Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors - Model 1980A w/ Auto Check - Chrome Plated (Pair)
(367 reviews)
Price: $30.75
In Stock
Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors - Model 1980A w/ Auto Check - Chrome Plated (Pair)
Item # BB1980A
Retail:$46.16
Our Price: $30.75
You Save: 33%
In Stock
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- Reviews (367)
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Bearing Buddy Trailer Bearings Races Seals Caps - BB1980A
- Caps
- Bearing Protector Grease Cap
- 1.98 Inch
- Bearing Buddy
Provide your trailer bearings with premium protection - replace your existing grease caps with Bearing Buddies. They provide an easy way to control the grease volume in your axle hub and have blue indicator rings to visually monitor levels.
Features:
- Replaces the grease cap in the axle hub
- Prevents wheel-bearing failure
- Keeps water and dirt out of hubs and bearings
- Allows boat trailer wheels to be completely submerged
- Stops corrosion and pitting on bearings
- Provides easily accessible grease fitting
- Makes adding grease to the bearings quick and simple
- Maintains slight, controlled pressure (3 psi) with spring-loaded piston, preventing water from entering hub
- Allows visual monitoring of grease levels with blue indicator ring
- Ring sits flush with top of cylinder when full
- If ring is below top, add grease to move piston outward 1/8"
- Prevents overfilling and rear seal damage with automatic pressure-relief feature
- Grease seeps around piston edges and into barrel when full
- Constructed of stainless steel internal parts and triple-chrome-plated steel barrel
- Ensures longer-lasting fit than plastic or aluminum products
- Includes rubber covers
- Installs easily
- Made in the USA
Specs:
- Fits 1.980" hub bore
- Works with outer bearing models L-44643, L-44649 and L-44640
- Works with outer bearing cup (race) model L44610
- Commonly found on 2,000-lb, 2,500-lb and 3,500-lb Dexter axles
- Lifetime warranty
Bearing Buddy Operation
Replace your existing grease cap with a Bearing Buddy to ensure a safe, easy way to monitor and control the level of grease in your axle hub. To adjust the amount of grease in the hub, use a grease gun to add more through the appropriate fitting. Adding grease moves the Bearing Buddy spring-loaded piston outward 1/8".
The O-ring inside the barrel of the Bearing Buddy maintains a seal from the outside. The interior of the Bearing Buddy is pressurized, preventing water from entering the barrel and diluting the grease.
An automatic pressure-relief feature is built into the Bearing Buddy. When the device is full, grease will seep around the edges of the piston and into the barrel. This prevents overfilling that can damage the inner seal.
The blue indicator ring allows you to visually monitor the amount of grease in your hub. The ring should sit flush with the top of the cylinder. If the ring is below the top of the cylinder, add grease until the piston moves 1/8" outward.
42200 Bearing Buddy Model 1980A w/ Auto Check - Chrome Plated (Pair)
Customer Satisfaction Score:
98% were satisfied with this product
2% of customers were not satisfied
- Wrong item was ordered
- Product did not meet expectations
- etrailer mistake
Customer Reviews
Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors - Model 1980A w/ Auto Check - Chrome Plated (Pair) - BB1980A
Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (366 Customer Reviews)
Provide your trailer bearings with premium protection - replace your existing grease caps with Bearing Buddies. They provide an easy way to control the grease volume in your axle hub and have blue indicator rings to visually monitor levels.by: Dennis04/18/2024
The item I most wanted, the Bearing Buddy was not delivered. I received only the grease gun and 3 wine glasses....now I'm running out of time to install the Bearings before a 3000+ Mile trip...
by: Walter 03/14/2024
Great product...have 3 trailers, 2 have no grease fitting on the spindle..the bearing buddy is the way to go to keep bearings greased, and I`ve never had water penetrate these type of caps...
by: John 04/17/2024
I will replace all of my bearings with this!
by: Russ Krom04/06/2024
Ashley is the best.
Excellent product. Works as advertised. Helps keep water out of boat trailer bearings. Read instructions on how to fill with grease, and you won’t blow out the back oil seal.
by: David 09/08/2023
I installed these without too much difficulty - the etrailer instruction video for bearing protectors was extremely helpful. I haven't used the trailer much yet but expect these to work well.
by: Paul G.05/07/2017
I recently upgraded my 43 year old small boat trailer with parts from ETRAILER. New hubs, bearings, Bearing Buddy's, wheels and tires. Natalie L spent quite a bit of time on the phone with me to figure out what I needed and when it arrived everything was perfect. This is the first time I have replaced the hubs and wheels in 43 years. Timely service, great prices and I could not be more pleased.
by: Ernest 12/01/2023
Bearing Buddies been working wonders for decades!
