When to grease?

[CurlyDave]

My JD 110 TLB manual says to grease the FEL and the Backhoe every 10 hours or daily, which I have taken to mean that if I run it 8-10 hours all in the same day, I need to grease it.

It is rare for me to run anywhere near that long in one day. Usually it is an hour or two in one day and an hour or two a week to a month later. I just keep track of the time on the hour meter and grease it when 9-10 hours has accumulated since the last time. Sometimes I will even let it go to 12 hours since I use the hoe at least 3-4 hours without using the FEL at all, and the FEL 8-9 hours without using the hoe.

So now I am coming up to needing to grease and I was wondering is it better to grease after using the machine and let the new grease set idle for weeks, or maybe even months, or is it better to grease it right before I use it?

I can think of pros and cons for each method, if I grease after use, the old grease is warmed up and will flow out of the joints a little better. If I grease before using it, there is newer grease in the joints.

Or, should I grease every day I use it instead of every 10 hours on the clock? It takes about an hour and a half to grease it, and that would mean an hour of greasing for each hour of seat time, which would get old in a hurry.

 

[schmism]

i always grease before im going into heavy use of the FEL or if its been a while.

i figure i want to push out the old grease thats there and if im about to go into a heavy use period i want it to have fresh grease (push all the old contaminated with dust/dirt/grit out) before the heavy use.

 

[Willl]

push all the old contaminated with dust/dirt/grit out

I have no problem with the actual greasing part but I really dislike cleaning up the 'overage'.

How do you guys do it ?, just grab a rag and go to it ?, just leave it ?

 

[Skyco]

It takes about an hour and a half to grease it, and that would mean an hour of greasing for each hour of seat time, which would get old in a hurry.

How many fittings does it have? I do my BX24 in about 5 minutes....

Personally I grease probably more than needed but grease-ing is relatively cheap and quick on mine.

 

[Reg]

After.
If I leave it for "before" it is possible to get too wrapped up in what I am about to do.
Doing it after takes me around the machine on an inspection tour and if I find anything loose, broken, missing then I have some time to fix it before I "NEED" to use it again.
Maintenance isn't JUST grease and oil, inspection and repair is MORE important, for safety reasons.
Doing it just before use leads to the possibility of finding something that needs fixing, but being tempted to just use it anyway - then it becomes tempting to believe that since it went through this little project, why bother fixing it today ? - same next time.
Yeah, the neglect and deteriorate loop.

 

[MikeInEburg]

It is rare for me to run anywhere near that long in one day. Usually it is an hour or two in one day and an hour or two a week to a month later. I just keep track of the time on the hour meter and grease it when 9-10 hours has accumulated since the last time. Sometimes I will even let it go to 12 hours since I use the hoe at least 3-4 hours without using the FEL at all, and the FEL 8-9 hours without using the hoe.

I'm just like you in this regard. Here's what I do...
1. Grease mower every time I use it.
2. Grease loader every 10 hours as shown on meter since I use it in some aspect every time I use the tractor. And 10 hours is easy to track...
3. Grease backhoe every second time that I use it (generally use it for an hour at a time).

In high school I baled hay for a guy who often repeated this phrase: "grease is cheaper than parts"

 

[Wis Bang]

Dad greased the mowers b/4 the first use of the day. He would do the cutting heads again after lunch.

His basic idea was 'grease is cheap'

 

[kthompson]

Reg, I like the thought you have there. I have always greased before beginning to be sure it was greased. Then normally given out when I shut off a machine or dark or such.

I grease according the number of hours run. Don't write them down but if it calls for every 8 hours just make that two part of days.

 

[newbury]

How many fittings does it have? I do my BX24 in about 5 minutes....

Originally Posted by CurlyDave
It takes about an hour and a half to grease it, and that would mean an hour of greasing for each hour of seat time, which would get old in a hurry.

Personally I grease probably more than needed but grease-ing is relatively cheap and quick on mine.

Same here, I've got maybe 34 grease points and it's usually only pop the nozzle on, two or three squeezes each, and pop the nozzle off. Now that I've found all the zerks (and found out how to adjust the grase nozzle so I can pull the darn thing off).

From glancing at your operators manual OMLVU13606_H3 you've got about the same.

Do you have a beverage between zerks?

 

[Sully2]

Dave: Its based on the hours of usage of the IMPLIMENT...not the tractor. Try and keep good grease in all joints as much as you can...but if you have..for example..a backhoe "hanging" on the back that you use 1 hr ( actual usage) every week...then you dont need to grease it every 10 hrs you use the TRACTOR itself.

