Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Concerning The
Liqua-Lube Inc. Hub Lubrication System
Q. What is the
Liqua-Lube System?
A. The Liqua-Lube
System converts an existing greased hub to an oil bath method of
lubrication. It is designed for the 1.980 hub opening, commonly
referred to as the 2” hub.
Q. How do you
seal the hub?
A. The sealing on
the back of the hub is so important to the system being leak free.
There is a stainless steel sleeve that is sealed onto the spindle
where the seal rides with gasket sealer included in the kits. The
sealant seals up any imperfections on the existing spindle and the
sleeve gives a hard surface for the very aggressive oil seal. The oil
seal must be closely matched to the sleeve and the inside of the hub.
What works for grease may not be snug enough for liquid. On the front,
there is an o-ring that is moldable and will take up any imperfections
on the inside of the hub.
Q. Is this just
like the semi’s use?
A. Yes, the trucking
industry has been using the oil bath system for 25 to 30 years. The
idea has been adapted to the smaller hub size and totally enclosed for
backing into the water.
Q. What is the
lubricant?
A. The lubricant is
a synthetic glycol base lubricant. With the concern over clean air and
water, it was determined to use an environmentally friendly lubricant
rather than a petroleum base product. The lubricant will biodegrade,
which means it will also absorb water. Any condensation inside the hub
will mix with the liquid and keep the moisture off the bearings.
Q. Once the
system is installed, do I need to do anything?
A. As with any hub,
it will need to be checked, but with the Liquid-Lube System, a visual
check of the lubricant level is very easy. If the lubricant level has
not changed, its O.K.
Q. Where do I
check the level?
A. On the marine
cap, the sight area is behind the yellow diaphragm. On the non-marine
cap the level can be seen on the front of the cap.
Q. How full
should it be?
A. The marine cap
should be about ½ full, less than ½ makes it hard to see but will be
fine for lubricating. The non-marine cap should be filled to the full
line on the cap.
Q. That doesn’t
sound like much lubricant, is that enough?
A. Putting more into
the hub would only be wasting money. Centrifugal force keeps throwing
the lubricant into the largest part of the hub and onto the bearings.
The bearings are constantly being bathed in lubricant, even with that
amount of lubricant.
Q. Do I ever need
to change the lubricant?
A. It is recommended
that the lubricant be changed once a year to remove any moisture that
has formed from condensation.
Q. How do I
change the lubricant?
A. Just remove the
plug with the allen wrench, turn the wheel with the opening to the
bottom and allow the lubricant to drain out. Remember, there is only 1
½ to 2 ounces
in each hub and it is dispersed throughout the hub, so it will take a
little time to drain out. Raising the opposite side of the trailer
will help. Drain the lubricant into a paper cup and dispose of in
garbage or compost bin. When changing the lubricant, check the tire
play for bearing wear and tighten if needed. To refill, turn the wheel
with the opening up and refill to the recommended level. Give the
lubricant time to
flow to the back bearings and refill as needed to the recommended
level.
Q. Will the
lubricant change color?
A. The lubricant
will remove any residual petroleum left in the pores of the hub and
will discolor the liquid. It will become a grayish color. Even after
several changes the liquid will not remain the pink color. It will
turn gray, but take longer.
Q. How many miles
will the system last?
A. The system should
last for thousands of miles. Paved road miles will be much easier on
the rear seal than a lot of gravel miles. It is difficult to put a
time or mileage life on the system. Keep a visual check on the
lubricant level. As the rear seal begins to wear you will notice the
lubricant level changing.
Q. What comes in
the kit?
A. Everything that is needed to convert one axle, except the
bearings. It is recommended to change the bearings unless it’s on a
new installation or the bearings have just been
changed. The kit includes the drill bit and self-tapping screws,
lubricant for the installation and one change, seals and sleeves to
fit your spindle to hub combination, sleeve driver, Liqua-Lube caps
and installation instructions.
Q. How do I know
which kit I need?
A. There is a sizing
chart that will tell how to measure. The measurement of the spindle
where the seal rides and the inside diameter of the hub will tell what
kit is needed.
Q. Is it easy to
install?
A. Yes. When the hub
is all apart, clean it very thoroughly getting rid of all petroleum.
The lubricant will not mix with petroleum. Install the stainless steel
sleeve, the driver is in the kit. Drill three small holes in the face
of the hub, the drill bit is in the kit and the instructions tell one
how to do that process. Cast iron drills easy and the hole is only ¼”
deep. Assemble and adjust clean and dry, install the cap on the hub,
turn the fill hole in an up position and fill with the yorker spout
bottle to the fill line on the non-marine or ½ full on the marine
version. Remember the sight area is behind the yellow diaphragm. There
should not be any liquid showing in the face of the MARINE cap.
Q. Can I call the
factory if I have any questions or problems?
A. Yes,
1-800-561-9917
