Bearing temp question
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 76
Likes: 3
From: Gallatin, Tn.
Bearing temp question
Hello all
I just repacked the wheel bearings on my TT. On the advice of a friend I bought a temperature gun to monitor wheel bearing temps. I’ve checked the temps several times now and 3 of the 4 are all within a few degrees of one another at around 105 F. The 4th is always about 10 degrees above the rest. Is that difference big enough to consider backing the castle nut off one notch, or is it good to go?
I’ve always been on to just grab the hubs to check for an over temp, so I might (probably am) be making a deal out of nothing.
Appreciate any advice.
thanks
Steve
I just repacked the wheel bearings on my TT. On the advice of a friend I bought a temperature gun to monitor wheel bearing temps. I’ve checked the temps several times now and 3 of the 4 are all within a few degrees of one another at around 105 F. The 4th is always about 10 degrees above the rest. Is that difference big enough to consider backing the castle nut off one notch, or is it good to go?
I’ve always been on to just grab the hubs to check for an over temp, so I might (probably am) be making a deal out of nothing.
Appreciate any advice.
thanks
Steve
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Maybe the other three are too loose?
Technically, we're supposed to be using a dial indicator and getting it close to just a few thousandths. Nobody does this. Slightly loose is a lot better than too tight though.
Technically, we're supposed to be using a dial indicator and getting it close to just a few thousandths. Nobody does this. Slightly loose is a lot better than too tight though.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 76
Likes: 3
From: Gallatin, Tn.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 22
From: very South Texas
I go by... 20 degrees above ambient air temperature...
then add 20 degrees if the Sun shown on one side for an hour or more....
use brakes as little as possible before doing a Temperature reading.
and 30 degrees more does not mean there is an issue... now over 150-160 is a problem... fyi
my opinion.
then add 20 degrees if the Sun shown on one side for an hour or more....
use brakes as little as possible before doing a Temperature reading.
and 30 degrees more does not mean there is an issue... now over 150-160 is a problem... fyi
my opinion.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I think the things that make it so hard to nail down are the multitude of different factors affecting hub temperature. For example, what is the normal variation in factory specs, then there is weight load per bearing, small differences in grease penetration, brake shoe drag, differences in magnet strength, etc. I use an infrared at times, but most often if it burns your hand when you touch the wheel something is wrong. If you set it up correctly, attend to your bearings on schedule, and do not run them too tight, my guess is your are fine.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 22
From: very South Texas
I understand all the variables.. retired auto mechanic.aka drum brakes since 1967... Front and Rear 
but a sense of simplicity is needed here.. so the above numbers work for me.
trailer towing something since 1983.....
YES,,, if the hub is painful to touch for a second.. there is an issue...
but a sense of simplicity is needed here.. so the above numbers work for me.
trailer towing something since 1983.....
YES,,, if the hub is painful to touch for a second.. there is an issue...
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Green Springs, OH
I am actually experiencing a similar issue. I noticed one wheel warmer than the rest on my TT. So I checked and adjusted all 4 brakes so they slightly dragged. Went on a 2 hour trip and all seemed fine on trip down. Towed back home and after backing in driveway walked by wheel and could smell what seemed like brake smell. Took temp of all wheels and all were 110 except the suspect wheel again. It was at 140. So today after speaking with my father. He suggested to jack up wheel and apply brake and check to see how much brake is grabbing compared to others. I used my tiny irwin wood clamp to keep slider on brake controller to 3 bars of output to brakes. The wheel that was hot I could not budge. I then checked the rear wheel and I could move it. It took some effort but I could move it none the less. So I backed off the hot wheel brake to achieve same amount of drag when power applied to brakes. It seems even though I adjusted them to what felt all the same that one wheel seems to grab harder than the others. We have a trip in a couple weeks so I will double check with temp gun to see how it does. I may also do a test run to see how it does.
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