Which grease to use and when. HD Lithium vs HD Moly Lithium grease

[Gary Fowler]

I used to use moly grease but I hate the black getting all over me. Now I buy the Mystik brand in either red or green tube. I don't know what they spec for it, but it sure is hard to wipe off your hands so it has to stay put on my loader. I also pump it into my mower spindles. So far no bearing failures. It does seem to make my Ferris hard for the blades to start turning when cold. I have to get more revs to start without stalling when I first start it, after it gets warm, it will engage at an idle.

 

[nikerret]

I currently use Kubota Polyurea, because that's what I bought. I use it in everything on the BX25D w/MMM. I only have one grease gun, never needed one, before the tractor. I bought some Schaeffer's Oil #274, because it was half price and got good reviews. My BH and FEL are supposed to have moly, though, the dealer told me the polyurea was what to use. I'm glad I read this thread as I didn't realize the moly wasn't supposed to be used in high RPM applications, like mower spindles. I guess I will be buying another grease gun...

 

[ultrarunner]

Back in 2008 I order a case of the molly version of TRC grease 880... so far so good.

At one time there was a lot of discussion here about this grease...

 

[Oldpath05]

Back in 2008 I order a case of the molly version of TRC grease 880... so far so good.

At one time there was a lot of discussion here about this grease...

We'lllllll that's what I would've thought, what happen, no one greasing tractors anymore or has everyone just said grease is grease, orrr maybe everyone on here if they buy an orange tractor they just go back to the orange store and get that orange grease or if they buy a green tractor, gotta get the green recommend grease, who cares if it's $10/tube, dont want to mix all these colors up, might void the 10 year warranty.

I'll start digging through some of these dust covered threads and see if there's a consensus on ONE grease type for FEL, PTO and wheel bearings. The last case of grease I bought was Mystic but even in that there's several types lithium, molly polly dolly doo dah types........

 

[Texasmark]

We'lllllll that's what I would've thought, what happen, no one greasing tractors anymore or has everyone just said grease is grease, orrr maybe everyone on here if they buy an orange tractor they just go back to the orange store and get that orange grease or if they buy a green tractor, gotta get the green recommend grease, who cares if it's $10/tube, dont want to mix all these colors up, might void the 10 year warranty.

I'll start digging through some of these dust covered threads and see if there's a consensus on ONE grease type for FEL, PTO and wheel bearings. The last case of grease I bought was Mystic but even in that there's several types lithium, molly polly dolly doo dah types........

Get the Red dyed stuff. It's HI temp, rated for wheel bearings and most everything else. Moly is primarily used for sliding surfaces that don't respond well for GP grade 2 greases. I used to buy it in a green quart can for sickle bar lube.

I recall something a long time ago about Moly is not to be used with ball and roller type bearings as the balls/rollers slide and don't roll and as a result flat side......no justifiable backup to that rumor but I haven't done it regardless. A lot to that thought as I never had a moly grease that was as sticky and gooey as the red GP2.

I hate the stuff, hate it with a passion but it works, it stays rain or shine, and you gotta have it. Just put on the blue gloves, do the job and throw them and the paper towels in the trash.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Here is a study on moly grease; interesting midnight reading, draw your own conclusions. I use nothing but moly grease despite the black goo all over. The white lithium greases are not good for stuff not moved often as it hardens up in place. I have had to completely disassemble and clean up parts after lithium has sat in unmoved bearing

assemblies.http://www.nlgi-india.org/images/PDF/Yakov Ephsteyn.pdf

Ron

 

[Oldpath05]

I went with Mistik in the green tube, had good reviews, just couldn't figure out why all the color tubes, guess green is for summer, red is for fall and blue is for winter.

 

[Texasmark]

Check the wording on the green. It may be their marine lube as compared to their red hi temp. Don't ask me the difference besides color.

 

[Texasmark]

Here is a study on moly grease; interesting midnight reading, draw your own conclusions. I use nothing but moly grease despite the black goo all over. The white lithium greases are not good for stuff not moved often as it hardens up in place. I have had to completely disassemble and clean up parts after lithium has sat in unmoved bearing

assemblies.http://www.nlgi-india.org/images/PDF/Yakov Ephsteyn.pdf

Ron

After I posted earlier about ball bearings and Moly I did some thinking about the reasoning. Today I think I came upon the why on what I said about not for rolling bearings.

I have a spray can of "slide lube", made for sliding surfaces and a moly product. I had an old trailer ball and nut that was hard to thread. I wire brushed (electric) the threads thoroughly and squirted with some spray lubricant , Dollar General brand. It helped but things still didn't "slide"......I then shot the bolt with the Moly slide lube and the threads "slid" easily over each other. Think about it. You don't want your balls/rollers to slide. You want a lube to insulate metal from metal but also to provide enough friction so that the balls/rollers will roll otherwise will flat spot and fail.

 

[Todd727]

After I posted earlier about ball bearings and Moly I did some thinking about the reasoning. Today I think I came upon the why on what I said about not for rolling bearings.

I have a spray can of "slide lube", made for sliding surfaces and a moly product. I had an old trailer ball and nut that was hard to thread. I wire brushed (electric) the threads thoroughly and squirted with some spray lubricant , Dollar General brand. It helped but things still didn't "slide"......I then shot the bolt with the Moly slide lube and the threads "slid" easily over each other. Think about it. You don't want your balls/rollers to slide. You want a lube to insulate metal from metal but also to provide enough friction so that the balls/rollers will roll otherwise will flat spot and fail.

That's exactly why some say not to use moly on wheel bearings and such.