Found this case of grease

[JDgreen227]

Reading this thread about mower deck spindles led me to wonder...I purchased a new JD 318 with a 50 inch deck back in '89, there were no grease fittings on the deck spindles at the time. I figured they were good for the life of the tractor, but back about 1999, with about 850 hours on the mower deck, the spindles were wobbling and I had to have the bearings replaced.

It always baffled me why Deere, of all companies, who would often overengineer their products, especially back then, would fail to put grease fittings on the deck spindles.

 

[LD1]

Reading this thread about mower deck spindles led me to wonder...I purchased a new JD 318 with a 50 inch deck back in '89, there were no grease fittings on the deck spindles at the time. I figured they were good for the life of the tractor, but back about 1999, with about 850 hours on the mower deck, the spindles were wobbling and I had to have the bearings replaced.

It always baffled me why Deere, of all companies, who would often overengineer their products, especially back then, would fail to put grease fittings on the deck spindles.

Because it was more of a "maintenance free" selling point.

Same reasons as new vehichle wheel bearings cannot be greased, or u-joints. Speaking of u-joints, the lifetime warrenty ones are the "sealed" ones. The ones with the grease fitting are only 2-year warrenty:confused2:

And considering you got 10 years out of it without EVER having to grease it is pretty good. A lot longer than a bearing that is DESIGNED to be greased, but gets neglected.

My 1989 JD240 mower spindles are the same way. So is the 261 RFM I have. BOTH have now had the spindles drilled and adapted for a zerk:thumbsup:

 

[JDgreen227]

Good explanation...thanks.

 

[SandburRanch]

Did they at least remove the inner seals of the bearings so "IF" someone wanted to put half a tube of grease in there it would at least do some good???

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No, the inner seals were not removed.

 

[LD1]

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No, the inner seals were not removed.

 

[Versatile Tractors]

I not 100% here, but i'm pretty sure that grease has a used buy date.
basiclly the additives break down.

 

[Versatile Tractors]

check out this link

Lubricants USA - Grease Shelf Life

 

[J_J]

Because it was more of a "maintenance free" selling point.

Same reasons as new vehichle wheel bearings cannot be greased, or u-joints. Speaking of u-joints, the lifetime warrenty ones are the "sealed" ones. The ones with the grease fitting are only 2-year warrenty:confused2:

And considering you got 10 years out of it without EVER having to grease it is pretty good. A lot longer than a bearing that is DESIGNED to be greased, but gets neglected.

My 1989 JD240 mower spindles are the same way. So is the 261 RFM I have. BOTH have now had the spindles drilled and adapted for a zerk:thumbsup:

There are reason for a sealed bearing, and a lot of people use them in the wrong situation. There is also a thing called over greasing. Sealed bearings are designed for no grease maintenance. Some manufactures will also install grease zerks for unknown reasons, but perhaps they think the owners might install non sealed bearings later, and then the grease is advantageous. It is kind of dumb to be greasing sealed bearings. I have known some people to remove the inside steel and rubber covering so they could grease the bearings. Greasing also keeps the spindle from rusting. There are bearings designed for greasing in some application. The grease does lubricate the bearings. Some people take this greasing thing to far, by greasing every 8 hr use, or a set schedule, and they see grease coming out of somewhere, and think the bearings are all greased up and good for another 8 hrs. They are actually slinging that unused grease all over the yard or whatever. In my lawn cutting years, I used quit a lot of bearings on my Dixie Choppers, as I ran them 8 hrs a day here in the sandy soil of Fla. I tried every kind of bearing, and they all failed sooner or later. I finally stuck with the sealed bearings and no greasing. I got to the point where I could change out the spindle and wheel bearings of the Chopper in quick time. Time is money you know.

So if you know you have sealed bearings, there is no use to grease them. If the shafts start wobbling, the grease isn't going to help much. If the manufacture says to grease the sealed bearings, do it until the warranty wears out. Then it will be up to you to make a logical decision.

 

[ND teacher]

My JD La165 i replaced that bearing at 60 hours, i never thought of that when i take it in before the warranty is up i will ask them why is there a grease zerk here when the bearings are sealed?

The guy that told me the old grease was better than the old grease, greases a gravel washer plant and he said they replace more bearings now than they use to and he thinks it is because of the grease.

So i have a lithium grease and thats what i need to stick to, or replace with new stuff, i have about 6 tubes left, I grease the mower, cars and tractor and FEL

 

[LD1]

I have known some people to remove the inside steel and rubber covering so they could grease the bearings.

This is exactally what I did on both of mine that I converted to be greased:thumbsup: