Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > MOC Technical Forums > Maintenance
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-07-2012, 04:21 PM   #1
dieselguy
Montana Master
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
It doesn't work and here's why

Attached are a couple of photos of one of the 7 Wonders of the RV world ... EZ Lube Hubs. I pumped 2 pumps of grease as shown in the photo without the bearing just for show of how little two pumps is and where it would be. Where the grease sits is actually the step on the spindle where your rear bearing seats. There are two slight lines on the land behind the grease ... that's where the wheel seal runs. If I had placed the wheel drum with seal and bearing in place before I pumped the grease, the blob would have been behind the bearing yet forward of the wheel seal ... a space of about 3/8 - 1/2". To get past rear bearing and travel several inches to get to the front bearing, the new grease has to push it's way thru the old grease already in the bearing. The wheel seal is the only thing that new grease has to push against. It takes a little bit of force to push grease thru a bearing let alone travel or push old grease several inches up to the front bearing. I hope you can visualize what a failed design this is. I also hope you can see the only 2 benefits of the "2 Pump a Season" advise from your dealer's tech.
1. It keeps Joe Average from filling his brake drum with grease.
2. It Gives Joe Average peace of mind that he has dutifully greased his wheel bearings, but in essence has really done pretty much nothing. Forget the EZ Lube ... repack or get them repacked every season or two depending on your travels.

 
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2012, 04:37 PM   #2
LonnieB
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Texico
Posts: 1,917
M.O.C. #6150
Send a message via MSN to LonnieB
Good post dieselguy.
LonnieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2012, 04:42 PM   #3
Montana3800RE
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Walla Walla
Posts: 141
M.O.C. #12821
Never haved used the EX Lube, alway's tear down the hubs on every trailer every year needed or not to inspect all components, clean,regrease. Thanks for the pics I was going to look at mine next time to see how the EZ Lube actually works but you showed how it failed...........Ron
Montana3800RE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2012, 05:42 PM   #4
tanner1070
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Palmdale
Posts: 177
M.O.C. #11365
That was a great post dieselguy. I can clearly see the potential for failure here. Your right, repacking them is the only way to be sure. Thanks
tanner1070 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 02:03 AM   #5
kylec2
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Garland
Posts: 450
M.O.C. #10688
I never put much faith in most things labeled "EZ blah blah blah" and the old manual method is a good opportunity to visually inspect the bearings for scoring. It looks like I will continue to tear-down, clean, and lube mine the old fashioned way.
kylec2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 02:10 AM   #6
1retired06
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
Excellent post!
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
1retired06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 02:15 AM   #7
Tom S.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
I guess I'm odd man out. I used the EZ lube system. I didn't read the "give two shots" until a few years later, but the first time I used it, common sense told me I had to fill the void between the rear and front bearings with grease before it would work. This I did, though it took many pumps of the grease gun to do so. Thereafter, a few pumps was all it took to force the grease out the front bearings. Even though I inspected the brakes annually by pulling the hub off just far enough to see the linings, I never had any problems with rear seals, and the system worked fine for me.

Having said this, it would be nice if they went to sealed non-greasable bearings like the auto companies have. Given the length of time it took them to go to self adjustment brakes or making disc brakes standard though, I'm guessing I won't see them in my lifetime.

One other note: I wouldn't put jack stands in the location you have them. IMHO, they would be better placed between the U-bolts where the weight of the trailer is concentrated. Moving them out increases the possibility of tweaking/bending the axle and causing other issues.
Tom S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 02:22 AM   #8
pineranch
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Navarre
Posts: 1,527
M.O.C. #9765
Great post, removed the smoke and mirrors from of the E-Z method.
Mike
pineranch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 02:54 AM   #9
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
Interestingly enough the Dexter folks, when pressed at the Rally, fully agree with Diesel Guy.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 03:32 AM   #10
dieselguy
Montana Master
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
Tom S:
Good point, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I always jack directly under the spring holders, but the photos were during the time I had all 4 tires off getting the Marabombs replaced. If you only have 2 jacks, you can't put a jack stand directly under the other two spring perchs unless you jack the frame up which I don't care to do. As far as why not just take the whole fiver to the tire store ... parking lot was too small, "rattle gun jocks" marr up a good aluminum wheel and seldom approach torquing up lugs to my liking.
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 05:07 AM   #11
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
Like Tom S, I am a contrarian on this. While I agree that 2 pumps is useless, greasing according to the Dexter instructions does exactly what it says it will do.
If you look at a cross section of the EZ Lube System, you can see the path of the grease.
I jacked one wheel at a time, slowly pumped grease in the zerk, while constantly turning the wheel so the grease can easily flow thru the bearings and not over pressure the seal. It took quite a bit of grease, but the new grease pushed the old grease out the front just as the instructions indicated. Repeated for all wheels. I always check the brakes before each trip using the manual brake control, and before each new season by jacking each wheel and checking each wheel individually. All brakes work fine. And I first used the EZ Lube system 3 years ago.
However the system can easily be abused by anyone not patient enough to do it very slowly. I am sure the is why Dexter, "when pressed", agreed with Diesel Guy.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 05:07 AM   #12
Tom S.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by dieselguy

Tom S:
Good point, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I always jack directly under the spring holders, but the photos were during the time I had all 4 tires off getting the Marabombs replaced. If you only have 2 jacks, you can't put a jack stand directly under the other two spring perchs unless you jack the frame up which I don't care to do. As far as why not just take the whole fiver to the tire store ... parking lot was too small, "rattle gun jocks" marr up a good aluminum wheel and seldom approach torquing up lugs to my liking.
Yeah, I can't take ours to the tire store either, so I did two tires (one side) at a time. I have four 12 ton jacks that will lift the unit by the frame.
Tom S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 04:25 PM   #13
dieselguy
Montana Master
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
Tom and Bill ... hats off to you for unlocking the "secret" of the Not So EZ Lube. I have no straight forward rebuttal other than even with your jack it up .... spin and slow pump method, you'll never be totally sure that a similar amount that came out the front didn't slip by the rear seal ... until it's too late of course. If Dexter doesn't 100% fill the hub at the factory to insure this design to work ... few will take the time out in the field either. To top it off, the next time you clean / repack ... the meticulous process has to be completed all over again. Keep your experiences coming.
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Front AC Installed - Doesn't work 7.3Ford Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 9 08-11-2012 03:40 AM
Refrigerator doesn't work cmawendy Repairs & Service 14 12-11-2010 12:53 AM
Fireplace on high setting doesn't work dreamers2010 General Discussions about our Montanas 11 10-07-2010 11:13 AM
doorbell doesn't work MikeandBarb Repairs & Service 42 09-11-2006 06:52 PM
AC water Heater doesn't Work - Now I Know Why skyguy Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 12 06-03-2005 10:20 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.