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how do you get grease off a trailer cap

by Prof. Xander Waelchi Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • If the bearing isn’t too dry, you may be able to push it out by hand or use a screwdriver to pry it out.
  • If the seal is rusty, use something like WD-40 to loosen it up.

Grease caps just pop out and in. The best way to get them out is to pry them with a flat head screw driver or tap them from side to side with a hammer. To install new ones, you simply gently hammer them in. Normally I use a short piece of 2x4, to help tap the grease cap or bearing protector into the end of the hub.Jan 13, 2010

Full Answer

How do you remove the grease cap from the hub?

Grease caps just pop out and in. The best way to get them out is to pry them with a flat head screw driver or tap them from side to side with a hammer. To install new ones, you simply gently hammer them in. Normally I use a short piece of 2x4, to help tap the grease cap or bearing protector into the end of the hub.

How can I prevent damage to my Grease caps?

One way to prevent damage to your grease caps (aside from knowing if the caps are the press-on or screw on-type) is to buy the proper tool to remove them. A lot of grease caps are damaged by people prying the caps away from the wheel hub with a screwdriver or similar tool.

Can you use marine grease on a travel trailer?

Even if your trailer doesn’t go near water, you can still use marine grease—it actually is more durable and heat-resistant than many other products. Replace the bearings, hub, spindle nut, cotter pin, and dust cap. Use the wooden dowel and hammer to tap the bearings back into place in the hub.

How do you Grease trailer bearings?

Greasing, or repacking, trailer bearings is an important part of trailer maintenance, and thankfully it doesn’t take long to do! Remove the wheel and take apart the hub until you can access the bearings. From there, you’ll clean them and repack them with new grease. Reassemble the hub and replace the wheel before moving on to the next one.

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Do you fill the dust cap with grease?

If the cap were empty, the grease might eventually work its way into the cap, filling the cap but leaving the bearings dry. That's why it's important to not only pack the bearings with grease but to also completely fill the caps with grease.

How do you remove dust caps from a trailer axle?

0:472:39Spring Axle Dust Cap Replacement - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd use a flathead screwdriver to pry it free with the new dust cap in place slowly rotate the hubMoreAnd use a flathead screwdriver to pry it free with the new dust cap in place slowly rotate the hub assembly while tapping the new dust cap into place with a rubber mallet.

How do you degrease trailer bearings?

2:037:09How to - Clean and Grease Trailer Bearings by Hand - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI put it in this this is a mineral spirits you can use kerosene you can use I think people useMoreI put it in this this is a mineral spirits you can use kerosene you can use I think people use whatever they feel comfortable with I'm using mineral spirits because it's not super stinky.

How do you remove the Dexter EZ Lube cap?

Expert Reply: EZ Lube Dust Caps, like # DC200L-DCRP, have a rubber plug that can be removed to access the zerk fitting. The rubber plug can be removed by gently prying it up with a flathead screwdriver. If your cap is rusted or coated in road grime, it can be more challenging to remove.

How do you remove stubborn dust caps?

0:473:04How To Remove A Stuck Corroded Valve Stem Cap - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDon't completely squeeze it very gingerly grab your favorite set of VAM pliers grab onto that bella.MoreDon't completely squeeze it very gingerly grab your favorite set of VAM pliers grab onto that bella. See if she's Lucia squeeze it just a little bit.

How do you remove bearing dust from a wheel cap?

0:180:49How to Remove Wheel Bearing Dust Caps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat i'll do is just pretty much take and clamp right onto it and wiggle it back and forth with theMoreWhat i'll do is just pretty much take and clamp right onto it and wiggle it back and forth with the marginal. Amount of outward. Pressure. You can see it's going to pop right off for me.

What dissolves bearing grease?

The best bet is to use methylated spirit or just soak the bearings in some solvent or alcohol. If you can find a spray-on degreaser, you can blast all the crap out of your bearings to great effect. Lemon juice works well too!

Can you use brake cleaner to clean bearings?

