Wheel Bearings

How to Check and Add Grease to Trailer Wheel Bearings 

A good day on the water begins with towing it to the ramp unless you keep your boat in a marina. That’s why it is essential to stay on top of your trailer maintenance. Among the trailer structures that must be on your consistent checklist are wheel bearings, more particularly, bearing grease. These wheel bearings are generally located inside the trailer axle hubs and let the wheels spin independently while traveling down the road. 

The spinning force generates friction as it travels and the friction produces heat. To prevent the bearings from overheating, they require being lubricated, which is done by filling the inside of the bushings, the part that contains the bearings with grease. Keeping the bearings lubricated and coated with fresh grease can assist you in getting on and off the ramp securely and without problems. 

Bearing Protectors 

Lubricating the bearings is very significant on any trailer, but there is the added challenge on a boat trailer of regularly submerging the wheels and hubs in the water while launching the boat. If the trailer is submerged, the hot bearings and hubs cool instantly. This prepares a vacuum that might suck water through the seals of the bearing. 

To avoid this problem, lots of boat trailers are equipped with bearing protectors. Particularly, a cylinder that is installed on the outside of the hub, and a bearing protector have an inside spring that maintains continuous pressure on the grease in the hub. The pressure aids prevent water from passing past the seal. 

One more great advantage of bearing protectors is that maintenance is negligible. Grease typically doesn’t need to be cleaned and repacked for more than a few years, although you will want to check the instructions of the manufacturer to ensure you’re repacking it frequently. However, it is necessary to check the fat level and top it up if necessary. 

How to Test and Top off Grease 

  • Eliminate the protective cap from the bearing.
  • Test the level of the grease by pressing the edge of the spring-loaded piston. The hub has enough grease whether you can rock or move the piston. Don’t add more. you will need to add more grease if the piston does not move.
  • Mount a grease gun with a hand pump to the grease fitting in the center of the piston. Pump grease until you watch the piston begin to move outward and then stay adding grease until the piston rocks about 1/8 inch once you press the rim.
  • Although not necessary, you can jack up the trailer so that you can rotate the tire independently and assist in distributing the grease before towing.
  • Wipe off excess grease before changing the cap on the bearing protector.

Take Care of Your Wheel Bearings 

Actually, not all trailers are equipped with spring-loaded wheel bearings protectors. Your trailer may have oil bath buckets, sealed grease hubs, or some other diversity. Several are designed to be practically maintenance-free all season long, however, you should always check that you have the right amount of lubricant, that there are no leaks, and that the bushings are not extremely hot after towing. 

In particular, always follow the instructions of the trailer maintenance as well as the service schedule charted by the manufacturer. A trailer shop or dealer can provide service or advice when you are not happy handling maintenance yourself. Most significantly, make taking care of your trailer a priority for the reason that it is essential to keeping you and your trip after trip, season after season. Read more about wheel bearings maintenance.

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rockwell 12011-1

The 7 Easy Steps to Changing Your Engine Oil 

It’s important to keep an eye on your Rockwell 12011-1 oil cap when changing the engine oil. While you might think the oil cap is a non-consequential factor, think again. This is one of the most important components of the vehicle and you need to keep this safe while changing the oil. Fortunately, it’s easier than you think to change the engine oil. 

So, what steps should you try? 

Turn On the Engine for Five Minutes 

It’s important to heat the oil before you change it. Now, this means you will need to switch on the engine for around five minutes or so. This should be sufficient enough to heat the oil but not to the point that it’s too hot to handle. So, this is easy enough to do and not too troublesome.  

Secure Your Vehicle and Jack It Up 

When you have heated the oil, it’s time to put your car into park and secure it. Park the vehicle in a safe location that allows you ample room to work on it. You might also want to jack up the front of the vehicle either with a floor jack or a ramp. Again, the vehicle must be secured before you continue to work on it. Make sure the engine is switched off too.  

Remove the Rockwell 12011-1 Oil Cap and Keep It Safe 

Lift the hood of your car and find the Rockwell 12011-1 oil cap. You will need to remove the cap and keep it safe. If the oil cap isn’t there, you should take steps to replace it as it’s an important part of the vehicle. Without an oil cap, the oil will likely spill out into the engine and cause serious issues. So, it’s best to keep the cap safe at all times.  

Change the Old Oil Filter 

You need to remove the old oil filter and drain whatever oil is left behind. Put a pan underneath the vehicle to catch the oil and clean around the filter. Remove any oil remnants and the surrounding areas too. You should install a new oil filter now and secure the filter in place too. Clean the engine to avoid problems later.  

Drain the Excess Oil 

The crankcase will have some remnants of oil left behind and it’s important to clear it away. So, keep the pan under the drain plug and unscrew the plug. Make sure not to drop it into the drip pan. Drain the oil for a few minutes then replace the plug and wipe away the excess oil.  

Add New Oil into the Engine 

You need to put a funnel into the oil hole (where you removed the cap) and pour in some new oil. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations to avoid trouble. You should then replace the Rockwell 12011-1 oil cap. Wipe any excess oil away with a rag or soft cloth.  

Run the Engine 

You will need to establish a balanced oil pressure which means running the engine for a good five minutes or so. This is the time when any spillages will surface. So, take a look under the vehicle just to make sure there are no leaks. You can adjust the engine if there are leaks before you lower the vehicle again.  

A Simple Way to Change the Oil 

Changing your engine oil is far easier than it sounds. Yes, there is a little bit of effort that goes into it but with a little know-how, it’s simple. While you can call on a mechanic to help with such things, you shouldn’t need to. Of course, it all depends on how comfortable you feel doing it. So, keep your Rockwell 12011-1 oil cap safe and it’ll be so simple to change the oil.  

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