Wheel bearings

[550Doug]

I have an old hay wagon circa 1950 that needs a new wheel bearing that I can get. However, upon looking at the grease currently in it, it looks like regular gun grease that has been cooked (very dark and burnt odor). I suspect that the wheel has been very hot sometime in the past, so I'm wondering whether there is a special grease for wheel bearings or maybe I could use something more liquidy like JD cornhead grease. Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[rustyfarmall]

Go to your favorite parts store and ask for wheel bearing grease. It is a heavier grease than regular gun grease or JD cornhead grease. And you might also ask for some lessons on the proper way to "pack" grease into a wheel bearing. Simply smearing the grease onto the bearing will not get the grease into where it needs to be.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Over the years, I have bought a total of nine used 250 to 300 bushel gravity boxes and running gears. All of them needed some new wheel bearings except one. The one that had perfect wheel bearings had moly EP grease in it. The ones with bad bearings had rusty bearings so the grease did not protect the bearings from all the idle time from setting. I use a bearing packer to load the bearings with moly grease and then add a zerk to the hub cap. Some grease seals will pass grease and some won't. For those that won't, give them only 4 pumps of grease at one time or you will blow the seal. For something like a gravity wagon that never goes over 25 miles per hour, make sure the wheel bearings are preloaded (tapered roller bearings).
With this system, the bearings seem to last indefinitly.

 

[550Doug]

(quoted from post at 07:48:25 08/01/07) I use a bearing packer to load the bearings with moly grease and then add a zerk to the hub cap.

What is a bearing packer?? I like the idea of adding a zerk as there are NONE on this running gear.
Thanks

 

[Owen Aaland]

If you are going to put zerks in the dust caps, install the seals with the lips away from the hub. That will allow excess grease to pass by the seal when over greased and will work to help keep water out of the bearings. Do not do this for any wheel that has brakes on it.

 

[Pappy]

I suppose you could just buy a can of 'wheel-bearing' grease. Thats what I use.

 

[Oldmax]

When packing a bearing put some grease on hill of hand with other hand take bearing and force grease through bearing from one side to other side when it comes out other side all way around is packed .

 

[buickanddeere]

Don't stick the bearing on your finger and whiz it clean and dry with compressed air.

 

[David in MD]

I just finished 30 sets including the wheels and coulters of my no-till drill. In most cases the inside bearing failed first because moisture and dirt got past the seal. I bought a $24 Lisle bearing packer which is a container which holds grease under a piston. As you push down on the bearing with a handle it forces grease uniformly up through the bearing. I"ve also seen $7-8 versions that use a grease gun to force grease through the bearing. I tried to find the old fashioned sticky wheel bearing grease I used to use but apparantly it is no longer made. A reputable auto parts store recommended the Castrol blue grease as the best currently available. One final thing I did was to drill and tap each hub for a grease fitting so I can push grease through the bearings and out to the seal periodically.