Help ! Bearing buddy fell off.

[squidbefsh]

Checked out boat before leaving and when we got to the bait shop had wheel grease on back tire. Looked down and bearing buddy was gone. Bearing still had grease covering the bearing. What do i need to move , shake or take off to check wheel. Spare hub was on the trailer thank god. Will switch out this week. Thanks, Brian

[Bass Cat Boats]

Usually someone uses it for a step to get into the rig. What year model is this? Let Parts know and order a new cap tomorrow. Next time this occurs, take a pop (soda) can, and trim it or tear it in half. Then take black tape and tape it on the hub itself. You can even pack a bunch of grease in the can for safety on the ride. You will have to repack the bearings on that wheel and replace the rear seal. To get the replacement cap to hold again, take a chisel and tap the inside of the new cap in Six (6) or eight ( places making star like notches on the tapered lip.These will grip the sides of the hub, and also give it a slight size change that will make it hold better. We dont have a way to press them in on replacement like the factory did. We are curious on the year model though? And parts will need that to figure out the model of part. Old hubs were DDR in the early 90s, while later ones are Unique, and there are different Unique ends. BCB

[Anonymous]

Ive lost the buddy bearing twice off the same rear wheel of my tandem axle in the last couple of years. I know no one has used it as a step. First time I managed to save everything, second time the bearing broke before I knew what had happened.

[Bass Cat Boats]

It is on a Pantera – 3 . Dual axle trailer. Left rear. Thanks . Brian Chance. Picture of the boat is on the owners boat page. Thanks again.

[Bass Cat Boats]

We wanted to be sure it was not a new rig… On a 99 model it is now ten seasons old this year. It is hard to say what happened in ten years to a rig? This could have been stepped on by a kid jumping on trailers at the ramp? It could have once upon a time been reset and not notched to hold it in place and just slipped out in time. It could have been slightly canted and that throws the center cap off balance which eventually extends the cap and they will throw from centrifugal forces. There is lots that can happen!Yours will be a drum brake trailer, and the center cap is a Unique. BCB

[TXUex]

I have lost 4 in a the 1 year I have had my Jag including 1 the day I bought it. 3 have been on the same wheel which I have changed all the brgs. & seal. The caps fit very tight every time, I have even tried different brands. I will try the chisel trick if I lose another.Johnny

[Bass Cat Boats]

TXUexI would go ahead and tap in place if I were you. Whats happening is that wheel is heating up some and the hub is heating up to a point where the metal is expanding. Therefore, that bearing buddy becomes loose and is slung off. My guess is the wheel/hub is getting from the brakes which is normal.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Actually what is happening is that the insert cap is aluminum and as you tap it back on from side to side, you give it a rounded shoulder. This cap insert now has no bite, and there is almost a sphere is a square parallel center hole. Thus it is easily thrown off in the future. You need to use a larger hammer and a block of wood, with the starring of that insert. Then be sure to get it in on square hits to the wood that is cushioning the center cap. Keep in square and go straight in, not side to side working that Bearing Buddy cap on. BCB

[TXUex]

My bearing buddy is put on with a press I built that bolts on the wheel. I built ithis press a long time ago to install VW wheel brgs. so being straight is not the problem, Also the one I have now is not aluminum but steel. I have bought regular brg. caps to try if this one comes off. I dont grease with them anyway instead I repack every year.Johnny

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