Bearings are steel, the bearing separator is likey also steel. Take them right out and wash them thoroughly with the brake clean. Get a rag and wet it with brake clean and wipe out the spot where the bearings ride too. Make sure it's all spotless.

How often should trailer wheel bearings be repacked?

How often should you repack your trailer bearings? The axle manufacturers recommend that you repack your trailer bearings once annually or every 12,000 km.

How often do you grease EZ Lube trailer bearings?

0:007:17How To Lubricate Dexter EZ Lube Axles - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipScrewdriver. The next thing we're going to do is go ahead and jack up this particular axle.MoreScrewdriver. The next thing we're going to do is go ahead and jack up this particular axle.

What type of grease do you use in a Dexter EZ Lube axle?

E-Z LUBE equipped axles are subject to the maintenance and inspection procedures regarding brakes, hubs, bearings, seals, wheels, and tires as outlined in Dexter's current Operation Maintenance Service Manual (available for download at www.dexteraxle.com). Use only LITHIUM COMPLEX NLGI CONSISTENCY #2 GREASE.

How often do you grease Dexter axles?

every 12 monthsAlong with bearing adjustment, proper lubrication is essential to the current function and reliability of your trailer axle. Bearings should be lubricated every 12 months or 12,000 miles.

How do you remove an axle cap?

1:292:44How to Remove a Push Nut - Axle Cap Push Nut Removal - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork the push nut off of the axle while prying with a screwdriver in this manner. There should beMoreWork the push nut off of the axle while prying with a screwdriver in this manner. There should be minimal damage to the cap nut with this method.

How do you remove wheel hub covers?

0:001:12How to Remove a Plastic Wheel Cover (hubcap) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCover take a cloth use your lug wrench with the wheel cover remover on the end. Cover it up so itMoreCover take a cloth use your lug wrench with the wheel cover remover on the end. Cover it up so it won't scratch on your wheel cover get on a solid wide part shove it in the edge pry.

How do you install trailer bearing dust caps?

0:271:58Dust Cap Installation "Quick Tip" - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause it's been smashed in by somebody that doesn't know how to install one of these you do notMoreBecause it's been smashed in by somebody that doesn't know how to install one of these you do not install a dust cap by hitting the the face of this you install one of these by tapping on the edge.

What is a bearing cap?

Bearing caps contain the main bearings of an engine's crankshaft. As part of their required processing, bearing caps must undergo a tough splitting operation, requiring strong and stable operations. Tooling for bearing cap machining is highly complex and often custom in nature.

Product Page this Question was Asked From

The plug is fully seated when it's flush with the surrounding cap. Does it seem like it could be pushed in more? I'm not sure why it would be leaking - it could just be that you added a bit more grease than was necessary to the hub and the excess is creeping out. 66393

Follow up Questions

The plug is fully seated when it's flush with the surrounding cap. Does it seem like it could be pushed in more? I'm not sure why it would be leaking - it could just be that you added a bit more grease than was necessary to the hub and the excess is creeping out. 66393

Product Page this Question was Asked From

Camper Cover Recommendation for a Palomino Truck Bed Cover As long as the length of your camper is between 8 and 10 feet (this is the distance in the bed of the truck and does not include the overhang), and the height is around 92 inches the part #CA80036 should fit and work well. This cover is for storage… view full answer...

Follow up Questions

Camper Cover Recommendation for a Palomino Truck Bed Cover As long as the length of your camper is between 8 and 10 feet (this is the distance in the bed of the truck and does not include the overhang), and the height is around 92 inches the part #CA80036 should fit and work well. This cover is for storage… view full answer...

How to prevent grease caps from getting damaged?

One way to prevent damage to your grease caps (aside from knowing if the caps are the press-on or screw on-type) is to buy the proper tool to remove them. A lot of grease caps are damaged by people prying the caps away from the wheel hub with a screwdriver or similar tool.

What happens if you force a grease cap?

If you force a grease cap and somehow bend, crack or puncture it in the process, you'll need to buy a new cap. The good news is that they're not expensive -- they're usually only a few dollars each. The bad news is that you'll need to get a new cap before you go anywhere.

