Schedule for greasing FEL

[b2910]

My Kubota FEL, LA402, says to grease every 10 hours. I was thinking that meant 10 hours on the tractor meter but that really seems very often even in my limited usage. I can't imagine an owner using their tractor for several hours a day greasing the loader every other day so I now am questioning what that every 10 hours means. I tried a search but without knowing the right keywords to include I didn't have much luck. I never take off the FEL but only really use it, changing positions, less than 10% of the time it is running so I would not expect the bearings to need greasing very often. When I do grease it the grease oozes out of the joints immediately so it appears to be full. What is the schedule you recommend?

 

[oldballs]

It seems to me that you have to guess at it when you are doing routine maintenance. If it is just occasional use, I wouldn't bother with it very often. On the other hand, the hour meter might be useful if you are really working the FEL moving rock, dirt, snow etc. for several hours at a time. IMO

 

[mjw357]

Keep in mind that greasing these types of fittings is the only way to force contaminants out (dirt and water). If you are kicking up a cloud of dust when you work, and the tractor sits out in the rain, grease it every 10 hours or more. But if it is kept inside and stays pretty clean, you can get by with less, maybe just once in the spring and once in late fall for example.

 

[teg]

a thread you can read:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/164412-grease-every-10-hours.html

 

[beppington]

My Kubota FEL, LA402, says to grease every 10 hours. I was thinking that meant 10 hours on the tractor meter but that really seems very often even in my limited usage. I can't imagine an owner using their tractor for several hours a day greasing the loader every other day so I now am questioning what that every 10 hours means. I tried a search but without knowing the right keywords to include I didn't have much luck. I never take off the FEL but only really use it, changing positions, less than 10% of the time it is running so I would not expect the bearings to need greasing very often. When I do grease it the grease oozes out of the joints immediately so it appears to be full. What is the schedule you recommend?

Since instructions say to fill just until grease oozes out, if grease oozes out immediately, you're done.

If you're not using the loader much, maybe adding a dab every 20 hours makes sense. Same thing, though, if every 20 hours you add grease & old grease immediately oozes out, I might stretch it to 30 hours ... & just grease more often during times when it's hot, dusty, rainy and/ or you've used the loader more than usual.

This is all just my own logic, coming from a tractor owner of only 7 months

 

[LD1]

You mean to tell me that it is only 10 hours of use:confused2:

Heck I have been greasing mine both before I go to work and after work. I ocasionally oversleep on the weekends and stretch it to about 12-14 hours. :laughing:

Now...what to do with that 55 gallon drum of used grease that accumulated over the last 5 years:laughing::laughing::laughing:


In all seriousness though, It means 10 hours of loader use. But like others have mentioned, it keeps the contaniments out. So If you do other tasks like mowing, bushhogging, or leave your tractor outside, that can cause grit and grime to get to the pins. I dont really keep track of the hours, but I do grease it about twice per year. Once before winter when I am "winterizing" the other equipment and small engines. And another when I am getting everything out for the summer.

 

[rjm5133]

i use all my stuff commercially. we grease our stuff every morning. no equipment leaves the shop with out every grease fitting greased, fuel, oil, water, and hydraulic fluid checked, loose debris removed, radiator blown out, and visual inspection of the hole machine. that is probably over kill for non commercial use, but i would rather spend the time doing routine maintenance than have premature wear.

 

[b2910]

Thanks for the link TEG and to all the others' replies. I won't feel bad greasing my FEL every 20 hour meter hours since I use it just a fractional amount, but I may try to stick closer to the 10 hour schedule since I think my hour meter is one counting engine revolutions rather than time itself. The meter seems to rack up the counter very slowly, now it makes more sense why; but I think I will test it out to be sure.

 

[Craig Clayton]

I was over at the farm beside me say last year and they had a king pin on a hay wagon that was siezed up. It was determined by very accurate methods that the root cause was over greasing. They had a lever type grease gun with the 10,000 PSI burst hose standing straight out. The problem was NOAH was the last guy that over greased it.
Craig Clayton

 

[teg]

...It means 10 hours of loader use...

