Harbor Freight Trailer Wheel Bearing Tick Tick when wheel turns and rubbing noise?

Hello
I have a nice HF Trailer Frame I picked up used and build it up with wood on the sides. When I first got it, I took it on the highway and one of the bearings froze and burned up the tire. That is when I realized Triple A did not cover the $500 towing to my mechanic on it. I had both wheel bearings replaced & greased and the tire fixed. That was 2-3 years ago. The last time I used it just the other day, I heard a Tick Tick noise in the left wheel. So I jacked it up and added grease into the nice new zerk fittings on both wheels for the wheel bearings.
Now the Tick Tick noise is gone but there is still a slight rubbing noise in the same left wheel. The other wheel is perfectly quiet when I spin it. Both wheels seemed to take the grease fine and I wiped off the grease and dirt on the inside of both wheels.
Is that rubbing noise in just the left wheel ok or does this need further attention?

Pic 1 - HFTrailer1-Trailer.jpg
Pic 2 - HFTrailer2-GreasingTools.jpg
Pic 3 - HFTrailer3-Zerk.jpg
Pic 4 - HFTrailer4-PumpInGrease.jpg
Pic 5- HFTrailer5-DryMolyWheelStuds.jpg
Pic 6 - HFTrailer6-Grease&DirtOnInsideOfWheel.jpg
Pic 7 - HFTrailer7-WheelCleaned&Greased.jpg

 

What's the speed limit on that lil bugger? Those lil tires are often 45 MPH...

 

I can go 55 or 65 no problem. One of my friends said to remove the cap, pin and nut and pull the front bearing and check it out. could be water in there making the noise. Then put back with more grease. Also from the looks of the dirty grease on the inside back of the wheel, new seals could certainly help too.

 

I'm sure you can, but is it a good idea...those lil tires are not usually often rated for highway speeds (check the sidewall) and the bearings are not of a quality that will take high speeds for long, especially loaded.
How are they adjusted? Free play just taken out, and then backed off one cotter pin notch? That's how I've always adjusted most wheel bearings...

 

It might just be me, but i wouldn't expect much life from HF wheel bearings.

(Or anything from HF.)

I wouldn't run that trailer on the highway, at least not far...

 

I do have to run the trailer on the highway sometimes but not very far. I did have new wheel bearings put in a couple years ago so just trying to keep them from freezing up again. ;-)

 

I always like to watch those little tires on the highway. People doing 80 with it bouncing along.

 

And if you could isolate the noise, those lil bearings probably sound about like the dentist's drill at that speed!

 

Ever take an air hose to a computer fan???

 

Ayup...done it to bearings too...I know, no-no...doesn't seem like the worst thing they could go through though...

 

I just checked for rust and do not see any so looks like no water in the bearing? Right?
Pic 8 - HFTrailer8-NoRustSoNoWaterInTheGrease
Pic 9 - HFTrailer9-NoRustSoNoWaterInTheGrease

 

I'm saying there actually was some water got in there...that grease doesn't look too good at all, especially for only being a couple years old...was that high temp wheel bearing grease used in there?
Also, when you grease it using the zerk that was added, do you pop the outer cap off? Probably not as likely with those steel caps, but on hubs that were sealed on both sides, I've seen the seals get popped out using a grease gun to lube...pressure has to go somewhere.

 

Thanks for all your info and suggestions. The zerk on the back may only get to the back bearing so I did pop the cap to check the grease in the front. I always use the red high temperature grease on pellet stove auger bearings. This grease and the new bearings were put in by the auto mechanic. So not sure what kind of grease?
Just curious why you say this grease does not look good? I do not have any experience to tell?

 

I'd bet that the cotter pin is rubbing on the cap. See if the noise goes away when the cap is removed.

 

By the looks of it that zerk should be in between the two bearings, so I would think it would push grease to both sides as long as there is somewhere for it to go.

Well, it would help to know what color the grease was to begin with, but even if it was a brown colored grease when new, it looks dirty and kinda like thin mud...in my experience (and I've had hundreds of "swamped" bearings apart) when the grease looks like that right there, it had/has water in it.

 

Ok, thanks
I thought about the location of the zerk and it cannot be in front of the hub because then the wheel would not go on.
I will check on the cotter pin tomorrow, that should be checked out! thanks
Maybe I will get more grease and remove what I can and add some new grease. Thanks again.

 

Don't you have a parts washer? (thought I remembered seeing that a while back)
If so I'd wash it all out completely and evaluate the clean/dry bearings and races before repacking them...you can tell a lot about a bearing once they are all cleaned up good. If no parts washer, you can wash them up in a pan of kerosene or diesel fuel using an old paint brush...wear gloves or you will smell like fuel all day.
Good thought on the cotter pin rubbing too...certainly a possibility.

 

My trailer tires are rated for 35 mph...But I say run em!!

 

On your big trailer? No way it's that low...

 

Really...Just kidding!

I think they are rated to 65 mph.