New bearings...

On Sunday arvo I replaced my wheel bearings, as was advised I packed them with marine grade grease...

Old bearings - were grinding a bit and not running free.

New bearings ready for the grease...

Greased up and resealed...

Don't forget to put the spacer back in the hub before refitting the bearings...

Back in the hub ready to go back on the buggy...

Now the wheels are spinning freely and no more grinding.

They've arrived...

After a month, my new bearings have finally arrived from the uk...

I shouldn't really complain, they only cost $22 inc delivery!

Bearing up...

I'm still waiting for my new bearings to arrive from the UK...

will try contacting AusPost on Monday if they don't arrive - it wont be the first thing they have failed to deliver!

Grease me up...!

Following the advice from the guys on Extreme Kites on bearing maintenance I have bought a tub of grease...

Posted by Andy666 on Extreme Kites...

"Firstly, before fitting the new bearings, repack them with marine grease. 

This gives great performance and here are the results -

Well today as I was putting my buggy back together (after flying home from sandy point) I thought screw it, I'll throw my spare set of bearing in. The old bearings still spin smooth, with no noise out of them but are extremely rusted on the outside. For interest I washed one out to have a look. I honestly couldn't believe it. Perfect!

These bearing are nearly 2yrs old and I NEVER wash my buggy, but I did take the time to pack them with marine grease before I installed them. That shit is magic.

There is another easy mod you can do to improve the seal on the bearing, to keep the sand and salt water out.

Well it basics just replicates the front wheel bearing on a PL mk2 which has a large stainless washer that extends out over the rubber seal and acts as a "slinger" or "dust shield  and helps to keep the sand away from the seal lip which is what wears it out and allows the salt water etc to get in and stuff the bearing.

There is no actual contact between the washer and the bearing seal so it won't wear it out.

The four 20mm stainless washers cost me $3 from the local bolt shop.

Original with no washer. All the sand is right in at the seal lip.

Wipe clean and smear a bit of marine grease between rubber and washer.

Refit to buggy, spin a few times and wipe off excess grease.

After 2hrs on the beach today this was the result. All the sand was stuck around the edge of the washer but none at all in at the seal lip."

I'm going to be doing this for my new bearings.

TLC...

It's time to give my buggy some TLC and some new bearings...

The old ones are grinding and don't run freely anymore...

Ordered from ebay and on there way from the UK - much cheaper and better quality than getting localy. I have also had some good advice about increasing the bearings longevity from the guys on Extreme Kites.