Shredder U-joints

[Talstar]

The owners manual for my 6’ Titan says to grease the zerks every 8 hrs. Why aren’t they lubricated for life like they are on trucks?

 

[LouNY]

A few reasons;
1) they move through a greater angle of motion
2) they are built to a price point

As an example a Splicer 35 series u-joint is built in many price ranges and hp and lube requirement,
a 201-3500 is rated for 70 hp and a 50-250 hour lube cycle
a 200-3500 is only rated for 51 hp with a lube cycle of up to 8 hours,
they will physically fit the same u-joint and look very similar.

 

[davrow]

As an example a Splicer 35 series u-joint is built in many price ranges and hp and lube requirement,
a 201-3500 is rated for 70 hp and a 50-250 hour lube cycle
a 200-3500 is only rated for 51 hp with a lube cycle of up to 8 hours,
they will physically fit the same u-joint and look very similar.

LouNY, that was an eye opening and educational response. I had no idea it could be that simple.

 

[Talstar]

I’m not going through the hassle and mess of greasing the UJ’s every 8 hours. I use polyurea grease and have increased the regular intervals to 50+ hrs. If I wreck a UJ…ok. I’m out $25 and life goes on.

 

[mikester]

I’m not going through the hassle and mess of greasing the UJ’s every 8 hours. I use polyurea grease and have increased the regular intervals to 50+ hrs. If I wreck a UJ…ok. I’m out $25 and life goes on.

Save time and money by stop greasing, changing oil and filters. Stick it to the man.

 

[5030]

I never liked 'lubricated for life Universal joints because what is 'lifetime lubricated? Could be an hour or could be a year. All conjecture.

 

[5030]

Save time and money by stop greasing, changing oil and filters. Stick it to the man.

Good answer. Should be ''Stick it to yourself' instead.

Kind of reminds me of my old boss. Bought himself a new Ram (Dodge diesel) pickup truck and never changed the oil or the filter, I don't believe he even lifted the hood. Got around 90K on it and blew the engine so being the resourceful guy he was and we did a lot of business with FCA, he weasled himself a new engine and had the shop install it. Guess in his mind that was the easier route.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I’m not going through the hassle and mess of greasing the UJ’s every 8 hours. I use polyurea grease and have increased the regular intervals to 50+ hrs. If I wreck a UJ…ok. I’m out $25 and life goes on.

Always make time to maintain your equipment, or it will make the time for you.

 

[Talstar]

Save time and money by stop greasing, changing oil and filters. Stick it to the man.

Im not greasing ujoints after everyday’s usage especially when it entails taking the driveline apart. Apparently you have an unlimited amount of free time…but I don’t.

 

[Talstar]

Always make time to maintain your equipment, or it will make the time for you.

And how often do you lubricate ujoints? Be honest.
Like I said, ujoints are cheap. But gearboxes are not and the owners manual says nothing about changing its lubricant.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

And how often do you lubricate ujoints? Be honest.
Like I said, ujoints are cheap. But gearboxes are not and the owners manual says nothing about changing its lubricant.

U-joints on my mowers usually two times per year, the beginning and middle of mowing season and sometimes on a rainy day I might grease everything under the barn because I can't get out and do much else, I also slide the PTO shafts apart and lubricate it so it slides easily, as well as the tail wheel. I didn't mean that you should do it at 8 hour intervals I was just saying that it was IMO important to do it periodically rather than not at all, no harm intended. Charlie.

 

[D&D]

Im not greasing ujoints after everyday’s usage especially when it entails taking the driveline apart. Apparently you have an unlimited amount of free time…but I don’t.

Why do have to take it apart?

 

[LouNY]

Hay mower, baler, forage chopper, bat wing every morning before being used.
If it had a very short day just an hour or so may skip the next day but fairly frequently.
Easier to grease then repair, rebuild, replace.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Wobble box on the haybine, EVERY two hours!

SR

 

[airbiscuit]

I knew a guy that was a maintenance tech at an injection molding plant. He said their philosophy was "Whatever it is, run it wide open until it breaks".

 

[oosik]

I guess I'm fortunate. My Wally chipper is the only implement I own with a pto shaft.

When I use it to chip my young, thinned pines - every day for 15 to 20 days straight. I always lube the pto shaft, U joints and the two bearings on the chipper every day. Part of my end of the day tasks.

Lou said it best - "Easier to grease than repair, rebuild, replace".

This thread illustrates why I will never buy used equipment. It would be my luck to buy something with 90K miles on it and need a new engine.

 

[D&D]

I knew a guy that was a maintenance tech at an injection molding plant. He said their philosophy was "Whatever it is, run it wide open until it breaks".

Sounds very familiar from the operators point of view. The maintenance guys and owners usually strongly disagree.

 

[WinterDeere]

I never liked 'lubricated for life Universal joints because what is 'lifetime lubricated? Could be an hour or could be a year. All conjecture.

Same. There's no such thing as grease that lasts forever, the oil always eventually finds its way out, leaving only soapy binders behind. So "lifetime" lubricated just means the "lifetime" of the item is expected to be relatively short, at least from the perspective of a guy with a shop full of 100 year old machinery.

Im not greasing ujoints after everyday’s usage especially when it entails taking the driveline apart.

That's a terrible design! If they expect you to grease daily, they should at least make the zerk's very easy to access.