Whether you grease just prior to usage or after usage and a LONG TIME before the next usage..isnt really going to matter much...because the idea is to drive out all the old grease and install fresh stuff

 

[CurlyDave]

I have 50 plus grease points between the loader, the hoe, the 4-n-1, and the hydraulic thumb.

It is easiest to grease the loader if I move it into two different positions, and the hoe requires at least 4 positions, full left, full right, straight extended and straight retracted, although I can do it in 3 but not in the same logical sequence as if I use 4.

Even on the best day this takes at least an hour, and five engine starts. There are enough calendar days between greasings that I never develop a real routine, so 90 minutes is not too far off.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I have 50 plus grease points between the loader, the hoe, the 4-n-1, and the hydraulic thumb.

It is easiest to grease the loader if I move it into two different positions, and the hoe requires at least 4 positions, full left, full right, straight extended and straight retracted, although I can do it in 3 but not in the same logical sequence as if I use 4.

Even on the best day this takes at least an hour, and five engine starts. There are enough calendar days between greasings that I never develop a real routine, so 90 minutes is not too far off.

Just wondering, how many tubes of grease does it typically take? Not having ever greased your machine, it sure does sound like a long time to get it done.

 

[crashz]

You may want to fully grease the machine is based on hours (8-10), but hit the high wear points in between. We have done this for years on my father's equipment and have never re-pinned or rebushed an excavator, loader or backhoe.Typically we would fully grease a machine at the end of the day, but prior to the the day's start, hit the bucket(s) pins, the loader boom pins and backhoe boom and stick pins as well as the swing. Then at lunch hit the bucket pins again as they seem to collect the most dirt and grime and are cycled the most during work. These pins also have a larger degree of rotation, so imbedded dirt can theoreticaly do more damage.

 

[Sully2]

You may want to fully grease the machine is based on hours (8-10), but hit the high wear points in between. We have done this for years on my father's equipment and have never re-pinned or rebushed an excavator, loader or backhoe.Typically we would fully grease a machine at the end of the day, but prior to the the day's start, hit the bucket(s) pins, the loader boom pins and backhoe boom and stick pins as well as the swing. Then at lunch hit the bucket pins again as they seem to collect the most dirt and grime and are cycled the most during work. These pins also have a larger degree of rotation, so imbedded dirt can theoreticaly do more damage.

You would grease the whole machine (bucket pins and all) at the end of the work day.....and then turn right around the next morning and RE-grease the pins etc....??...and then mid-day re-grease the bucket pins AGAIN..??...only to grease the whole machine AGAIN at the end of the work day?

Im lost to see ANY sort of proper greasing routine there????

 

[crashz]

Keep in mind that these machines could be used steadily or may sit outside for a few days in between uses. A couple shots of grease at the highest wear point is desirable and not at all time consuming.

Also purging any accumulated dirt from the joint is highly desirable. Most new equipment have O ring seals to keep the grease clean and dirt out, but older machines do not.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Same with me - can't grease enough, and grease is cheap insurance, along with cleaning air filter every 4-8 hours depending on dust conditions.

 

[RavensRoost]

CurlyDave, I see a battery-powered grease gun in your future....

RavensRoost

 

[CurlyDave]

CurlyDave, I see a battery-powered grease gun in your future....

RavensRoost

I have one. Not one of the Lincolns, but a Harbor Freight one ($40-50). Not bad gun, but it needs a shut off switch. Pick it up the wrong way and you touch the trigger. Then you get just amazing amounts of grease all over every surface in the area, including the bottom of your shoes.

Gotta learn how to load the grease cartridge to prevent airlock, but there is a thread on that somewhere.

Typical consumption is 1.5 tubes per grease session. I always have to reload once, and if there is only a squirt or two left in the gun, it is twice.

 

[ahoude]

Not sure if its applicable to your situation, but was once told (or read I'm not sure) a farmer that took good care of his disc would grease it prior to use, at lunch, and at the end of the day to force and water or dirt out. I'm sure a disc sits idle longer than your FEL though.

Andy

 

[Sully2]

Not sure if its applicable to your situation, but was once told (or read I'm not sure) a farmer that took good care of his disc would grease it prior to use, at lunch, and at the end of the day to force and water or dirt out. I'm sure a disc sits idle longer than your FEL though.

Andy

THATS the greasing schedule that I cant begin to understand? I can easily see greasing equipment in mid-day..sure...but if you grease it at the END of the day....why does it need greased at the BEGINNING of the NEXT day?? Someone using it at night that the person isnt aware of or what???