I know they make the cheap little plastic covers. But I am wondering about a homespun cover to use as I am not headed to the store in the near future. Any thoughts other than plastic wrap and a rubber band.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: old rugged cross,

You could order them online for around $6.

Maybe that's an option?

$6 a pair and Prime

Be warned, their deliveries have slowed down just a tick though.

Let's see, protection, Hmmm , protection,

what would a guy carry around , maybe in his wallet, for protection,

We lost one one a trip - I know duct tape was involved... I think we cut a pop can in half (or maybe an empty soup can?) and secured it with duct tape. In fact I think it's still on my buddies trailer - probably 5 years later.

You don't need the bearing buddy covers, they are simply to keep the bearing buddies from flinging grease on things as you go down the highway. Simply decorative and may trap water inside of the covers IF you launch the boat while the wheel bearings are warm. most people don't use them. Anything as a cover would work such as blued tape. as well as no bearing cover at all.

Would someone please edit the title and provide some background to this thread?

They are easy to find. I use them despite what jimmy123x says. Decorative is not the description I would use. Its an important backup system. But literally anything that seals the end of the axle works. ON a funny note at one motorcycle race event I see a friend of mine arrive (tri axle massive trailer, big program) and on the end of the hubs on one side is part of a beer can zipped there. says he lost the covers and wanted to deal with it on the road...

To keep dust, dirt and water out mostly. So yes they do provide some benefit.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Would someone please edit the title and provide some background to this thread?

I did a web search--apparently they are devices that somehow shroud a bearing and keep it covered in grease. I'd never heard of one before--I guess they didn't exist when I was younger, or maybe they had a different name.

flashguy

I know a few people who use a soup can cut in half and a hose clamp. Has stayed on there for years.

There is a spring inside that once the cavity is filled with grease, it keeps light pressure of grease feeding the bearing.

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Would someone please edit the title and provide some background to this thread?

I did a web search--apparently they are devices that somehow shroud a bearing and keep it covered in grease.

Do y'all mean what is a Bearing Buddy? It's a device that replaces an axle bearing cap with a spring-loaded thing that has a zirk fitting on it. That way you can keep your bearings greased w/o having to wrestle bearing caps on and off.

They have their upsides and downsides. Some people swear by 'em. Some, mechanics, mainly, won't touch 'em with a 3.05m pole.

for boat trailers that get dipped in the water to launch and retrieve boats they are particularly helpful.

Every time you spend the day at the lake when you get home or better yet leaving the lake. Pump some grease in which is beneficial. But more so by putting grease in it forces any water out. Hence the benefit. Even mechanics cannot dispute the benefit of that.

They're sold as a "Bearing Buddy Bra" here is the link on their website to determine what size you need, they're cheap:

https://www.bearingbuddy.com/shop-bra

Amazon has lots of them for $6-7 for a 2 pack depending on what size your bearing buddies are. (as does Autozone, O'reilly, Napa, etc.)

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bea...bra&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

The bearing buddy itself keeps the water, dust and dirt out. The cap can be detrimental by keeping water inside of the cap and sitting on the outside of the bearing buddy. If the bearings are hot when you dunk the trailer, it sucks the water/moisture inside the cap (not bearing buddy itself) and then it just stays there and can't get back out.

That is not my experience J123. but ymmv

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Every time you spend the day at the lake when you get home or better yet leaving the lake. Pump some grease in which is beneficial. But more so by putting grease in it forces any water out. Hence the benefit. Even mechanics cannot dispute the benefit of that.

Yeah, they can. And they do. Last mechanic I talked to about Bearing Buddy's didn't like them for precisely that reason. (Service manager for a local trailer place.)

His position was that, if the bearings are properly packed in the first place, little water will enter, anyway. He went on to explain forcing more grease into the fitting to expel any water that did enter was common failure mode, because people would push too much grease in and blow out the seals. Bye-bye bearings.

His other point was Bearing Buddy's give many users the false impression occasional tear-down, cleaning, inspection, and re-packing was no longer necessary. He said that especially boat trailers should have that done at least once per season.

I removed them on our boat trailer. I offered them to the buyer when we sold the boat. He was from a family with a lot of marine mechanic experience in it. He looked at them in horror and said "No thanks!"

Other side of the argument: When I tore everything down, the bearings, axles, etc. were all fine. So maybe those guys were fulla beans. *shrug*

Down here in Saltwater bearing buddies are a must and they do help many times over. Most of the trailers here are 30-45' long and triple axel. Sadly most all people here NEVER maintain their trailers at all until a wheel and hub goes flying down the road...….

But, I agree servicing bearings once a season and replacing seals is very good insurance..

well, you asked ,
When is the last time you you and the spouse went swimming?
I say dig through some old boxes and find one of those old rubber swim caps


cut out an appropriate side piece of the cap, and tie it around the B. Buddy
and like magic , there you have it.
done deal

Vinyl caps:

https://www.mcmaster.com/vinyl-caps