How to service vortex hubs?

[jatkins1981]

I'm at around my 6 year mark with these vortex hubs. Wondering what I need to do to service them? Should I jist pump new grease into them until all the old grease comes out? Or remove everything inspect parts and replace as needed.

[mactlman]

they say 100,000 miles is ok. no leaks, repack with new grease and go? https://www.loadrite.com/wp-content/...rtexManual.pdf

[davidsa]

general reco is not to touch them unless they are leaking, have massive miles, or are +10 years old in most of these threads. Kinda a damned if you do vs don't situation. If they are working, the service could lead to an issue when nothing was wrong

[jatkins1981]

general reco is not to touch them unless they are leaking, have massive miles, or are +10 years old in most of these threads. Kinda a damned if you do vs don't situation. If they are working, the service could lead to an issue when nothing was wrong

I removed the caps, and pumped new grease until all the old came out and new appeared, the old grease was black and had degraded quite a bit. Hopefully no issues arise. It definitely needed changed. I guess we'll see how it goes.i roughly figured i have around 75,000 miles on them over 6 years.

[mactlman]

I removed the caps, and pumped new grease until all the old came out and new appeared, the old grease was black and had degraded quite a bit. Hopefully no issues arise. It definitely needed changed. I guess we'll see how it goes.i roughly figured i have around 75,000 miles on them over 6 years.

[davidsa]

I removed the caps, and pumped new grease until all the old came out and new appeared, the old grease was black and had degraded quite a bit. Hopefully no issues arise. It definitely needed changed. I guess we'll see how it goes.i roughly figured i have around 75,000 miles on them over 6 years.

The 10 year old boat I traded had roughly 25,000 miles. 75k in 6 years blows my mind and at least from my view point that would be massive miles as verified by your black degraded grease.

[jatkins1981]

The 10 year old boat I traded had roughly 25,000 miles. 75k in 6 years blows my mind and at least from my view point that would be massive miles as verified by your black degraded grease.

I travel. Alot.

Roughly 12,500 on my truck each year and if the truck is on on the road, the boat is behind it.

[SGrem]

I repair a ton ton ton of trailers in the Houston/Galveston area. Now our saltwater environment is harder on the hubs for sure. But I recommend to my customers to not touch them at all. If the leak, look oily or wet, or most common that rust too bad that you can't stand it then bring it to me and replace with new.

Like I said the saltwater here is harsh and you cannot escape the rust. So I won't rebuild them. We throw away and replace with new.

I will caution against what the OP has posted. If you have pumped the grease out then you have compromised the seal. If grease can get out then water can get in.

[mactlman]

I repair a ton ton ton of trailers in the Houston/Galveston area. Now our saltwater environment is harder on the hubs for sure. But I recommend to my customers to not touch them at all. If the leak, look oily or wet, or most common that rust too bad that you can't stand it then bring it to me and replace with new.

Like I said the saltwater here is harsh and you cannot escape the rust. So I won't rebuild them. We throw away and replace with new.

I will caution against what the OP has posted. If you have pumped the grease out then you have compromised the seal. If grease can get out then water can get in.

on these, the grease comes back out the front access and doesn't blow out the rear seal -- it is done with the outer cap removed by design
https://www.loadrite.com/wp-content/...rtexManual.pdf
page 3

[wmitch2]

You can NOT wear out grease, only contaminate it. Therefore, unless the seals are leaking or if water has intruded, don't mess with them !! I'm on year 11 now and all is good.

[bassdge]

You service them almost like any other system. Remove the hub, remove all the old grease. I would go ahead and put new bearings and races if you are already there. Vault recommends not reusing the caps. You will also near a new o-ring. Google it and there are many videos