Everyone knows that unless they been living in a cave:)
by: Richard04/02/2024
Installed on a 2018 Carry-on 5x8 with 2k axle. I didn't have to remove the wheel at all. I simply popped the hubs off and inserted the bearing buddy's as per instruction and greased. Entire time for both wheels was less that 10 minutes.
by: Jim03/28/2019
I could not be happier,
What a diiference to have not just good brakes, but great brakes. Plus, the install was so easy, all the hardware was a perfect fit, instructions were right on the money (btw, I'm a retired engineer from a nuclear plant and I wrote procedures, so I'm picky) Anyway, towed the boat 1,000 miles and what a reassuring feeling to know that the equipment is in good working order and does the job when called upon.
I'm attaching a couple of pictures so you can see what I did.
Thanks again, I will be using etrailer in the future anytime I need something, feel free to pass on my comments
by: Chuck B.01/18/2015
When I called etrailer for supplies I spoke with Dana. She was most helpful in securing the correct bearings and races for my small trailer. She helped through the entire process and had my order shipped the same day. I am very satisfied with the order and the speed it was delivered. I am sure you will be happy with any order placed with etrailer, Chuck B.
by: Mike B03/27/2019
Buddy bearings make keep grease in the hubs so much easier. No need to take them off to apply grease, just shoot some marine grease into the zerk fittings and put the soft cap back on and your good to go. Easy to install!
by: megcabra11/07/2018
Installed with ease and seem to be doing what they are intended for well.
Thanks eTrailer!
by: Steve04/20/2019
Very snug fit with the new etrailer blue dot hubs , went on nicely, abit of hitting with a dead blow hammer but nothing to excessive, they do not feel like they will be lost going to the ramp, possibly the galvanized hubs help with the good fit, just got to head out to the ramp to see, feeling confident.
by: William 10/30/2022
First rate service and product knowledge.
Many thanks
William
10/30/2023
Great
by: Jim G08/26/2014
I fitted these to my Northern Tool 4x8 folding trailer, so I don't have to worry about repacking the bearing anymore. They are excellent quality, and I highly recommend them.
by: Jeff04/06/2018
I was struggling to find the correct hub kit for my boat trailer because etrailer has a large inventory of products. I decided to call and the salesperson Mellissa found the correct part in minutes and had it shipped to my house in less than 24 hours. It’s is nice to know that etrailer still believes in great customer service and the human element of customer service.
by: Stephen07/08/2023
Bearing Buddies, the only way to fly on a boat trailer. No substitutes.
by: John 07/19/2023
Works great, no issues. Another happy c amper!
by: David 09/14/2023
Easy and fast as always!! Thank you!
by: P.S.08/19/2014
super customer service! I lost a red eye bearing cover when I hit a boulder in the road. I had recently installed a complete 2 axle disc brake kit with coupler for my boat trailer that I ordered from etrailer. Mike S. found the right size from my original order and shipped out new Bearing Buddies in no time flat! I highly recommend etrailer to everyone I know.
P.s.
8/20/2015
no complaints
by: davmac04/23/2013
Look, there are various bearing buddy knock offs out there that might be "good enough". These are the real deal and they have added a nice little feature - these blue ring indicators. The indicator ring lets you know when you might need to add more grease - and might also keep you from going overboard. I think it is more common for people to try to push too much grease into the hub especially with bearing buddy protectors installed.
Great insurance for a boat trailer especially.
Davmac
4/23/2014
The bearing buddies still look great one year later. As fishing season starts again in mn I look forward to being able to check at a glance to see whether I need to add grease.
by: Richard Z.09/11/2012
Attached are two photos of Bearing Buddy protectors on my Time Out tent camper.
by: Matt07/26/2023
I didn’t realize that there were a pair in a package. But the tech is great.
by: Sara K06/14/2018
I installed bearing buddies on a boat trailer that sees both fresh water and salt water. In the past, despite loading the bearings up on grease, it wasn't uncommon to replace them every couple of years. We are at the year one mark with the bearing buddies and no issues. Also, the bearing buddies also show you how much grease is in the wheel hub; our hubs only needed a small amount of grease to top them off the beginning of this season.
by: Diane E03/19/2020
I purchased the Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors - Model 1980A Chrome Plate for my teardrop trailer prior to a 1200 mile summer vacation trip. They were easy to install after I cleaned and changed my wheel bearings and replaced the grease. Cool running during the entire trip.
