This site uses cookies to maintain login information on FarmallCub.Com. Click the X in the banner upper right corner to close this notice. For more information on our privacy policy, visit this link:
Privacy Policy

NEW REGISTERED MEMBERS: Be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folders for the activation email.

Front wheel bearings

The Cub Club -- Questions and answers to all of your Cub related issues.
Forum rules
Notice: For sale and wanted posts are not allowed in this forum. Please use our free classifieds or one of our site sponsors for your tractor and parts needs.
danmcdonald
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:40 pm
Zip Code: 60518

Front wheel bearings

Postby danmcdonald » Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:13 pm

Can I drill and tap the front wheel bearing caps and install zerk fittings for grease? Will this keep the inner bearing greased? The tractor is a 1947 and gets used a lot. Thanks

SPONSOR AD

Sponsor



Sponsor
 

Eugene
Team Cub Mentor
Team Cub Mentor
Posts: 20344
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:52 pm
Zip Code: 65051
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Mo. Linn

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby Eugene » Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:47 pm

I have drilled and tapped farm trailer rims for zerks. This puts the grease in and fills the center of the rim between the bearings. After center of rim is full of grease, any additional grease is forced into the bearings.

Back to the question, don't see why you couldn't do it.
I have an excuse. CRS.

User avatar
Ken (48 Cub)
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 994
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2003 11:10 am
Zip Code: 40023
Tractors Owned: 1948 FCub
1957 LoBoy
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: KY, Fisherville

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby Ken (48 Cub) » Fri Nov 15, 2013 9:24 am

I have done it to my 48. Cap is plenty thick enough to tap but it's overkill for my trailer queen :)
Ken, Annie the '48.

I think we gotter if'n she don't jump, Andy Griffith.

User avatar
John *.?-!.* cub owner
Cub Pro
Cub Pro
Posts: 23701
Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:09 pm
Zip Code: 63664
Tractors Owned: 47, 48, 49 cub plus Wagner loader & other attachments. 41 Farmall H.
Location: Mo, Potosi

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby John *.?-!.* cub owner » Fri Nov 15, 2013 9:47 am

If it is a working tractor, the fitting sticking out of the cap could get damaged, plugged with dirt, etc. Some of them had a grease fitting in the hub itself, though that requires more work to install since you would need to remove the hub and clean the grease out to make sure no cuttings ended up in there.
If you are not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem!!!

danmcdonald
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:40 pm
Zip Code: 60518

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby danmcdonald » Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:19 am

Good point John but what I want to do is install fitting on the side of cap.I would use a 90 degree fitting. I know that if I needed to remove cap I would have to remove fitting first. Thanks

User avatar
Bus Driver
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2917
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:26 pm
Location: NC

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby Bus Driver » Fri Nov 15, 2013 3:21 pm

I completely agree with the end result you seek. But gun grease is typically very different from wheel bearing grease. The gun grease applied with some frequency may work well enough since this is for a low speed application. If you decide to try it, why not buy spare bearing caps in advance in case the attempt does not go well. That would limit the down time for the tractor.
If I was going to do it, I might build up a mound of brazing, drill and tap the hole there for longer threads.
Luck favors those who are prepared

hoosier
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:06 am
Zip Code: 37075

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby hoosier » Fri Nov 15, 2013 7:59 pm

I grease the bearings on my pontoon trailer with a grease gun and red wheel bearing grease. You can buy a small grease gun and grease tubes from Walmart in the auto center. I keep one in my boat box.
PS. I have Bearing Buddies in my trailer wheels that works somewhat like you are doing.

User avatar
ricky racer
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 6315
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:40 pm
Zip Code: 49120
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Niles / Buchanan, Michigan

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby ricky racer » Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:36 pm

The only thing negitive that I see that might happen is the oil seal may blow out of the hub. You'll never know when you have enough grease in the hub to lube the rear bearing until you see it coming out the rear of the hub. I don't remember if the seal is lip out or lip in on the hub. If it is lip in, it will blow the lip out to allow the grease to escape which will ruin the seal. If it is lip out, no problem grease will simply push past the seal indicating the hub is full of grease. Just something to think about.
1929 Farmall Regular
1935 John Deere B
1937 John Deere A
1941 John Deere H
1952 John Deere B
1953 Farmall Cub

lombard
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 228
Joined: Sat May 03, 2008 3:26 pm

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby lombard » Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:46 pm

I GO ALONG WITH BUS DRIVER AND WOULD ALSO WELD A SHORT LENGTH OF 3/4 IN PIPE
AROUND THE ZERK MAYBE 5/8 IN. LONG----THIS WOULD PROTECT THE ZERK---MY $0.08 WORTH-----

User avatar
Buzzard Wing
Cub Pro
Cub Pro
Posts: 10540
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:14 pm
Zip Code: 02840
Location: RI, Newport

Re: Front wheel bearings

Postby Buzzard Wing » Sun Nov 24, 2013 11:06 am

Just a thought.... I repack the front wheel bearings of every Cub I have owned. The only ones that have ever been bad were apparently either submerged or had a bad seal (allowing water in).

There is a big difference between trailer bearings and a Cub. Think tiny tires at highway speeds with cheap bearings and seals vs pretty heavy duty Timken bearings at slow rotation.

The bearings on a 49 and 50 Cub (both heavily used) were perfect and the two I replaced were on a 71 and 77. One had a bad seal and the other apparently sat in a puddle for a time.

You do want to leave room for heat expansion, so never completely fill the hub with grease.
1971 Cub (Rufus) 1950 Cub (Cathy) 1965 Lo Boy Fast Hitch (Nameless III) 1970 Cub 1000 Loader & Fast Hitch (Lee)


Return to “Farmall Cub”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Majestic-12 [Bot] and 26 guests