Greasing BX 60" deck. How much? Kinda confused.

[Tractor MD]

Duckslayer re sealed bearings . Sealed bearings can last many years in machinery that is not exposed to the elements BUT they will go eventually . They will dry out and start to howl really badly . If you ignore the howling until they start smoking then you could be up for some serious damage. Trouble with mower decks is they are so noisy anyway that the howling can be hard to detect . I have seen sealed bearings go **** on woodworking machinery and its pretty scarey. But that's only because the boss refused to believe they needed replacing until Bang ! Fire Hazard and explosive sawdust . Nasty.

 

[kcender]

While it is true that I don't know what type of bearings are in my mower deck I don't think it is really possible to over grease them.It seems that they are designed to allow excess grease to collect in the cups so there must be a passageway built into them for this purpose.The first time I have sharpened the blades on a new deck,four new decks on four different machines,there is always excess grease in the cups from when the machine was prepped by the dealer.This shows that the dealer is making sure a new deck has lots of grease and is not concerned with over greasing the spindles.I think Kubota designs the decks to allow for the average person to maintain them,not for a very precise amount of grease at a very precise interval.

 

[swatter]

My John Deere zero turn grease fittings on the spindles will not let the grease push out the side of the shaft. The first time I greased the spindles I pumped grease waiting for grease to ooze out but I heard a pop. After investigating the shaft popped up and the spindle would not turn. I took a small nail and had to relieve the pressure. Let's say grease does not have a pleasant taste. The owners manual just says grease the spindles. My 60" 3 point finishing mower will ooze a little grease past the shaft when it is full.

 

[chucky79]

So much knowledge and experience but so many different opinions.... Yet many tractors and mowers running trouble free no matter what the preference. Guess the key is to make sure you at least do something instead of nothing....

Thanks guys.

 

[Tractor MD]

So much knowledge and experience but so many different opinions.... Yet many tractors and mowers running trouble free no matter what the preference. Guess the key is to make sure you at least do something instead of nothing....

Thanks guys.

Pretty much . It took me a while to come up with a formula for the conditions my tractor works in. Im sure you will be fine though. Its hot and dusty down here so you have to grease a bit more often to be safe . The grass is tough ,the gum leaves are dry crumbly and acidic , the heat/dust sucks the oil out of grease quicker. If ever there was a graveyard for cheap ride on's its Australia . Every time I go to the hardware house I pity the poor soul who buys a blingy ride on and Im thinking 'two years max'. If he's lucky.
I know guys who never do maintenance though. They get away with it right up to the point of failure then blame the machine ! Or they push the machine outside its envelope and then spend a fortune saving five ten minutes extra work . Silly. I was taught to look after my gear from the cradle.

 

[HeLa]

So much knowledge and experience but so many different opinions.... Yet many tractors and mowers running trouble free no matter what the preference. Guess the key is to make sure you at least do something instead of nothing....

Thanks guys.

was just thinking the same!

I use High speed grease on my mower deck but I would not recommend Moly . That just dries up at high speeds . I think molly is more for links under High pressure loads such as excavator buckets.

i've always been taught the same. i use the high-speed synthetic in all of the bearings on the BX (i.e. deck spindles) and a 5% moly on bushings and pins (i.e. loader and backhoe)

 

[chucky79]

my dealer recommends/sells/and uses Lucas products and told me to use their "Red and Tacky 2" on my Kubota. I read Lucas website and may use their Xtra Heavy Duty instead on the deck spindles as it specifically states that is good for high speed bearing applications. Im sure the Red and Tacky 2 would work fine as well though to be honest. Probably all better than the OEM stuff being shot in there from factory.