Thoughts on Front Wheel Bearings

[clintonnut 127]

I'm going to have to go on sealed bearings. You can get really nice HEIM bearings which are correct for the tractor and they never need lubed. Therefore you don't need to waste 60 pumps of grease filling a hollow area in the wheel before it even hits the bearings. I use sealed bearings whenever possible and if I reuse old ones I use a bearing packer that can be had at a parts store for a few bucks. Go with the sealed bearings.

Just my .02

Charlie

[Save Old Iron 1,573]

Chris, just got up - let me send the dog outside to check ...................

No, he came back in without snow on him.

Now that's lazy.

[Don1977 605]

Here is my front wheel bearings went with packed taper roller bearings.

The hubs, spindles, tires, and wheels are 3500 lbs. trailer tires. I sawed off about 2" or so off the 1 3/8" spindle drilled it to fit over the tractor spindle cross drilled it between the bearing surfaces. I also sawed off part of the tractor spindle. Welded the end and both sides in the cross drilled holes. They have been on the tractor 12 years. I bought all the parts from Northern, got there about 10 minuets before they closed and grabbed up the parts. The hubs I got don't fit those wheels, I had to turn them down. The hubs that fit have loose studs.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,169]

This is kind of like running on a treadmill (you're exhausted when you're done, but you're in the exact same place as you were when you started)

Please don't confuse pre-greased bearings with permanently lubed bearings.

The pre-greased wheel bearings do need additional grease during their lifespan, but how do you know they're getting grease where it needs to be unless you clean them out and re-pack them?

The double-sealed bearings are lubricated for their designed lifespan. If you drive your tractor through swamps or use a 3500 psi pressure washer aimed directly at the bearings, they won't last as long, but they stand a better chance than a bearing with an open side.

How many of you grease the bearings in your vehicle alternator or A/C compressor clutch? B)

[rmaynard 16,700]

Okay. Everyone's got their opinions. I think we are

If you want to use sealed, use sealed.

If you don't, don't.

6 of one, half-dozen of the other.

In my humble opinion, I'm leaving it the way the manufacturer designed it.

Bob

[Save Old Iron 1,573]

Well at least we got some good shots of some sales receipts !!

You know I love so I guess if you always decide to use what the manufacturer intended, why ask the question in the first place ?

[rmaynard 16,700]

Well at least we got some good shots of some sales receipts !!

You know I love so I guess if you always decide to use what the manufacturer intended, why ask the question in the first place ?

Just so that I could eventually wake you up and get your take.

Thanks for your input, now back to bed.

Bob

[gwgdog66 23]

I like the open race bearings. It gives me a reason to use the grease gun B)

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Well at least we got some good shots of some sales receipts !!

You know I love so I guess if you always decide to use what the manufacturer intended, why ask the question in the first place ?

Chuck Wheres DR. PB Bradley when ya need him? Incidentally I soak my bearings in Captain Morgan then drink the residual. Drunken bearings don't know the difference between seals or not!

As far as the sales reciepts Just like the excuse to use the grease gun, It gave me an excuse to use my scanner! :clap:

[rmaynard 16,700]

Incidentally I soak my bearings in Captain Morgan then drink the residual.

Captain Morgan sounds real good about now. All day plowing snow, a little Capt & Coke will make those sore muscle relax. However, I don't know about a wheel bearing chaser

Bob

[Save Old Iron 1,573]

It gave me an excuse to use my scanner!

I guess we should all consider ourselves lucky you decided to only scan bearing receipts ..................

[Save Old Iron 1,573]

Maybe a compromise.

Sealed / shielded bearings can be "greased" if needed.

Insert this injector behind or thru the shield and pump away.

I just used one a week or so ago to get some dried out "sealed" bearings to roll on a

wheel horse vacuum blower assy. It worked - and I consider it a temporary fix, but the concept works.

B)

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Incidentally I soak my bearings in Captain Morgan then drink the residual.

[sorekiwi 761]

On a lot of sealed bearings you can actually get the seal out to service them and successfully get them back in too!

You need a really small skinny screwdriver to work it under the inside edge of the seal and pry it out. Its really easy to bend the seal too, so there is a little finesse involved to avoid damaging it.

I spent a few years building and servicing "sub assemblies" on Indycars. The suspension uprights and wheel bearings were part of that category. Brand new wheel bearings were taken apart, and the factory grease was cleaned out and replaced with Mobil one grease. After about 500 miles I'd flick the seals out again to have a quick look, but normally didnt repack them. After 1000 miles I'd have a look at them for informations sake and then pitch them.

I only ever saw one go bad, after 200 miles the balls had turned blue, but the bearing still felt OK. The general consensus on that one was a bad bearing. That one was on the right front of a car we tested at Texas Motor Speedway, and the average lap speed in those days was 228 mph!

So to return to the topic we started on (!!) you can service a sealed bearing if you really get the urge to...