| Author | Message | ||
| ogite Rating: N/A |
3 weeks with my Eagle and I'm trying to learn about the different systems. Gonna put new Alcoas on the front axle. The current wheels have hub oilers on them, my old coach did not. Are they a good idea? Tire shop told me they've never changed those before. Is it a hassle to change them to the new wheels? What weight of oil is used in them? Thanks in advance for the help. I'll never be done learning about this hobby. | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
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Hobby? Hobby, he says...ohmygosh no Pal, it's a Career!!!!! ...JJ | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Hobby! HAR! It's like having made the decision between converting a bus or a do-it-yourself lobotomy... and realizing you've made the wrong choice... after you've ripped out seats... | ||
| ogite Rating: N/A |
Sorry...my haven't-had-the-coach-all-that-long, error. I thought a career paid you money, rather than taking da money. Will I ever attain my PhD (piled higher & deeper) in this career? It's fun to drive so I am looking to a long career with the coach. Maybe number one son will even inherit my career one day. | ||
| Jim Bob Rating: N/A |
To answer your question, oil hubs are used mostly on over the road trucks & buses that are usually moving & distributing the oil. Most of our buses sit most of the time & roll ocasionally. The prolonged sitting allows the oil to drain off of the upper bearing parts & rust is likely. So many of us (but not all) feel that reworking them as greased bearings like a car is better for coaches that sit a lot. Welcome to our shared insanity. | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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Jim Bob: Both of my buses came set up with greased bearings and for the reason you give I have steadfastly resisted all urging to change them to oil filled. If the bus were used on a very regular basis I might consider oiled hubs, but, fact is, it sits quite a bit of the time when it is most susceptible to rusting--Winter. I know of at least one bus that did rust the front spindles and bearings(as well as the differential and rear bearings) from sitting on Oregon coast for an extended time. | ||
| HondoJoe04
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My experience with the oil hubs all have been BAD. All costly and a pain in the ass. Leakers & soaking the brakes. I have converted them all front AND back too to GREASE. Using synthetic grease too and do not plan to repack them again. Did it to both busses I have. There is a kit available to change rears from lube oil to grease, as different seal is needed. | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
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I dont see what the wheels have to do with the oiled hubs. Just the center cap would be differnt but even with oiled hub the center caps still fits. I would wait till they start leaking and then change em over to the grease type. Most new trucks are all grease now even the rear axle is that way now on some. My 4905 was factory grease hubs front and rear and thats the way Im keeping it. There has been some bad info passed along that the oiled ones was better and some change em out most was sorry. Grease is the best way to go for a sitting bus or one running every day. If you dont beleave me talk to eaton or any of the axle mfg they will tell you that also. Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon (Kanasas city) | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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Forgive me, but what does the grease/oil lifelong debate have to do with the *wheels*? The oil baths are part of the hub, not the wheel. Other than the hubCAP not fitting perhaps, I'm not getting the answers relative to the question posted. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
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Chuck, I suggest you go back and read the original post. The question was specifically about the oilers. Whether to change them when he installed new wheels or not. At least that is the way I read the post. Richard | ||
| Larry D Baker (Lbaker4106)
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I have them on my 4106 and have had no problem yet. A truck mechanic said to use gear lube 80W-90 and keep them full to fill line. | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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Umm, ok Richard. We did read it differently. Wanted to be sure that if I was missing some gizmo that attached to the wheels I knew what ya'll were talking about. Just trying to keep the mystery of busses down to a manageable level over here. | ||
| Jtng Rating: N/A |
Not gonna' tell ya' again, Chuck - Pay attention. (HAR!) | ||
| gusc Rating: N/A |
Chuck, I agree with you, there is no mention of hubs in the original post. I figured he must have meant hubs but there was nothing in the post to indicate he or the tire shop knew the oilers weren't attached to the wheels. I've had hub oilers on my gooseneck trailer for 6 yrs with never any problem. It sits most of the time but routinely hauls 12-14k loads when I do use it. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
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"The current wheels have hub oilers on them, my old coach did not. Are they a good idea?" This is the part of the message that I understood. I never thought that he and his tire shop could think they were part of the wheel. If the tire shop is that uninformed about wheels, then I believe I would find another tire shop.LOL | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
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Oil hubs are nice, BUT when they leak......you get soaked lining and drum, losing 25 to 35 percent braking power till you repair which is usually at the most inopertune time. Also some of the older coaches can have a worn rear spindle which you either have loose bearing AND POOR SEAL CONTACT or overtighten the brgs trying to remove the play, which causes overheating and damage to the rollers. This is one reason why some have trouble keeping a rear seal from leaking even after replacement a couple of times. Usually you think that the seal got nicked at installation. Check your rear axle spindles very close for wear on the lower surface where the inner bearing rides. Also this will not let the rear brakes to adjust up properly. At least with grease packed bearings this can be tolerated till you can afford to get the spindle repaired or replaced.One other thing, as the oil leaks out, the level for the differential drops....  If you get a semifluid synthetic grease, you will still get most of the benefit of low rolling resistance | ||
| David (Davidinwilmnc)
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What's involved in switching from oiled hubs to greased hubs? Is it just a matter of draining the oil and packing with grease? | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
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I would inspect the bearings before packing with grease and install a new (grease type) seal. hope this helps, Jack | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
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On the back axle, there is a barrier plate/seal that goes between the hub end and axle shaft....keeps differential oil from getting out of the end of the housing and mixing with the hub grease. On the threaded end of axle tube, there is a replaceable wear ring. Clean hubs and bearings completely. Inspect bearings esp. behind the rollers;many times the rollers look good but the surface behind the bearing cage that the rollers ride on has deep pits.You can use the oil reservoirs on the front with grease if you can't locate the OEM dust caps.The front oil seal should be changed to a regular grease seal.Use good synthetic grease for low drag in cold temps. | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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ONE more related question - Coincidentally this weekend I'm installing a new hubcap on an oilbath tag hub. (The sight glass was smacked with an air wrench by an overzealous tire guy and is now leaking) Da book doesn't say anything about using a gasket sealer on the new gasket. Should I seal the gasket with something, or put it on dry? I seems to remember a product called permatex? PS: Hubcap, meaning the real definition, the cover that holds the oil in, rather than something for appearance. | ||
| gusc Rating: N/A |
Many rear axle lube leaks are caused by the tiny space in the axle keyway just inboard of the rear axle grease seal. One can make a small cork plug from 1/4" cork sheet stock to seal this. It is not good to mix differential lube with wheel bearing grease since they are not usually compatible, the grease usually dissolves or thins depending on the type. Some rear hubs are designed to use differential lube but very few. If anyone is interested in a photo of this setup just ask and/or post your email address and I will be glad to send a copy. If I knew how to post photos to the forum I would do it that way but every time I have tried it I have failed! |