TurboLube trailer hubs

[CaptWoody]

My trailer has oil bath hubs on it and one of them has apparently blown a seal and leaked down. I could replace the seal but it's difficult for me to trust them for a long haul considering the speed they can go dry and ruin the bearings. Has anyone converted these over to standard grease packed bearings? They appear to be virtually identical in design to conventional hubs and bearings with the exception of the clear plastic hub cover (dust cap) that is threaded on. Will "Bearing Buddy" caps fit these, or can you get similar covers? I've heard some say you have to replace the entire hub but this doesn't appear necessary. I suppose I could just repack them with grease and screw the clear plastic cover back on. Anyone ever make the conversion?

[CaptWoody]

Thanks for moving the post here. Put it in the wrong section and then couldn't figure out how to move it myself.

[Simple Man]

I dont have any experience with them but I have a buddy of mine that swears by the oil lube hubs. Why cant you just repair (put a new seal in) the hub you have now thats leaking?

[CaptWoody]

I've decided to do just that and give it one more try. The scary thing about them is now quickly the bearings can go bad if they lose the gear oil. I discovered over the weekend that I had not lost the oil in the hub. I got water in the oil, turned it milky, and looking through the "clear" plastic of the hub it looked empty. In either case it needs a new inner seal and I'm replacing it tonight. The hub nut uses a bent lock washer instead of a cotter key. I had to wait untill to day before I found a replacement for that.

[T-Topless]

They suck in water after a long trip when they're hot and hit the cool water.

[CaptWoody]

Yeah, that is what I figure happened too. I let them cool down but it takes a long time to get "cold".

[Juan]

I don't have any experience with them either but considered installing them once until I read reports that claim they also suck if the trailer isn't used on a regular basis... makes sense...when the trailer isn't moving, only the bottom half of the bearings has any oil on them....and if it sits there for a long time (winter) the top half of the bearings could rust.

[CaptWoody]

I decided to give them another try, especially after disassembeling one and looking it over closely. I realized the inner seal is a lot smaller diameter than the bearing case so even if a seal leaks and lets the oil out there will still be a resivore of oil that can't drain out the seal. The only way it could drain completely is if you break the plastic hub and you can easily see if that happens. Almost all of the concerns I encounter are "theory" and not from actual issues experienced so I'm giving them another try. I hope I don't become the "actual experience"!

[freezerfiller]

Yeah, if I had them, I'd probably keep them, but don't think I'll switch to em. Let's hope you don't become the actual experience, but if you do, let us know.

[CaptWoody]

I will keep you posted. So far they've preformed well.

[CaptWoody]

I just pulled my boat to my lakehouse in Texas, a 500 mile trip. It was the trip-from-hell as I managed to blow out both trailer tires, including blowing the fenders off the trailer with the tire casings, broke the hydralic jack, and broke the windshielf of the boat.
The bright spot of the entire trip was the oil bath hubs. I was pulling in 90+ degree heat, on the Interstate Highway, and they ran cool and performed perfectly the entire way. I brought with me a replacement hub/bearing set and heavy weight gear oil should I have an issue with a hub but never had to touch them.
I hope my boat loves her new home in Texas because in about six months I'll be there with her permanently, something that I'm past ready for. But, in the meantime, we've sold our home and moved to an apartment so my fishing and boating will be severly restricted this summer and fall.

[Simple Man]

Dang! Sorry you had a crappy trip. Trailer tires dry rotting is a common problem. I lost three out of four on my 6X16 flatbed trailer the last time I used it. I was running on two tires with no spare and wearing bullets when I rolled in! I have four new ones on there now that probably won't be worth a crap next time I need the trailer...

[CaptWoody]

Yep, it was the dry rot that got me. I had towed it around here a lot and never had a problem but apparently the heat on the highway got them. I had lost both tires before I had gone 100 miles. To add insult to injury, when the 2nd tire blew I was on a 20 mile long bridge with almost no shoulder. I had to tow it on the rim for 6 to 8 miles, until I could get off the bridge to change it (single axle trailer.) Thank goodness I had stopped and bought another spare (two actually) by that time.

Anyone want to buy a slightly used tire rim?

[BoutTime]

Sept 24, 2012 15:57:23 GMT -6 Juan said:

I don't have any experience with them either but considered installing them once until I read reports that claim they also suck if the trailer isn't used on a regular basis... makes sense...when the trailer isn't moving, only the bottom half of the bearings has any oil on them....and if it sits there for a long time (winter) the top half of the bearings could rust.

This is exactly the reason I did not go with them on my new 2012 Load-Rite trailer. I would be interested in hearing reports on their status after a year or two of use.

[CaptWoody]

From what I can tell they have been on the trailer since it was new, 2003. I replaced one inner seal a year ago, been working fine ever since. I don't know the history with the prior owners.