Greasing FEL Basics

markinvancouver · Jan 20, 2005

Pardon the rookie question, but I am having difficulty figuring out how to correctly grease the proper points on my FEL for my BX2230. I've tried to do it but the joints seem to be difficult to access and all I'm accomplishing is making a mess. Is there some basic reference (A sort of Greasing for Dummies) available here or somewhere else for someone who didn't grow up doing maintenance on heavy machinery? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

phxraptor · Jan 20, 2005

Sounds like you may not be getting the grease gun on the grease nipple securely. If you are useing a rigid pipe on your grease gun try a flexible hose instead to get at hard to reach fittings.

JohnSr · Jan 20, 2005

On my LA402 there a few that are easier to reach if I raise the bucket halfway. I'm not sure where yours are at but you might try that. I also use the aforementioned flexible hose grease gun that makes some of them easier. I also have a rag in hand to wipe off the nipples before and after.

Hope this helps...

JWE · Jan 20, 2005

I have a BX2200 and I believe that I have the same FEL as you have on your BX2230 (LA211). I agree with all of the comments so far. I raise my bucket half way to gain access to some of the fittings. I use a ridged nozzle on a pneumatic grease gun and have no problem greasing the unit (10 fittings). It is possible that you have a bad tip on your grease gun. When I first used my pneumatic gun, grease would leak around the fitting no matter how careful I was when I attached to the fitting. I replaced the tip on the gun and that resolved the problem. I believe I paid a couple of bucks for a new tip at a local auto parts store.

John

CTyler · Jan 20, 2005

Sometimes you have to take the pressure off a particular joint before grease will flow through it.

For example...Lets say your trying to grease a FEL joint and you cant get grease thru the nipple or the gun pops off the nipple under pressure. Lower the bucket so its just touching the ground very lightly, then try it again. If you watch closely you can see when the pressure is off the joint/bushing.

If it still wont take grease then take the nipple out and see of you can get grease through that. If not then replace the nipple or dig it out with a pick and try again.

If the nipple is ok then look down the hole the nipple came from to see if its caked with dirt/grease that has become hard. If its ok then you just need to get the pressure off the bushing to let the grease flow. Otherwise you'll need the pick again and some light oil and some penetrating oil.

Pick out what you can and blow it out with air if you can. Then fill it with penatrating oil and put the nipple back in and try to grease it. You'll want to curl the bucket up down a tad as well to help break up stuff with the penetrating oil.

If the problem is you can't get on the nipple very good and your squirting grease because of it then get a long flexible hose. Mine hose is 18 or 24" can't remember for sure. You may also need a 90 deg fitting if you have to get into a real tight spot.

lmiller · Jan 20, 2005

I had a similar problem to the one John describes (bad nozzle on grease gun). I think I may have pushed some dirt into the old one. A replacement was about $4 at TSC and now I always wipe off the zerks before i start greasing.
Don't know about your loader but the LA402 has holes that let you reach the back fittings thru the frame when the bucket is on the ground.
Lou

Grassgod · Jan 20, 2005

Yeah - i have actuallu found brandnew grease fitting nipples to be clogged! they can glog often so be carefull, Often just removing them & pushing grease threw them with the gun while the fitting is off( put the fitting in a vise to do this) will most times clear the clog out.