How may tubes of grease do you go through greasing at 50h intervals?

[mangler]

I am looking for a ballpark figure, on a CUT (say a CK2610) with FEL, maybe a rotary mower or flail mower. Just trying to see if going with a bulk grease pump would be worth it, on a cost per year basis.

I'm a firm believer in buying once, and I like the idea of the small (3 gallon) pneumatic pump, that I would only have to fill once, and would not have to worry about leaking (my standard lever type gun leaks like sieve). I like the savings that come from buying a 3 gallon tub vs 14oz tubes also.

Now, if I only need (1) 14oz cartridge every 50h on average, I may just get an Alemite 555 gun with a lock n lube barrel cap and be done with it. I already have a locknlube tip

PS I understand that 50h is a recommended greasing interval. If more frequent greasing is recommended, or you grease more often, just put in in tubes/50h terms.

 

[Peter 315]

I just buy a case of tubes and grease the loader every 8 to 10 hours of use the rest every 50 or so....

 

[Vaquero]

Pneumatic doesn't allow for any "feel". Too easy to blow out a seal or, just plain over grease a pin.
Fleet mechanic banned them years ago.

 

[Ortimber]

I don't have an answer, but if I was only greasing a small CUT, a tube of grease would last a long time. I can't imagine there will be much in the way of savings going with bulk.

 

[Peter 315]

Old school pistol pump with lock n lube end .......Lucas Xtra Heavy Duty Grease (Green )

 

[jeff9366]

If I only need (1) 14oz cartridge every 50h on average, I may just get an Alemite 555 gun with a lock n lube barrel cap and be done with it. I already have a locknlube tip

PS I understand that 50h is a recommended greasing interval. If more frequent greasing is recommended, or you grease more often, just put in in tubes/50h terms.

Kubota Loader greasing interval is every ten hours of use. I use black Lithium with Moly "EP" grease.

I use slightly more than 1-1/2 grease cartridges per fifty engine hours. That is 3-4 Loader lubes + one thorough chassis lube, including the Loader.

I just buy a case of tubes and grease the loader every 8 to 10 hours of use the rest every 50 or so....

 

[Peter 315]

Kubota Loader greasing interval is every ten hours of use. I use black Lithium with Moly "EP" grease.

I use slightly more than 1-1/2 grease cartridges per fifty engine hours. That is 3-4 Loader lubes + one thorough chassis lube, including the Loader.

AND.....?

 

[RickB]

AND.....?

And at that rate the payback on any kind of bulk system will be measured in decades, if not centuries when opportunity cost is considered.

Edit: A cheap bucket grease pump is $100 at Northern Tool. A decent quality 5 gallon pail of #2 Mobil grease will run $100. That will yield 40 tubes of $5.00 grease. I’ll look elsewhere to “save” money.

 

[kthompson]

Pneumatic doesn't allow for any "feel". Too easy to blow out a seal or, just plain over grease a pin.
Fleet mechanic banned them years ago.

I have one but do not use it for bearings as said here no feeling on grease going into the bearing. I realized I was not sure spindle bearings on mowers might not be getting the grease they needed.

 

[4570Man]

50 hours isn’t nearly enough. I grease every few hours of continuous use. Most machines recommend 10 hours but that’s probably machine hours and not consistent use. It takes about a tube to grease my backhoe. A tube should grease a tractor several times. Btw Walmart sells a pretty good grease for $2 a tube.