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Show More Reviews
See what our Experts say about this Bearing Buddy Trailer Bearings Races Seals Caps
- Correct Bearing Buddy for Bear Trailer with 3,500 lb AxlesThe Bearing Buddy you would want would be the # BB1980A-SS or # BB1980A since you have bearing L44649 as the outer bearing. # BB1980A-SS is the stainless steel version which will resist corrosion better than the chrome plated # BB1980A.
view full answer... - Bearing Buddies To Replace Grease Caps That Measure 1.977" Diameter The most accurate way to chose a Bearing Buddy Protector is to measure the diameter of your hub bore opening of your trailer hub. It sounds like you most likely have a 1.98" diameter bore for that I recommend to use the Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors part # BB1980A-SS for stainless steel or part # BB1980A for chrome plated. I do recommend to double check the measurement of the hub bore with a digital caliper.
view full answer... - Recommended Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors For Dexter 3,500 Lb Trailer Hub AssemblyThe Bearing Buddies that work with the Trailer Hub Assembly, part # 8-248-50UC1 are part # BB1980A-SS for stainless steel and part # BB1980A for chrome plated. These fit a hub bore that measures 1.98 inches inside diameter. These come with 2 Bearing Buddies in a package. These are a great way to keep water out and making sure you have enough grease in the hub.
view full answer... - Buddy Buddy Recommendation for Trailer Hub with Bearings L44649 and L68149The correct Bearing Buddy to use with the bearing numbers you listed of L44649 and L68149 is the # BB1980A or # BB1980A-SS for stainless steel.
view full answer... - Which Bearing Buddy For Trailer Hub That Uses L44649 and L68149 BearingsSince your hub uses inner bearing # L68149 and outer bearing # L44649 you can use the Bearing Buddy Bearing Protector Stainless Steel # BB1980A-SS that you were looking at or the Chrome Plated # BB1980A. I included videos for both of the products mentioned for you to take a look at.
view full answer... - Bearing Buddy Fitment for a Malone MicroSport TrailerThe Malone MicroSport trailers use a grease cap with a 1.98" outer diameter so you need the 1980 Bearing Buddy kit which comes in the following: - Chrome # BB1980A - Stainless Steel # BB1980A-SS
view full answer... - What is the Length of the 1.980" Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors # BB1980A-SSI have linked a picture showing that the Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors # BB1980A has a full length of 1-3/16" while the part that inserts into the hub is 5/16". This means that the Bearing Buddy will stick out 7/8" from your hub. The only difference between the Bearing Buddy # BB1980A and the Bearing Buddy # BB1980A-SS that you referenced is that the former is chrome plated while the latter is stainless steel. They both have the same dimensions though.
view full answer...
- Bearing Buddies that Fit a 1.979 Hub Bore OpeningFor a set of Bearing Buddies that should work with your 1.979 hub bore opening, I recommend using the Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors - Model 1980A-SS part # BB1980A-SS for stainless steel or part # BB1980A for chrome plated. The above Bearing Buddies fit a hub bore opening of 1.980" which is the closest we have to your 1.979 hub bore opening. You will need two sets of Bearing Buddies for a dual axle trailer. I have attached a review and installation video of the above Bearing Buddies...
view full answer... - Bearing Buddy Recommendation for Trailer Hub # 8-248-50UC1The Bearing Buddies that work with the Trailer Hub Assembly, part # 8-248-50UC1 are part # BB1980A-SS for stainless steel and part # BB1980A for chrome plated. These fit a hub bore that measures 1.98 inches inside diameter. These come with 2 Bearing Buddies in a package. These are a great way to keep water out and making sure you have enough grease in the hub.
view full answer... - Replacement Bearing Buddy Recommendation Marked 1980Since yours say 1980 that means the correct Bearing Buddy is the part # BB1980A which will fit and work well as a replacement. If instead you wanted the stainless steel version you'd want the part # BB1980A-SS. I attached an install video for this kit for you to check out as well.
view full answer... - Do Trailer Bearings Need to be Repacked on a Trailer Running 200 Miles a YearThe grease in your bearings can break down over time so it is best practice to repack your bearings every 12 months (or 12,000 miles but this doesn't apply to you). Now, if you were to accidentally forget to repack them one season it wouldn't be terrible, but it would be better to notice that the grease broke down and replace it than to let it go and run the risk of having too little grease. One of the best "hassle-free" solutions for repacking your bearings is to install Bearing Buddys....
view full answer... - Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors for Hub Bore of 1.998-InchAll sizes of our Bearing Buddy bearing protectors are shown on the linked page. The Bearing Buddy size to match the hub bore dimension is the 1.98-inch type, such as # BB1980A-SS in stainless steel or # BB1980A in chrome finish. These are non-threaded. For a threaded Bearing Buddy in this size use # BB1980T-SS.
view full answer... - How to Choose Correct Bearing Buddy Bearing ProtectorIn the exact situation that you are referencing the measurement taken was in-between Bearing Buddy sizes so it would have been better to use one slightly larger than one that is slightly smaller as a smaller size wouldn't be able to remain installed properly. If you already have Bearing Buddy protectors installed on your trailer then you can use a digital caliper to measure the inside diameter of your hub bore OR you can measure the outer diameter of the part that fits into your hub from...
