Wheel Bearing Grease

11-25-2008, 05:33 PM

Jim Small | Wheel Bearing Grease

Gentlemen,

This is a first attempt to post anything. What are folks using for wheel bearing grease? The Seawind manual says Lubriplate Marine Grease. The MATCO pages just say "suitable grease". Is Lubriplate 630-AA a reasonable choice. It is available from Aircraft Spruce for about $45/ 6-pounds. I plan to eventually operate from salt water.

Jim, Tucson

12-05-2008, 08:08 PM

Mike

Fred might be able to help here......he is in the water all the time.

12-05-2008, 09:42 PM

tseawind

I have been using a product from Castrol over a decade now, both in saltwater and fresh. I change my bearings and races about every 5 to 7 years, I am not kidding here. All my customers that come into my shop get there grease changed out with what I use and give them a tube for preventive maintenance between annuals. It is Castrol SFG, Super High Performance EP Grease. It is for high temps, loads and extreme pressures and has fresh and salt water resistant properties and protection against rust and corrosion, this is word for word off of the tube. It is purple in color. Another name on the tube is NLGI #2 with a P/N 53602. I purchased it from Florida Bearing, they have an office in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach, FL. I am sure this product can be purchased at other places, I buy it by the case of 10 - 16 oz. tube, just slip it in a grease gun and go at it. The only grease I use for all bearings and grease points.... except the prop of course. Good luck, you won't be disappointed.

Henry

12-07-2008, 02:29 PM

Fred Lohr

that castrol stuff sounds good to me. I 've just been using lubriplate marine wheel bearing grease. avilable in most automotive or boating stores. I think the guys with lake amphibian experience like Russ or Jack probably have a favorite product or some info on this.

12-07-2008, 08:21 PM

tseawind | Wheels

I think that having the right wheels are important, I have never seen or used the Matcos, so I don't know how they are built, but the Clevelands, that are designed for seaplane operations are what I use. By this I mean that they have an enclosed hub around the axle, with an external zerk fitting. Pump in the grease and it should come out around the axle, if the cavity is full, it is hard to get water in there. Every once in a while, a pump or two should push out any water, if any, out of the bearings. This is how I get the many years out of a set of bearings. If the Matcos are like this, then you should have very little problems. If you just pack your bearings, you won't get any life out of them. One last note, I stopped using the chrome plated bearings, I have had more failures with these in wheels than I care too. I have a bunch of new CP bearings here for Cleveland's, for a Widgeon, that I won't use. My .02 worth.

Henry

12-08-2008, 07:52 AM

Mike

I have the Matco Brakes. Durning the 1st annual I disasembled the MLG.

Much to my dismay ...RUST & Ceased Bearings (pict1). I had found that the center grease retaining collars were missing (pict2 above O rings). Try guessing how much grease is used without the collars and how much with. All ok Now..!!

04-27-2022, 08:24 PM

hmjohn | Beringer Brakes

Beringer has an option that will fit the Seawind. It also requires their wheels and tubeless tires but it is a nice setup. If anyone is ever interested please contact me.