Shredder U-joints

[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.