I don't think so... I wish someone from kubota would clear this up... for me, driving down a gravel road counts as the bucket is subjected to movement... LOTS of movement. Yea, I admit that I'm an over greaser... grease is cheap - New pins ain't. :2cents:

 

[LD1]

I don't think so... I wish someone from kubota would clear this up... for me, driving down a gravel road counts as the bucket is subjected to movement... LOTS of movement. Yea, I admit that I'm an over greaser... grease is cheap - New pins ain't. :2cents:

I guess I should have been clearer.

IF the loader is ON the tractor, that is considered use. You have to move it to move the tractor.

I am refering to removing the loader completely. Which I do often when mowing, bushhogging, etc.

And after all, the little sticker that says "grease every 10 hours" is on the part that gets detached from the tractor. So you cant even see it when the loader is off.

 

[teg]

10-4 :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[sixdogs]

I used to grease more frequently than I do now and part of that is my switch to a "stickier" grease. I don't recall the rating of it but it is Deere polyurea grease and is greenish in color. Some sticky polyurea greases do not compatibility mix well with other greases but this one does.
It really is stickier and if I'm a little slow, and usually am not, I feel this grease helps out. I still abide by the 10 hour rule the best I can.

https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/...MultiPurpose.htm#_Multi-purpose_SD_polyurea_1

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do all my grease fittings at 50HR oil changes. Thats probably overkill but keeps it easy to monitor and keep on schedule.

Chris

 

[qball98]

For pins and bushings I use grease like this not this brand but about the same properties.

https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/...cialMultiPurpose.htm#_Special-purpose_HD_moly

It is designed for pins and bushings and from my understanding the molly bonds with the bushings and helps protect them when the grease gets pushed out. It is not recommended for bearings and can shorten their life. I keep 2 different guns and use a normal grease for bearings, u joints and stuff like that. It may seem like a lot of trouble but replacing pins and bushing is not easy or cheap so I feel better doing this.

 

[sixdogs]

For pins and bushings I use grease like this not this brand but about the same properties.

https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/...cialMultiPurpose.htm#_Special-purpose_HD_moly

It is designed for pins and bushings and from my understanding the molly bonds with the bushings and helps protect them when the grease gets pushed out. It is not recommended for bearings and can shorten their life. I keep 2 different guns and use a normal grease for bearings, u joints and stuff like that. It may seem like a lot of trouble but replacing pins and bushing is not easy or cheap so I feel better doing this.

You know--good point. I have been researching grease the past few minutes and think I am going to switch to this grease for my loader bushings.
I'll still use the Deere multi-purpose HD lithium complex grease for general use and wheel bearings though. Thank you.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I've been using Mystic high-temp grease for years. Very good tacky grease.

 

[qball98]

You know--good point. I have been researching grease the past few minutes and think I am going to switch to this grease for my loader bushings.
I'll still use the Deere multi-purpose HD lithium complex grease for general use and wheel bearings though. Thank you.

Your welcome. In case you are wondering I use a molly grease sold at the case construction equipment dealer. If you like john Deere product their molly grease looks like a good product I just happen to think of it when I am at the case dealer. They have it setting on the checkout counter. Good sales tactic :thumbsup: and the price is about the same as other brands.

 

[IslandTractor]

I do all my grease fittings at 50HR oil changes. Thats probably overkill but keeps it easy to monitor and keep on schedule.

Chris

Are you pulling our legs?

I don't grease every day like some commercial operators but I probably grease about every 8-10 hours of tractor/FEL use. Maybe a bit less on some of the zerks that require getting under the tractor and a bit more for the FEL and BH.

 

[sixdogs]

Yeah, I can feel the grease leaving things after the 10 hours or so.
It's so easy to grease and so hard to replace bushings.