into the matching hole angle on the wheel.

[Sea Dood]

LOL! Look at the wheel, it is offset as well! Probably looked like a circus wheel rolling down the road!

That type wheel has no centering flange, gets its center from the tapered lug nuts. Surprised it didn't work its way off.

[Pacer]

I'm calling it. It's a joke post. The pic was put up to get a rise out of you guys.

[gibbywmu]

Well, thanks for pointing out that the lugnuts are on backwards...............because I didn't even notice! Wouldn't be the first mistake at the factory that's for sure. I've never even taken the wheels off of this . I also snowmobile, and I have a 2016 Blizzard 800 where the shocks were installed upside down! Don't know if that happened at the dealer or at the factory itself. I'll make sure to reinstall the lugs the correct way.

[K447]

Well, thanks for pointing out that the lug nuts are on backwards....

... that happened at the dealer ... I'll make sure to reinstall the lugs the correct way.

Typically the trailer wheels are installed by the dealer, as the trailers are delivered to the dealer as a semi-assembled stack of frames.

At the dealer the guy assembling trailers is, generally, not a highly skilled employee.

Which is why you should ALWAYS inspect a new trailer from end to end. Never assume it was put together correctly, or even set up properly to fit your watercraft.

Check the trailer owners manual for how it is supposed to be assembled, and check every nut and bolt for tightness. And whether they are even in the correct places.