can you over grease a bearing buddy?

[Waterski-Rebel]

Last year when I bought my boat I had the local shop check both the boat and the trailer out to make sure it was in good shape. I looked at the bearings and didn't see the old fashion rubber covers, and assumed it didn't have bearing buddies on them. I asked at the shop, and they showed me that I did. I just had a chrome cover over them, instead of the rubber cover. Well, (stupid me) I didn't grease them last year, assuming the shop took care of it, and didn't worry about it, because the outside chrome cover didn't go in any during the summer.

Well, they still look the same, but I thought I would add some grease before we take it out this year, and the whole bearing buddy moved out 2/3's of an inch. So, I am worried that I toed all last year without enough grease, and am wondering if I could have put too much grease in it this year? I would assume if I did, it would just come out the backside. But I also assumed they took care of it when the checked the trailer out too.

[dogbert]

If you do put too much grease, you could blow the seal that keeps the grease in. I'd monitor it and if it looks like you're starting to lose grease (it'll be all over your rims every time you drive), then it's time to replace. Replacing them is no big deal...you'll need a wooden mallet to dislodge the old ones and then just tap in the new ones. It's pretty easy.

[GATigeguy]

I wouldn't think that you could over-grease them, I know for a fact that they have a lot of travel in them so you should be ok. But, it wouldn't hurt to take them apart and inspect the inside of the bearing area, just to be safe. It isn't that hard and gives peace of mind for those long hauls.

[ImaPigDog]

A true Bearing Buddy bearing has a pressure relief valve that prevents it from over-filling. When you fill it with grease, it will force the piston out partially but maintains a certain amount of pressure within (this is what keeps the water out).

[Waterski-Rebel]

So, on the Extreme trailer do they use true bearing buddies, or a copy? I would assume they would all work the same.

Also, if I do take it off and inspect the bearings, what am I looking for?

[whitlock87]

I have the same setup as you.
The first year I owned the boat, I blew the rear seal on the wheel bearings. I took it to Extreme (as they are just 30 min down the street from where I live) they told me that I over greased the bearing. They replaced the seal FREE, and should me the correct way to fill them. (Just give it enough grease so that the blue part is sticking about 3/8 inch. You can see when the blue part maxes out, stop apply any pressure when you see this) since then I have not had any more issues, and we have towed the trailer to Powel (12 hour drive)

[urbanstd]

You can over grease a bearing buddy, If you can grab the grease zerk and rock the zerk and cover side to side you have enough grease. If you cant rock add a couple of squirts. The bearing buddy does have a relief if over greased the grease comes back out at you but you can still over grease without the relief dumping grease. I think the grease heats up as you drive and can over pressurize the rear grease seal.