What is grease packed around wheel bearings?

Thick bearing grease is packed all around the wheel bearings every time they're replaced or even when they're removed for wheel hub or axle service. Grease caps protect the bearing grease from contamination and also hold the grease that surrounds the wheel bearings in place.

What are grease caps used for?

Grease caps are the small, round, metal covers you see at the very center of a wheel. Sometimes they're called dust caps, but for clarity, we'll call them grease caps from this point forward. Grease caps protect your wheel bearings from the dirt, dust, sand, water, salt and road grime that can (and will) destroy bearings. Without grease caps, your wheel bearings simply wouldn't survive for very long out on the road.

Why are bearing caps packed with grease?

This serves two purposes. It provides a continuous supply of grease for the bearings, and it also keeps the grease from migrating away. If the cap were empty, the grease might eventually work its way into the cap, filling the cap but leaving the bearings dry .

How often should you clean trailer wheel bearings?

The trailer wheel bearings should be removed, cleaned and repacked with grease at least once each year. If you're pulling a boat trailer, especially a trailer that's exposed to saltwater, it's a good idea to do this at least twice each year [source: Trailer Parts Warehouse ].

Can grease be contaminated?

Wheel bearing grease can easily be contaminated, resulting in bearing failure. Grease caps protect the bearings (and the grease) from the stuff that destroys bearings. Loretta Hostettler/ iStockphoto.

How to remove bearing and grease seal from a hub?

Remove the inner bearing and grease seal from the hub. Use a wooden dowel and a hammer to tap the bearing and grease seal out from the front of the hub (the front is the side where you can see the threads of the screws; the back is the side where you can see the tops of the screws). Set the bearing and grease seal to the side.

What to use to loosen rusty seals?

If the seal is rusty, use something like WD-40 to loosen it up.

How to clean a kerosene bearing?

Wipe down the clean bearings and spindle nut with brake cleaner. Take the bearings and spindle nut out of the kerosene and set them on a clean rag or newspaper. Spray them with brake cleaner and either dry them off with another clean rag or let them air dry. This step just helps get the bearings and spindle nut extra clean.

How to remove lug nuts from trailer?

Loosen the lug nuts and remove the wheel from the trailer. Use a wrench or a tire iron to remove the lug nuts and set them off to the side somewhere safe. Pull the wheel off of the rod toward your body and put it off to the side, too.

What is HTB grease?

HTB - High Temperature Bearing grease. Most oil companies will have it, e.g., Castrol HTB, Shell RetinaX HTB.

How to check if jacks stay in trailer?

After the jacks have been engaged, wiggle the trailer with your bodyweight to see if the jacks stay in place. Make sure that the jacks aren’t at risk of slipping out of place before you begin the rest of your task.

How to keep a trailer from rolling?

Chock the wheels first by setting heavy wedge-shaped blocks in front of each one to keep the trailer from rolling while you’re working on it. Place a jack stand on either side of the wheel and crank them up until the wheel is no longer touching the ground.

What is a dust cap on a trailer?

Dust Caps, also referred to as Grease Caps, are essential for keeping debris and dirt away from your trailers wheel bearings, keeping grease in, and water out. Below you see 2 Types of Dust Caps, the standard trailer dust cap and the Posi Lube (or Accu Lube) dust cap. Each dust cap is used specifically for a certain style of axle and desired greasing method. With the Standard dust cap you do not have the ability to grease your bearings unless you remove the dust cap. The Posi Lube Grease Cap allows you to remove the center plug and access your axles grease fitting (if you have a Posi Lube Axle). Posi Lube Axles have Manufacturer installed grease fittings on the spindles the allow for optimal greasing of trailer bearings.

What is a posi lube dust cap?

The Posi Lube Grease Cap allows you to remove the center plug and access your axles grease fitting (if you have a Posi Lube Axle).

How to remove lug nuts from trailer?

