Grease shortage

[Lubehead]

We have a prospect who purchased a crane that came with a lubrication system. The lubrication system, one with which we are very familiar with, did not do its job and the prospect had all of the pins and bushings replaced at a cost of several thousands of dollars. We suggested he have us install our lubrication system which is markedly superior engineering wise. He is resisting that as he believes that if the OEM spec'd out the system, they should know it's the correct system.

Some people you can try to help, others aren't interested and frankly we can't do anything with them so we move on. Helping is what my post was designed to do. In our business, we ask a question to which there is only one answer and if we get a hesitation or a no, we know we should be talking to someone else.

The question is rather simple: "Are you interested in continuous improvement"?

FWIW, I actually am an "expert" both in automatic lubrication systems as well as lubricants. 47 years doing the same thing and owner of the company.

If anyone would like to learn a bit more about lubrication systems, please check out an article I wrote several years ago. It's titled; "Automatic Lubrication Systems Don't Work!" Here's the link:

https://www.lubetechnologies.com/assets/systems-article-with-tls-ad.pdf

 

[Yander]

Wow, Talk about a thread that has brought out a bunch of guys who have been on for years and don't have 60 posts between them.

Good thread.

 

[Hay Dude]

Wow, Talk about a thread that has brought out a bunch of guys who have been on for years and don't have 60 posts between them.

Good thread.

Nothin like a good “grease thread” to wake the dead!

 

[mrmikey]

Nothin like a good “grease thread” to wake the dead

It's like a , "what is the best oil" on a motorcycle site LOL. I will admit tho, it's interesting

 

[just_Dave]

It's like a , "what is the best oil" on a motorcycle site LOL. I will admit tho, it's interesting

close..... this is more options to make what the op wants to use and things to watch out for if you do change. with some facts behind it.

oil threads are all over the place.

 

[oosik]

Hay Dude - now that you seem to be out of the danger zone. A question. You load ten tubes of grease into your auto greaser. How long do you expect it to last? So many hours? So many bales? Thanks........

 

[LHF2019]

So here we go again. Polyurea grease in MY area sold out ”indefinitely”.
No John Deere Green polyurea or Lucas green polyurea grease anywhere.
Checked everywhere, box stores, hardware stores, farm stores, tractor dealers. Nothing, zip, nada.

I have 2 automatic greasers I have to keep loaded with grease or Hay Dude makes no hay.

So the question is, what type of grease mixes with polyurea grease without clogging issues?
Things are getting desperate.

Maybe they have something if you have an issue again. I ordered a case of grease on Wednesday and in my hands by noon Friday. Ordered direct from them.
Greases

 

[Hay Dude]

Hay Dude - now that you seem to be out of the danger zone. A question. You load ten tubes of grease into your auto greaser. How long do you expect it to last? So many hours? So many bales? Thanks........

10 tubes would last maybe 2 full 10hr baling days.

 

[Hay Dude]

Maybe they have something if you have an issue again. I ordered a case of grease on Wednesday and in my hands by noon Friday. Ordered direct from them.
Greases

I hit it big with O’Reilly auto Parts. Got 4 cases from them. At first, they sent me a few single tubes, then 3 full cases showed up.
Will be ordering more soon. Haven’t seen a tube of Lucas green on a store shelf in 2 months

 

[sixdogs]

The grease thing a regional shortage or a national thing? How is everyone doing across the country?
Is anyone able to get Deere polyurea grease? It's their "best" grease.

 

[3930dave]

The grease thing a regional shortage or a national thing? How is everyone doing across the country?
Is anyone able to get Deere polyurea grease? It's their "best" grease.

May vary regionally, but I suspect it's continental...... been hearing about shortages here since Spring.

Rgds, D.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

The grease thing a regional shortage or a national thing? How is everyone doing across the country?
Is anyone able to get Deere polyurea grease? It's their "best" grease.

Went to the local Carquest and they had two pallets of Schaeffer grease sitting on the floor. Washington State.

 

[Hay Dude]

The grease thing a regional shortage or a national thing? How is everyone doing across the country?
Is anyone able to get Deere polyurea grease? It's their "best" grease.

I cant get multiple tubes (20-40) of Deere Polyurea until mid-end of August. Dealer said they ordered a full pallet and theres a waiting list.

Yes, I know I can get one tube here or there for $15/tube. That’s insane and I’m not doing that.

 

[sixdogs]

I cant get multiple tubes (20-40) of Deere Polyurea until mid-end of August. Dealer said they ordered a full pallet and theres a waiting list.

Yes, I know I can get one tube here or there for $15/tube. That’s insane and I’m not doing that.

Agreed. When I lived in a very remote area I learned I had to be almost self sufficient on supplies and things I needed because the chain could break and I could be unable to get consumables I was dependent on. That was 20 years ago and it's only worse today. The future doesn't look much better.

No way would I pay $15 for a tube of polyurea. Someone makes that for them every day and I have a long memory for gouging.

 

[Hay Dude]

Just got a call from my local JD dealer that their allotment of green polyurea grease arrived. The parts guy said I’d better get there soon cause it’s going fast.

What’s happening in this world? This has never happened outside of times of war.
Why are so many things of limited availability And so over priced?

 

[Robin Veerman]

Well, If the global supply chain issues caused by COVID-19 weren't enough, the Chemtool fire of June 2021 certainly didn't help an already struggling supply chain for greases, especially polyurea thickened greases.

 

[rScotty]

Just got a call from my local JD dealer that their allotment of green polyurea grease arrived. The parts guy said I’d better get there soon cause it’s going fast.

What’s happening in this world? This has never happened outside of times of war.
Why are so many things of limited availability And so over priced?

None even remotely like that is happening in this area of the country. I hear what you are saying snd have no idea why.

I have no doubt it is happening in your area, but don't make the mistake of thinking it is nation wide. It isn't.

When you do find out, my guess it is something more local than widespread.

rScotty

 

[mo1]

Just got a call from my local JD dealer that their allotment of green polyurea grease arrived. The parts guy said I’d better get there soon cause it’s going fast.

What’s happening in this world? This has never happened outside of times of war.
Why are so many things of limited availability And so over priced?

Grease is made using petroleum and the powers that be have made it well known they do not like petroleum. Thus the companies that make items using petroleum are skittish about putting much money into producing anything with petroleum in it, lest they be stuck with sunk costs in the future- product they can't sell, facilities that are now useless. Prices are going to be high with the supply of grease being low, it's simple economics.

 

[ultrarunner]

All this talk had me check my supply of C&C TRC grease…

At my rate should be good a few more years but another case on the self not a bad idea.

 

[Fixastuff]

The JD parts guy probably forgot to order more when they ran out. Sounds alot better to say "supply train issues" than I'm a dummy and messed up. At least that's been my experience with parts people. Lol.