Eyeballs: To Grease Or Not To Grease?

have_blue · Oct 7, 2003

I have always wondered (and never ran across it in my manual) whether to run the balls in the hitch dry or to grease them. "Conventional wisdom" I have picked up over the years say if fairly clean, grease. If really dusty, leave them dry. I have been spraying white grease on them every time I notice them clean and shiny. If they should develop a lot of slack, can they be changed? My tractor is 5 miles away, and I can't run and take a quick look at them. Thanks!

5030 · Oct 7, 2003

I usually spray a little white grease on them too. You can change them, but you have to cut off the ends and weld on new ones.

have_blue · Oct 7, 2003

Thanks Daryl

BillyP · Oct 7, 2003

I think this is one of those cases where no grease is best. Grease will only make dust stick to it and cause it to wear more than if left dry.

Just my 2 cents.

JerryG · Oct 7, 2003

<font color="blue"> I think this is one of those cases where no grease is best. Grease will only make dust stick to it and cause it to wear more than if left dry.</font>

I'm with Billy. Anything that will retain dirt, dust or anything else will increase the wear. The dirt in the grease is just like valve grinding compound or sandpaper. You could put graphite or some kind of dry lubricant.

5030 · Oct 7, 2003

Let me expand on the statement about grease.

I use my 3 point with a rear mount bale spear so it cycles a lot. The bales usually weigh from 800 - 1000 pounds and I apply grease, just a little, in the recess between the ball and the mount. I use white Lubriplate lithium based grease. I usually pressure wash my tractor after I am done with a task, so it dosen't usually get very dirty. The grease prevents a "stick-slip" situation and allows the 3 point to more easily overcome the frictional losses incurred with a dry type bearing situation.

JerryG · Oct 7, 2003

<font color="blue"> The grease prevents a "stick-slip" situation and allows the 3 point to more easily overcome the frictional losses incurred with a dry type bearing situation.</font>
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