view full answer... - Replacement Bearing Protectors for Older Boat Trailer With 1-63/64 Hub BoreThe size bearing protector (Bearing Buddy) or dust cap needed is based on the hub bore diameter. 1-63/64 translates to roughly 1.98 inches which is what the # BB1980A-SS stainless or # BB1980A are designed to fit. The easiest way to confirm this is to pull the hub and check the reference number on the side of the outer bearing cage. If it's L44649, L44643 or L44640 and your existing bearing protector is driven in and not threaded in, either of these would work perfectly for you. Since you're...
view full answer... - Difference Between Bearing Buddy 1980 ModelsThe model 1980 Bearing Buddy simply means that they fit a 1.980 inch hub bore. There is one difference of note between Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors # BB1980A (Chrome Plated) or # BB1980A-SS (Stainless Steel) and the Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors # BB1980T-SS which is that the latter - with the "T" in the part number - means that it is threaded and fits internally threaded hubs.
view full answer... - Which Bearing Buddy Do I NeedThe Bearing Buddy Bearing Protector # BB1938 is designed to fit on a 1.938" hub bore and with outer bearing model 09067. In order to choose the correct grease cap or bearing protector, I strongly recommend using a precise measuring tool such as a dial caliper. Hubs can have bores that differ by only a few thousandths of an inch, so getting an exact measurement will help us choose the correct cap for you. There isn't really a "typical" setup for a trailer since the components vary depending...
view full answer...
- Bearing Buddy Recommendation for Hub with Bearing Number L68149The correct Bearing Buddy to use with the bearing numbers you listed of L44649 and L68149 is the # BB1980A or # BB1980A-SS for stainless steel.
view full answer... - Bearing Protector Compatibility with Hub Measuring 1.973 InchesThe Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors- Chrome Plated # BB1980A or Stainless Steel # BB1980A-SS will fit your hubs. The difference of 7/1000ths of an inch is so close that some digital calipers don't even read it. These drive in protectors will work just fine as they will have an ever so slight taper for that drive-in installation.
view full answer... - Can a Trailer with EZ Lube Spindles be Converted to Bearing BuddiesYou'd have to pull the zerk fitting off with a vice grip or channel lock and then pick out the correct Bearing Buddy that fits the bore of your hub where the current cap is. Now that said the Bearing Buddies actually offer less in terms of grease installation than the EZ lube setup you have now as they just push grease through the front whereas the EZ lube inserts the grease in the middle of the hub which is better overall. The Bearing Buddies we have found make it seemingly too easy to...
view full answer... - Bearing Protector Not Wanting to Fit Into Hub BoreBelieve it or not, the outside diameter of the Bearing Buddy is designed to be a bit larger than the inside diameter of the hub bore. Typically, a Bearing Buddy sized to fit a 1.98 hub bore will actually be about 1.986 in diameter, which means yours is about right. As long as the inside diameter of the hub bore is between 1.980 - 1.983, you should be able to drive that bearing into place using a scrap of wood between the bearing protector and the hammer. I've installed a few of the bearing...
view full answer... - How to Pick Out a Bearing Buddy for a TrailerIn order to pick out the correct bearing buddy you will need know the pilot hole of your hub. To do this, remove the wheel and tire and remove the grease cap from the center of the hub. Usually it is a metal cap that is just lightly hammered into place. Use a screwdriver to pry off the cap. Clean the grease off and measure the opening. I have included a video demonstrating the Bearing Buddy. The Bearing Buddies # BB1980A that you referenced are for hubs with a 1.98 inch hub bore.
view full answer... - Correct Bearing Buddies for Malone Low Max TrailerThe Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors # BB1980A are the correct size for a Malone Low Max Trailer.
view full answer... - Are Inner And Outer Bearing Greased When Using Bearing Buddy When the Bearing Buddy like part # BB1980A is used it will add grease to both the inner and outer bearings on your trailer. I have attached a link to our product page for the bearing protectors we offer. You can use the filter on the product page to find the correct protector for your trailer.
view full answer... - How to Pick Out Bearing Buddies for a Trailer HubIn order to pick out the correct bearing buddy you will need know the pilot hole of your hub. To do this, remove the wheel and tire and remove the grease cap from the center of the hub. Usually it is a metal cap that is just lightly hammered into place. Use a screwdriver to pry off the cap. Clean the grease off and measure the opening with a digital or dial caliper. I have included a video demonstrating the Bearing Buddy. The Bearing Buddies # BB1980A that you referenced are for hubs...
view full answer...
Do you have a question about this Trailer Bearings Races Seals Cap?
Info for this part was:
Expert Research:
Mike L
Expert Research:
Michael H
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Expert Research:
Adam R
Expert Research:
Jeffrey L
Written by:
Tyler C
Installed by:
Jeff D
Installed by:
Shane T
Installed by:
Randy B
Video Edited:
Chris R
Video Edited:
Zach D
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Megcabra
11/8/2019
All has been great!