Can you have to much grease?

[Birdhunter1]

Too bad there isn't a way to create a continuous oil flow system to the bushings in our end loaders, and of course other bushings, to do away with grease fittings. Then again we'd be on here asking about 'what site has replacement oil pumps/seals for my front end loader?'

Almost sounds like a continuous oil flow pump would be something the governement would create.

 

[moored4]

Too bad there isn't a way to create a continuous oil flow system to the bushings in our end loaders, and of course other bushings, to do away with grease fittings. Then again we'd be on here asking about 'what site has replacement oil pumps/seals for my front end loader?'

Almost sounds like a continuous oil flow pump would be something the governement would create.

On big earth movers they do have automatic grease and oil systems. They also have a person on the payroll that does nothing but look after those systems!

 

[Mike476]

Where you can see the bearings to wipe off the excess, pump away. On aircraft we pump in a quantity sufficient to replace the old grease, prevents moisture ingress that will turn most grease to soap from corroding bearings etc. True that tractors aren't exposed to the same conditions, old habits die hard.

I can tell you from experience that too much grease on the lift arms of my 3 pt (MF 135) resulted in contaminated hyd fluid, turns out excess grease is free to fall inside the tractor case directly into the hyd fluid.

Not a costly mistake, a slow moving / weak 3 pt lead to my investigating why I was losing pressure. A new filter and two five gallon buckets of hyd fluid saved further possible damage to the pump etc.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I am sure that I over grease my RFM bearings. The owners manual calls for greasing at 25 hour intervals. As a habit of nature, I grease the bearings prior to each use. Grease is cheap and I really don't mind the time spent in preventive maintenance. Using this method takes very little grease and time. It's therapeutic.

I don't know if this is over the top or not, but my last RFM, a light duty Land Pride, clocked 14 years of use. I never replaced a bearing. My current mower is a 6' PRD Woods. Much heavier built unit than the Land Pride. Going on 5 years now. Never touched a bearing. Don't expect to either.

I feel that greasing to this extreme is justified due to the constant moving parts on the RFM.

I typically grease my tractor fittings once a year when I do the annual oil and filter change and once during mid season.

I just purchased a FEL and will probably follow the same greasing procedure for it that I do on the tractor since I don't use it extensively.

Personally, I don't think that over greasing a part like bearings that are constantly moving is a bad thing. I know one thing, if I get a seized bearing I will not have me to blame.

I guess that this mind set was burned into my brain at a very early age. We always greased every fitting on the baler and hay rake prior to use. It is just habit of nature. Come to think of it, we never replaced bearings or grease-able wear parts on the balers or rakes either.

I see a pattern here.

 

[5030]

90% of farmers know, have no idea what a grease gun is, let alone how to use one.:laughing:

Myself, I parked the grease gun, I use a bulk air greaser with 150 pound open head pails (drums) of grease and a 150 foot grease hose so the unit stays in the shop all the time.

Bulk greasing isn't for everyone. The up front cost of a greaser is high (about 500-600 for the pump plus another couple hundred for the grease hose) but the grease cost is appreciably less in bulk, plus no messy grease cartridges. You also need a compressor and moisture free air (for the grease pump)

I grease everytime I use an implement and every tractor session when haying. Grease is cheap, replacement parts aren't.

The only parts I wipe off are parts where the grease can get on my clothes if I rub against them. Other than that, the ocassional pressure wash removes it (grease).

 

[Ford tractor]

I can tell you from experience that too much grease on the lift arms of my 3 pt (MF 135) resulted in contaminated hyd fluid, turns out excess grease is free to fall inside the tractor case directly into the hyd fluid.
.

Are you trying to say that the fluid reservoir for the hydraulics is open topped and anything that falls from the loader can just plop right in???????

If so, grease in the fluid is the least of your concerns!

 

[jonyyuma]

IMHO, if there is fresh grease in the bushings and fittings then dirt and water is likely to be expelled. Water can and will freeze in tight spots and cause real damages. But a lot of people here store their equipment under good covers...I was interested in the theory of grease grooves added to loader pins?

 

[bcp]

Grease on the inside protects against friction.
Grease on the outside protects against rust.



Bruce

 

[MoreCowbell]

... someone was very liberal with the grease before ...

Does that mean that someone made another person to buy the grease, and another to do the greasing, then patted himself on the back for doing such a good grease job?

Seriously, my preference is to try to push out the old grease as much as I reasonably can without going crazy with it. Grease does breakdown over time so I like to flush out as much as I can.

 

[Short Game]

Re: Let Them Eat Rust!

I'm very conservative with the grease. Meaning, no grease unless it's at the wear points' own expense, and of course they must grease themselves. Those wear points are always complaining, "squeak, squeak, squeak." They've had it too easy for too long. (Insert smiley face here.)

Grease on the inside protects against friction.
Grease on the outside protects against rust.



Bruce

There you have it!

 

[Jay4200]

Brake parts cleaner (maybe similar to carb, I'm young enough never to have owned a carburated vehicle) is what I've found to be the best for grease. Your case is similar to mine when buying a used tractor, absolutely too much grease everywhere on the FEL, nothing but a greasy mess everywhere, couldn't tell how well the pins were greased.

Be careful with those solvents! Brake and carb cleaners can cause paints to wrinkle and fall off. Fuel on a rag seems the safest approach to me.

Actually, WD40 is probably the best, now that I think of it. It does just about everything. It is the ticket for removing sharpie marker, strips off overspray on stickers instantly, and is surely a decent grease smudge remover.

JayC