Loosen the lug nuts and remove the wheel from the trailer. Use a wrench or a tire iron to remove the lug nuts and set them off to the side somewhere safe. Pull the wheel off of the rod toward your body and put it off to the side, too.

How to clean a kerosene bearing?

Wipe down the clean bearings and spindle nut with brake cleaner. Take the bearings and spindle nut out of the kerosene and set them on a clean rag or newspaper. Spray them with brake cleaner and either dry them off with another clean rag or let them air dry.

How long to soak a spindle nut in kerosene?

Set the greasy bearings and spindle nut into the kerosene and let them soak for about 10 minutes. If you notice any damage in the bearings, like scratches, pitting, or discoloration, you’ll need to buy replacements.

How to get a cotter pin out of a nut?

Take out the spindle nut with your fingers or use a screwdriver to pop it out. The spindle nut is also sometimes called a castle nut. If the cotter pin is rusty or seems fragile, replace it.

Do trailer bearings need to be lubricated?

They need to be lubricated regularly so that they operate at their best capacity. Greasing, or repacking, trailer bearings is an important part of trailer maintenance, and thankfully it doesn’t take long to do! Remove the wheel and take apart the hub until you can access the bearings.

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1.Videos of How Do You Get Grease Off A Trailer cap

Url:/videos/search?q=how+do+you+get+grease+off+a+trailer+cap&qpvt=how+do+you+get+grease+off+a+trailer+cap&FORM=VDRE

5 hours ago  · Replace your damaged or missing grease caps. Make sure to check out the Diagrams at the end on the video showing the measurments of typical grease caps and t...

2.Replacing Trailer Axle Grease Caps - Dust Caps - YouTube

Url:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtkf3rcY2Bs

3 hours ago If your cap is rusted or coated in road grime, it can be more challenging to remove. When they are stuck, it is not uncommon for the grease cap to be destroyed in the process of removing. Our …

3.How to Remove a Trailer EZ Lube Grease Cap or Dust Cap

Url:https://www.etrailer.com/question-254533.html

14 hours ago If the cotter pin or tang washer is missing that could allow the spindle nut to back off and it could pop the grease cap off. If the grease cap was not installed properly or is the wrong size , …

4.How To Remove and Install Grease Caps and Bearing …

Url:https://www.etrailer.com/question-8284.html

26 hours ago Expert Reply: Grease caps just pop out and in. The best way to get them out is to pry them with a flat head screw driver or tap them from side to side with a hammer. To install new ones, you …

5.Minute Tips: Replacing axle grease caps - YouTube

Url:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoT8xmbBKcw

30 hours ago  · If you like your videos short and sweet this new Minute Tips series is for you. In our first video in this series we show you how we remove and install axle...

6.How Grease Caps Work | HowStuffWorks

Url:https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/equipment/accessories/grease-caps.htm

28 hours ago  · One way to prevent damage to your grease caps (aside from knowing if the caps are the press-on or screw on-type) is to buy the proper tool to remove them. A lot of grease …

7.How to Grease Trailer Bearings: 13 Steps (with Pictures …

Url:https://www.wikihow.com/Grease-Trailer-Bearings

5 hours ago  · Cleaning and Greasing the Bearings 1. Soak the bearings and spindle nut in kerosene. Use a small pan and fill the bottom with 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm)... 2. Clean …

8.Boat Trailer Dust Grease Caps for 4 Lug, 5 Lug, 6 Lug …

Url:https://www.boattrailerparts.com/Boat-Trailer-Dust-Caps-and-Install-Tools_c_198.html

5 hours ago With the Standard dust cap you do not have the ability to grease your bearings unless you remove the dust cap. The Posi Lube Grease Cap allows you to remove the center plug and …

9.How to Grease Trailer Bearings - Nyongesa Sande

Url:https://www.nyongesasande.com/how-to-grease-trailer-bearings/

11 hours ago How do you remove a trailer axle cap? The best way to get them out is to pry them with a flat head screw driver or tap them from side to side with a hammer. To install new ones, you …

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