Alko Waterproof Bearings

gibbo500 · 31 August 2009, 12:59

I have these fitted to my Bramber trailer and was wondering are they really waterproof or no better than your average qualiity hub?

I was going to fit new hubs but if these are any good will just regrease and fit bearing savers.

Cheers guys.

Downhilldai · 31 August 2009, 22:59

They tend to be ok on unbraked trailers, but braked versions don't last too long, maybe a season or 2.
The bearings are 'sealed' in the sense that they are not serviceable, although some people have pulled them apart and greased them.
Bearing Savers are not suitable as the hub cap is a dust cover, the inside being dry and sealed from the bearing.
Hope that makes sense.

gibbo500 · 01 September 2009, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

They tend to be ok on unbraked trailers, but braked versions don't last too long, maybe a season or 2.
The bearings are 'sealed' in the sense that they are not serviceable, although some people have pulled them apart and greased them.
Bearing Savers are not suitable as the hub cap is a dust cover, the inside being dry and sealed from the bearing.
Hope that makes sense.

Loud and clear.

Cheers mate.

Jono · 01 September 2009, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibbo500

I have these fitted to my Bramber trailer and was wondering are they really waterproof or no better than your average qualiity hub?

:

If you mean the sealed-for-life type bearing, then, "yes", they are bloody brilliant...for the purpose for which they were intended.......on a Caravan

codprawn · 01 September 2009, 14:08

I don't know why someone doesn't bring an old fashioned style bearing back with proper grease nipples for boat trailers.

JSP · 01 September 2009, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I don't know why someone doesn't bring an old fashioned style bearing back with proper grease nipples for boat trailers.

They have it's called a holden

Greased nipples LINK

chewy · 01 September 2009, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

They have it's called a holden

Greased nipples LINK

Heres me thinking you'd posted a useful link.

markg · 02 September 2009, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I don't know why someone doesn't bring an old fashioned style bearing back with proper grease nipples for boat trailers.

i was in sbs trailers the other day and they had maybe 20 hubs on the shelf all were press fit bearings not a taper roller to be seen
i guess the manufacturer would rather you had to buy a complete hub assembly than change a couple of roller taper bearings yourself, i wont be buying a new trailer for that reason

Downhilldai · 02 September 2009, 00:37

You don't have to buy SBS though. Other manufacturers use taper roller bearings.

Nos4r2 · 02 September 2009, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

You don't have to buy SBS though. Other manufacturers use taper roller bearings.

Yep.

My Rapide has taper rollers.

doggypaddle · 02 September 2009, 09:45

and my degraffe.

Downhilldai · 02 September 2009, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

My Rapide has taper rollers.

My unbraked Rapide has Alko
But my braked CLH, with Avonride axle,

has taper rollers.

floater · 07 September 2009, 15:39

I guess I'm saying the same as everyone else

but sealed for life bearings are rubbish !

i have gone through 4 sets in 3 years

they are expensive to buy
you carnt change them yourself
they fail quickly in sea water
overpriced c£$p
i have an SBS trailer and i am very dissapointed in it mainly the bearings but also the braked so much so that i intend to replace it next year

i asked about warranty on these bearings and i was tod that as soon as you use them in sea water then the warranty is void !

give me old fashioned bearings that you can change yourself any day of the week a couple of bearing buddies and your laughing
Andy

Patches · 10 September 2009, 13:46

Howya
My bearings are wrecking my head, one went on the way home at the weekend and three more sound like they are on the way out. now they have only been in the trailer for about three months. i use the boat a good bit and the poor trailer gets dipped every time. i wash down the trailer with fresh water after every use. I need bearings i can trust ! wat can people recomend ? its driving me up the wall
PPPLLLLLEEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE HHHHEEEELLLLPPPP

Cheers
Patches

doggypaddle · 10 September 2009, 14:14

bearings aint your problem...its seals! any Taper roller bearing whammed full of grease, with a decent seal and a bearing saver fitted should last almost indefinetley. as long as you can keep the grease in and sea out they are 100% reliable.
maybe worth changing your axles/stubs and hubs for conventional TRB's.
the rate your eating bearings should pay for itself in a season! the old axle will be sellable too, perfectly adequate for any trailer....other than a boat one

sealed for life bearings are awful! they aint sealed and life is short!

Patches · 13 September 2009, 12:31

that makes perfect sense.yeah keeping salt water out seems to be the key. thanks a million bud

Dirk Diggler · 13 September 2009, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by floater

I guess I'm saying the same as everyone else

but sealed for life bearings are rubbish !

i have gone through 4 sets in 3 years

Either I'm doing something right, or you're doing something wrong. I bought a Superspeed trailer in 94 with Alko axles, and it's still going strong. Are you letting the bearings cool down before launching?

Bigmuz7 · 13 September 2009, 20:00

Yep. I had an SBS with sealed ones and after two years I went to do a routine change, but all four were still perfect, and I wished I hadnt bothered .. I guess a lot depends on the amount of road mileage you do though.

Also I've had others with bearing buddies that I just keep pumped, and they last well too, as long as they dont run too hot

.. mind you .. when my trailer gets into the water ,.. sometimes theres an oil slick

Rogue Wave · 13 September 2009, 20:19

Long distance towing sealed bearings everytime for me. I carry a spare tyre wheel and hub/bearimg. If I have a bearing failure or pumcture it's a one nut fix, real quick which is cool if your on a motorway.

If I'm doing a lot of short launches then tapers and bearing buddies.

You can service sealed bearings

and you most certainly can change them easily yourself, you need a drift to get the old ones out and you need the old ones to help the new ones in

Searider · 14 September 2009, 10:16

Don't know what are fitted in my indespension trailers but all 3 have had bearing buddies from new and the bearings have never needed any attention. The brakes weren't too happy after 4 years of neglect when serviced this year mind, but the bearings were fine.