Trailer bearing question

[OverHillAndDale]

I bought a used Aluma motorcycle trailer (MCTXL) - very well maintained and in good condition, about 11k miles on it. It's got the configuration where you can pump in bearing grease until it comes out a hole, and the previous owner said he pumped it full of grease every few thousand miles.

Question - Should I replace the bearings? It seems to me that the load on these bearings would have been small even if the trailer was fully loaded since the trailer and associated loads would be less than 200 lb/bearing. However, I'd hate to have a wheel lock up because I was too cheap/lazy to replace some bearings.

Thoughts? What kind of life should I expect from these wheel bearings? (The manufacturer is naturally non-committal: "Replace them if you think you should.")

 

[jaherbst]

If the bearings were made in China I would replace them immediately! If made in the USA they should be good for 50k plus miles if properly maintained and lubed. There should be two bearings, an inner and outer. on the RT-622 BRP trailer there is a caution not to fill the cavity between the two bearings by more than 50%. This could be a real possibility with "Bearing Buddies". i.e. seals and balance.

Jack

 

[Highwayman2013]

It wouldn't hurt to take them out and clean and check them. If they look good hand pack them with grease and reinstall them with new grease seals.

 

[Chupaca]

Tough one..!!

Your right in that there is not that big a load on those small trailers and the bearings are probably fine but if you have doubts and being a fairly easy and inexpensive chore go ahead and change them out. This way you will know the mileage and condition...:thumbup:

 

[nslowmotion]

Bearings

Sounds like they are probably good. If it has taper bearings, they last a long time. But, if your not sure, a $30.00 investment in new bearings is worth a piece of mind.opcorn:

 

[OverHillAndDale]

I went ahead and ordered trailer replacement bearings. I suspect these are fine, but since I didn't put the miles on them I don't really have a way to know. As others stated, $50 and a couple of hours now vs a nasty wreck or a blow trailer later.

Thanks (as always) for the excellent advice I find here.

Now ... to find the time and money to schedule my cross country trip pulling it!