06-10-2014, 04:28 AM
Go with the oil baths and don't look back!
I've only had oil bath hubs on the two boats I've owned. The first nine years (single axle trailer) I performed zero maintenance, not even changing the hub oil, and had zero issues. This was with towing upwards of 7,500 miles per year. The next six years (dual axle EZ Loader Trailer @ 7000 lb towing weight) I had no hub failures and one set of China-made bearings that failed. That was this spring. I noticed a burnt oil smell from the trailer, but couldn't see the leak/issue/heat until after I towed another 300 miles. Once home I disassembled the hub and found it nearly empty with metal shavings and loose bearings in the hub. Surprisingly, no hub or spindle damage and it made it home fine. Replaced with Timken bearings.
Maybe I'm just lucky, but I seem to have way less hub/bearing issues than my boating buddies that don't run oil bath hubs.
Also, I've never had an oil bath cap break, come off, or leak. On the bearing failure issue, the rear seal was compromised with metal shavings. Rebuilding the oil bath hubs is a piece of cake. I now carry a spare hub, ready to go and a bottle of gear lube, and can change a failed hub in about 5 minutes more time than it takes to change a tire.
I've only had oil bath hubs on the two boats I've owned. The first nine years (single axle trailer) I performed zero maintenance, not even changing the hub oil, and had zero issues. This was with towing upwards of 7,500 miles per year. The next six years (dual axle EZ Loader Trailer @ 7000 lb towing weight) I had no hub failures and one set of China-made bearings that failed. That was this spring. I noticed a burnt oil smell from the trailer, but couldn't see the leak/issue/heat until after I towed another 300 miles. Once home I disassembled the hub and found it nearly empty with metal shavings and loose bearings in the hub. Surprisingly, no hub or spindle damage and it made it home fine. Replaced with Timken bearings.
Maybe I'm just lucky, but I seem to have way less hub/bearing issues than my boating buddies that don't run oil bath hubs.
Also, I've never had an oil bath cap break, come off, or leak. On the bearing failure issue, the rear seal was compromised with metal shavings. Rebuilding the oil bath hubs is a piece of cake. I now carry a spare hub, ready to go and a bottle of gear lube, and can change a failed hub in about 5 minutes more time than it takes to change a tire.
Quote:[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]No BB, but the Chinese bearings in there were 9 years old and probably due to self destruct anyway. I'm thinking oil bath replacements.[/#800000][/font][signature]