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Easy Tapping

7 posts
  1. Hector Velazquez
    Hector Velazquez avatar
    0 posts
    8/22/2014 3:08 PM
    Here is another episode of Hector's Shop
    where we show you an easy way to Tap Threads on your next fabrication project!
    Click the following link and video is on HomePage
    http://www.hectorsshop.com/



  2. Richard Lavine
    Richard Lavine avatar
    3 posts
    8/22/2014 4:08 PM
    Hector,
    Nice video...been there, done that (except for the drill press part, very nice) however, often one must notch the rim to accept the zerk fitting as it slides on the hub.



  3. Henry Heinz
    Henry Heinz avatar
    0 posts
    8/25/2014 5:08 AM
    Richard, that is true, that's why we install bearing-buddies for our axle needs, much easier. Factor in your time and labor the bearing buddy makes it faster and most likely less expensive. Still a very nice video, and certainly a method that can be used for tapping threads on other projects. Also, a tapping drill is an awesome power tool to use, start drilling in and it auto reverses, making tapping very fast and easy. I used one in Michigan, in my friends fabrication shop when we were building large water treatment impellers. Lots of tapping so that was the only way to go. Again, a very nice video!!

    Regards,



  4. Richard Lavine
    Richard Lavine avatar
    3 posts
    8/25/2014 3:08 PM
    Henry,
    Never heard of a bearing buddy??? Please elaborate?



  5. Henry Heinz
    Henry Heinz avatar
    0 posts
    8/25/2014 3:08 PM
    Richard, they simply take the place of the dust cap. The fit in just the same and have a rubber cap that goes over them for protection. Simply put, they are a beefed up version of a dust cap outfitted with a grease zerk, and designed to keep water out. Very popular with boat trailers. During my time in PA, I installed them on all our greens mower trailers, this way when servicing the mower, we could grease the the trailer wheels too. You can find them at your local NAPA store, and probably most any auto store.

    Regards,



  6. Hector Velazquez
    Hector Velazquez avatar
    0 posts
    8/25/2014 4:08 PM
    Bearing Buddys are pretty nice!

    The only problem I have seen time and time again, is the rear bearing fails to get greased. Does a great job and keeping the front bearing fairly pumped with grease. But, more often then not fails to grease the sec set. Folks get a false sense of security thinking both sets are greased when in reality they are not.

    During my Time in Tampa Fl. this was the biggest issue in boat shops dealing with the boat trailers.

    Hey, Something is better than nothing!



  7. Henry Heinz
    Henry Heinz avatar
    0 posts
    8/26/2014 5:08 AM
    What Hector says has some truths to it, but as his fitting is in, or near the middle, you need to pump enough grease into the hub so that it fills it and moves both direction filling the bearings/cavity. The bearing buddy holds the same principle, as it pushes greases through the middle of the hub toward the rear, so you again need enough grease to fill the hub and reach your bearings. Once the hubs are filled with grease, using either method, you will only require several pumps to maintain your wheels. So, if you're greasing to the middle through the top of the hub, or through the middle of the such as the buddy, you still need enough grease to push it to both bearing sets. As Hector says, doing something is better than anything. For me, just my opinion, but growing up in Key West and working a number of years in the marine industry I found the bearing buddies to work great!! I used them on both my boat trailers and my snowmobile trailer when I lived up north. Those who didn't have them went through hubs and bearings like crazy :o

    Regards,



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